 The silver fern flag, designed by Kyle Lockwood will feature at the V&A Gallery (Victoria & Albert Museum) in London.
This is one of the world’s top galleries and we are very excited that our Silver Fern Flag will be proudly on display. This major exhibition is well worth a visit if you are in London between Saturday 12 May 2018 and the 4th of November 2018. This exhibition will display emerging technologies, the ways in which they will affect our lives in the near future, and what choices we have – as citizens – to influence their development. The world of tomorrow is shaped by the designs and technologies emerging today. From smart appliances to satellites, this exhibition brings together more than 100 objects either newly released or in development that point towards where society might be headed. Although some may seem straight out of science fiction, they are all real, produced by research labs, universities, designers' studios, governments and corporations. Guided by ethical and speculative questions, we invite you to step into four scenarios – self, public, planet and afterlife – each evoking increasing scales of technological impact. How might these objects affect the way you live, learn and even love? The undeniable physical reality of these objects may give the impression that the future is already fixed. But new things contain unpredictable potentials and possibilities, often unanticipated even by their creators. It is up to us – as individuals, as citizens and even as a species – to determine what happens next. While the objects here suggest a certain future, it is not yet determined. The future we get is up to us. The future starts here. 1. Self What makes us human? We can now design life itself. Our bodies, and even our internal biological systems, are becoming sites of design. Wearable technologies and personal trackers have become standard objects of our everyday. We measure our heart rate when we go jogging, and navigate cities with the help of GPS. As we extend our cognitive and biological capacities through machines, distinctions between what is human and what is technological blur. Once synonymous with privacy and reclusion, the home is now a broadcasting station from which we share our lives through social media. We are now all connected, but are we still lonely? 2. Public Are cities still for everyone? This section explores the public realms of cities, politics and networks, the places where we come together to collectively make decisions. People get together to crowdfund everything from bicycles to bridges, or to leak governmental secrets and generate new currencies. In face of this, Does democracy still work? The future of public and civic spaces lies between two competing forces: the top-down strategies of an increasingly small number of companies and governments, and the bottom-up tactics of an increasingly large number of people. Which will thrive? 3. Planet Should the planet be a design project? Human activity has altered our planet to the extent that some scientists have declared a new geological epoch, the 'Anthropocene', or 'age of humans'. Now that we know our behaviour has unintentionally designed the Earth, can we use technology to reverse the effects? Some designers are working on possible solutions to clean, repair or give back to the planet. Others are looking beyond the Earth for solutions in the stars – designing satellites that scope asteroids for mining new geological resources, and solutions for inhabiting Mars. But if Mars is the answer, what is the question? Can we still save our planet or shall we leave? 4. Afterlife Who wants to live forever? Current advancements in biotechnology and artificial intelligence have the potential to redefine our conceptions of what life is. Reawakening after death or uploading one's mind onto a computer are ideas that may sound like science fiction but are taken seriously by some futurists today. Against these efforts to preserve the self, institutions such as the Long Now Foundation or the Svalbard Global Seed Vault are working to preserve humanity through books, seeds and material culture. What do we want to preserve for the future – the individual or the collective? See more, and to book visit; https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/about-the-future-starts-here-exhibition
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Our silver fern design will feature in a tribute to the ANZACs, The Silver Fern has been used as a distinctive marker of New Zealand troops since the 19th century. 25 April 2017 marks the anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On this important day, millions of Australians and New Zealanders will honour their fallen in commemorations worldwide.  Lifewear approached us for a licence to use our fern design on their shirts, and we are proud to be part of their commemorative ANZAC shirts. This fully printed polo is a tribute to all men and women who served New Zealand. It is of a respectful style with traditional fold-over collar, A timeless profile and modern generous fit. This polo keeps the wearer cool and dry, and the lightweight AirCool fabric offers sun protection and creates a soft mesh-like feel that ensures breathability. The shirts are available at Lifewear We honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, now in far-off fields, their final resting places marked by the Silver Fern.
LEST WE FORGET  "After snaking through the initial bends on Queen Charlotte Drive at the foot of the Marlborough Sounds, you eventually arrive at a house peering over the glistening water with two giant flags waving in the wind and a letterbox with a Porsche painted on it. One of those flags is the Kyle Lockwood silver fern design, the alternate to the current New Zealand flag. The other is that of the San Jose Earthquakes, the Major League Soccer franchise."
