Watch some everyday kiwis share their views on the Silver Fern Flag.

Video ©2016 New New Zealand Flag Inc - used with permission

By Dr Danny Keenan PhD - Historian.

"The silver fern was once embraced by Pakeha and survives as a symbol of organic beauty. It takes us beyond our British colonial origins, when, under the current flag, our boys went overseas and died to defend Empire, to say nothing of those 3000 Maori who died on our own soil, defending hearth and home, under attack by the same flag. The fern represents all of us; we should be proud to see it on our flag."

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1511/S00067/the-fern-confirmed-pakeha-as-genuine-new-zealanders.htm

The Flag Consideration Panel has published an infographic of the two flags, an extract of this graphic, and the infographic text, is below.

This flag is a white fern frond that sweeps up diagonally from the bottom left corner to the right of the top centre. The left side of the fern is sitting on a black background. To the right of the fern there are four stars in the formation of the Southern Cross constellation, sitting on a blue background. Each star is red with a white border, and has five points.
The black has become recognised as a national colour and is associated with our many achievements internationally.

The silver fern has been part of our history and identity for many years and is an internationally recognised symbol of New Zealand. The fronds represent our diverse communities coming together.

The blue represents our clear skies and the Pacific Ocean.
The Southern Cross emphasises our location in the South Pacific Ocean. It connects with the colours in the Union Jack and the current flag.

Throughout this process, thousands of New Zealanders shared their opinions. The most commonly expressed views are summarised below to help voters consider the options and make an informed decision.

It is a uniquely New Zealand flag that will not be confused with Australia. Image: The Australian Flag alongside the Silver Fern Flag.

New Zealand is a proud, independent country. We are no longer a British colony, so we shouldn’t have another country’s flag on our flag.

All New Zealanders having a say in this decision honours the rights and freedoms that have been fought for.

New Zealand has changed significantly, we are far more aware of our bicultural origins and have become a multicultural society.

We’ll remain part of the Commonwealth. Of 53 Commonwealth countries, only four still have the Union Jack as part of their flag.

The full graphic, and other information on the upcoming flag referendum can be downloaded here

A RadioLive poll of over 2700 people asked What flag will you vote for?, 52% or 1419 people responded with the Fern.

Read more below: 

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/DUNCAN-GARNER-POLL-What-flag-will-you-vote-for/tabid/615/articleID/111632/Default.aspx

silverfernflag.org

Silver Fern Flag by Kyle Lockwood will go up against the current flag in a referendum next year.

OPINION: GRANT MILLER

"it is this capturing a sense of New Zealand that has been much in the thinking of the Flag Consideration Panel. The winning Lockwood design does this better than the current flag but whether this will be enough to switch is obviously moot."

- Stuff

http://i.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/75048642/Editorial-New-Zealanders-choose-flag-with-best-chance-of-toppling-Blue-Ensign

We've been asked "Why is the fern white and not silver?"

Quite simply, in heraldry and vexillology, white is used to depict silver on a flag. Yellow is used to depict gold in the same fashion.

White and yellow are 'metals' and are used to separate colours on a flag.

Thought our history the silver fern has been depicted in white, besides, light grey would quickly fade to white when used on a flag.

silverfernflag.org​

"What I find remarkable is the sense that as soon as the referendum result was in, something changed."

Few national flags probably had the wow-factor when first conceived. We need a new flag, the old one looks even more dated now than it did last week. It is recognisably us. It will do fine.

John Roughan  - New Zealand Herald

See more http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11563268

FULL INTERVIEW - TV3        
Wednesday 16 Dec 2015 4:48 p.m.

Breakfast, TV1   
​07:31AM Wednesday December 16, 2015 

One News TVNZ   
Sat, Dec 12
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/no-other-prime-minister-will-take-this-on-john-key-flag-change.html

It is said that a rumour can travel half-way around the world whilst the truth is still getting its pants on  – The same can be said about rumours flying about this week that one of our silver fern flag designs supposedly being withdrawn at the request of the designer.

This from the New Zealand Government; 

“...To confirm, no design can be withdrawn from the first referendum by anyone other than the Crown (who is also the copyright holder of the designs throughout the two referendum process - see below). 

The four alternative flag designs selected by the Flag Consideration Panel for the first referendum are protected by copyright. In accordance with the Flag Design Terms and Conditions, the copyright in the flag designs is owned by the Crown during the referendum process, and following that process if a new flag is chosen. After the first and second referendums, copyright in any unsuccessful flag designs will be assigned back to the designers as appropriate. Once copyright has been assigned back to the designers, any use of those flag designs will require permission from the designers or any other owner of copyright in those flag designs (unless the use is otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act 1994).”

silverfernflag.org

There have been reports circulating that the designer of the silver fern flag, Kyle Lockwood, is an architect, this is to clarify that in a New Zealand context, Kyle Lockwood is an architectural designer, and in an Australian context, Kyle Lockwood is a building designer. 

ENDS

silverfernflag.org

6:27 PM Tuesday Aug 11, 2015 Isaac Davison - NZ Herald political reporter.

A black, white and blue flag design featuring the silver fern is the frontrunner for an alternative New Zealand flag in a Herald poll.

See More  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11495552

THE WASHINGTON POST 
Aug. 11, 2015, image released by the New Zealand Flag Consideration Project shows 40 designs being considered as the new flag for New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand. New Zealand is considering changing its flag. The public was encouraged to come up with ideas, and submitted over 10,000 designs. A government-appointed panel has winnowed those down to 40 finalists. (New Zealand Flag Consideration Project via AP) (Associated Press)

By Nick Perry | AP August 12 at 3:21 AM

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand is considering changing its flag. The public was encouraged to come up with ideas, and submitted more than 10,000 designs. A government-appointed panel has winnowed those down to 40 finalists.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/a-new-flag-new-zealand-picks-40-best-from-10000-designs/2015/08/12/bb1a33da-40c2-11e5-b2c4-af4c6183b8b4_story.html

New Zealand is in the process of nominating a new design to replace their current flag, which is based partly on the United Kingdom’s Union Jack. The panel’s next step, according to the Guardian, is to further reduce those proposals down to four nominees that the public will vote on later this year. The winner of that vote will compete with the current standard in another national referendum.
See More: http://time.com/3990784/new-zealand-flag-designs/