See more at - Stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/87669197/the-year-kip-colvey-cracked-americas-big-league-signing-his-first-professional-football-contract-with-san-jose  Thank you to all 921,786 voters who chose the Silver Fern flag.
To design a flag is no mean feat – when I first did this many years ago, I didn’t imagine the day would come where it would be selected from over 10,000 designs and I would see it fly from baches, beaches, boats and buildings all over New Zealand. I am incredibly humbled by that. I am proud to be a Kiwi and thrilled to have cast my own vote in a world-first referendum process. Along the way there’s been robust and deeply passionate discussions – I remember a headline when the four alternatives were first announced “Four alternative flags, four million opinions” and that sums it up really! Irrespective of the result, nearly 1 million of you have loved the Silver Fern and I hope that you will continue to fly it. I myself will continue to wear the Silver Fern flag wherever I go, and of course I’ll be just as proud to march behind the official New Zealand flag this coming ANZAC day as I have done since 1996 when I was a volunteer in the NZ Army. Kyle Lockwood DipDArch DipArchTech MNZIOB Designer Silver Fern flag  There's been a few questions lately about the appearance of the fern on the Silver Fern Flag.
It was decided early in the design phase to stylise the silver fern on the flag, just as the Canadian flag has a stylised maple leaf, the reason for stylisation is so the fern-leaf on the flag looks right when it's aloft in the breeze. We've also been asked why isn't the fern silver? In flag design convention, there are 5 official colours and 2 official metals, design rules stipulate that a colour must be separated by a metal. Silver is represented in white just as gold is represented in yellow.  NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 51
The silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), called ponga by Māori, is endemic to New Zealand. Māori used native flora to navigate their way home through the forests at night. They would break-off several fronds of the silver fern and leave them silver side up so that the moonlight would reflect off them. This night-time trail served as a homing beacon. Over the years, deer cullers and possum hunters have also used the fern for this purpose. Māori also have a whakatuakī (proverb) that is closely associated with the silver fern: Mate atu he tetekura, Ara mai he tetekura. As one chief dies, another rises to take their place. When said in the context of the silver fern, the translation becomes: As one frond withers and dies, another rises to take its place. He tete, or frond, stands for a chief. Sir Tipene O’Regan of Ngāi Tahu once reminded author and academic Dr Danny Keenan (Ngāti Te Whiti Ahi Kā, Te Ātiawa) that ‘to Māori, the silver fern denotes strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power, encapsulated in a natural form of native elegance. Māori have always honoured the fern, giving it a pride of place. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book © 2016 Crown Copyright  NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 52
In 1853, while the HMS Sparrow was berthed in New Plymouth, sailors with the Royal Navy challenged the local army garrison to a match involving rifle shooting. The event took place at Rewa Rewa Rifle Range, and just before it began, the New Zealand shooters spotted some silver fern, picked it, and pinned the leaves to their pockets as a good luck charm. The charm brought success, as the army garrison won the competition. Its members apparently said: ‘The silver fern has brought us luck and we will carry on using it. During the nineteenth century, the silver fern was also used in verse and paintings by famed watercolourist, Alfred Sharpe. Sharpe, regarded as one of the pioneer artists of New Zealand, prolific and successful, producing around 150 watercolours depicting the New Zealand landscape from the 1860s to the 1880s, also wrote poetry. One of his poems, titled A Night in the Forest, contained these lines: A silver fern outspreading, In mass of lace like threading, Throughout its frondings wide, Faint phosphorescence showers, On the kie kie flowers, from its silv’ry underside. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book © 2016 Crown Copyright NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 54
During the Boer (South African) War at the turn of the twentieth century, the silver fern appeared on the Glengarry (cap) and slouch hat badges of soldiers from New Zealand. The New Zealand Natives Association wanted to differentiate New Zealand troops from the soldiers of other British colonies and so produced 200 silver fern badges for the hats of the men shipped to South Africa in 1899. The association was essentially interested in forging a unique New Zealand identity rather than having men from New Zealand seen as Britons living afar. Some New Zealand soldiers in World War I referred to themselves as ‘Fernleafs’ (New Zealand having been labelled as ‘Fernland’ and New Zealanders as ‘Fernlanders’ at the start of the 1900s). In World War II, Lowndes Square in Knightsbridge, London, hosted a ‘Fernleaf Club’, a residential centre for the rehabilitation of troops, staffed by the New Zealand Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. All World War II New Zealand soldiers wore the badge called ‘Onward’. This ‘universal badge of the 2 NZEF was introduced in October 1939: the letters ‘NZ’ surrounded by fern fronds and surmounted by the King’s Crown, all above a scroll bearing the word ‘Onward’. Hat and collar versions were worn on SD uniforms by all ranks …This was supposed to be the only badge worn, although this … [was] not strictly adhered to’. The official address for the New Zealand Division Headquarters in Egypt in World War II was ‘Fernleaf Cairo’, and the New Zealand War Service Medal has the silver fern on the back. The silver fern also adorns the headstones of New Zealanders in the cemeteries of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission throughout the world, thereby perpetuating the association between the military and the silver fern. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book ©2016 Crown Copyright NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 55
The silver fern has long been closely associated with New Zealand produce because of its use as a trademark for the country’s meat and dairy exports. After the success of the 1924/25 All Blacks Invincibles Tour, Tour Manager Stan Dean suggested ‘that the fern leaf be adopted as a national trade mark for New Zealand goods in the same way Canada has adopted the maple leaf.’ The National Dairy Association immediately took up Dean’s idea. Dean clearly considered that the fern should stamp all New Zealand-made products leaving the country’s shores. As he pointed out, the fern had been recognised in Britain since its use as an emblem during the rugby tours of that country by the Natives in 1888, the Originals in 1905, and the Invincibles in 1924. The silver fern was also used on New Zealand-produced tobacco products, and it gave its name to the train that travelled on the North Island main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland from 1972 to 1991 (the Silver Fern railcar). More recently, in the 1990s, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand developed the silver fern into the distinctive New Zealand FernMark. These organisations created the mark in order ‘to establish a singular visual identity for New Zealand’. Those businesses that carry the FernMark are the ambassadors of New Zealand’s efforts to promote New Zealand products and trade overseas. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book ©2016 Crown Copyright
 We've written to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition as they would both like to see a silver fern appear on New Zealand's national flag. Our letter to the prime minister can be viewed below. We'll keep you posted as to his response. 
 Please Share! silverfernflag.co.nz Newstalk ZB Media Statement. Hello Chris, thank you for approaching me and asking about a flag I designed for New Zealand. The flag was designed when I was a Massey University student in 2000, features a bold silver fern on the left hand side, and the Southern Cross to the right, the colours honour the red, white and blue colours seen on the present flag. If you are near a computer or a smart phone, the design can be viewed at www.silverfernflag.co.nz. A stylised Silver Fern, a New Zealand icon for well over 100 years, has been worn proudly by many generations of New Zealanders, from sports people, to firefighters and military personnel, The Silver Fern is an element of indigenous flora representing the growth of our nation. The multiple points of the fern leaf represents Aotearoa's peaceful multicultural society, a single fern leaf spreading upwards represents that we are all New Zealanders - one people - growing onward into the future. The Southern Cross, is a defining element in the present New Zealand Flag, it represents our geographic location in the antipodes. The Southern Cross is visible throughout the year in the southern night skies. It has been used as a navigational aid for centuries and it helped guide early settlers to our islands. Each star is also representative of the major island groups of New Zealand - North Island, South Island, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands. Red, is a significant colour to the NZ Maori, Red also represents the sacrifice made by all New Zealanders during wartime. White represents Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud, The official Maori name for New Zealand. The colour also represents peace. Blue represents aumoana or the ocean that surrounds our island nation, over which all New Zealanders, or their ancestors, crossed to get to New Zealand. Rugby is not credited with the first wearing of the silver fern, according to Nelson historian Alan Turley. He said that while records were scant, an historic magazine cutting given to him by rugby commentator Keith Quinn, showed the fern being worn in a shooting, not rugby, match between New Plymouth's army garrison and the visiting Royal Navy. It was 1853, and the Royal Navy ship HMS Sparrow was anchored offshore in a visit to the fledgling town. While onshore, the navy men challenged the local army lads to a rifle shooting match at the Rewarewa rifle range. According to the clipping, the army men decided to pick silver fern tips growing near the range and pin them to their uniform shirt pockets as a sort of good luck talisman. The team won the shooting match and thereafter considered the fern a good-luck symbol, and so the tradition of the silver fern began. I appreciate that people fought wars under our present union-jack based flag, but what is lesser known is that soldiers, who made the ultimate sacrifice for New Zealand, lie buried in foreign fields beneath headstones bearing not the Union Jack, but the Silver Fern. Also the badges of many NZ army regiments feature the silver fern. Our Canadian commonwealth brothers-in-arms also had troops who fought under a British Red Ensign based flag, but in 1965 they changed their flag to the distinctive Maple Leaf Flag which we today associate with all things Canadian, however on remembrance days, the old flag is sometimes brought out and displayed too. If New Zealand changes its flag in the future I hope that on ANZAC and remembrance days we could honour our past soldiers in the same way as the Canadians do today. Both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, are supporters of the Silver Fern. The fern is our icon, it's not just about the All-Blacks, it was on our one cent coins, it is now on our $1 coins too, and it features on our banknotes. It's been on our coat of arms since 1956, and lately it has become the official symbol of the NZ government abroad. It's now being painted on Air New Zealand's aircraft, and like Canada's maple leaf, the fern is a powerful symbol that says 'New Zealand'. It even features strongly on our passports. Speaking of passports I'm presently spokesman for a group called nzten.com, we are advocating for the return of ten year NZ passports. Amongst our 11,000 supporters are a few Knights and Dames, and the Hon Phil Goff. I believe that one day New Zealand will choose a new flag, the present flag suggests we are a subservient colony of the United Kingdom, not the proud independent nation of New Zealand that we have been, since the passing of the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act in 1947. I believe my design honours our past, but also looks forward to our future. Flag change could be 25 years away, but I hope that whichever design is chosen, it is done democratically, and that design chosen represents all New Zealanders. Kyle Lockwood. Melbourne, 12th August 2013. ENDS Chris Lynch <[email protected]> 11 August 2013.
Hi there, Kyle I host NewstalkZB's Canterbury Mornings programme (on New Zealand's second biggest radio market) We are discussing "changing the New Zealand flag" on the programme tomorrow Monday. We're on 100.1FM and streaming live at NewstalkZB.co.nz. I'm keen to get people's input on this issue and welcoming calls in from the public on (03) 340 10 98 or toll-free (inside the Canterbury region) on 0800 80 10 80. Talkback starts at 8.40AM. You're more than welcome to call in and please spread the word!! Best Wishes, Chris Lynch Chris Lynch Host Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch  Our silver fern flag featured in the NZ Herald yesterday. (Albeit the prototype version) A bill on the status of the NZ flag is expected to be drawn by parliament in the near future. Check out the article here at http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10863680
 Whilst we in the southern hemisphere are looking forward to warm beachy summers, the first snows are falling in the Czech Republic....
"We love your flag, white, blue and red are also our Czech flag colours too. Best regards, Helena"  The Silver Fern Flag flying at New Zealand Point, Czech Republic We got a message from Helena who lives in Hradec Králové (Translation Queenstown) in the Czech Republic.
She sent us a photo of their Silver Fern flag flying proudly over their holiday cottage named New Zealand Point in a place named Mlade Buky (young beechs) Helena said "Dear Kyle, Thank you very much, the flag is here. It's great! Have a look!" The cottage is situated in the peaceful Krkonose mountains, about 120 kms from the beautiful Czech capital, Prague. The cottage is also available to rent, contact Helena at info@medsport.cz  Updating our flag is a task which shouldn't be taken lightly. We believe that flag change should be done by referendum, and not forced upon us by a government. New Zealanders should vote on whether we retain the existing flag, or choose a new flag. Voting could be through a citizens initiated referendum, or one introduced by a Member of Parliament. There should be seven or eight well known designs put forward in the referendum for voting, here are some well known designs which we believe could be put forward;
The Canadian ExperienceWhich flag says Canada to you? The 1965 flag, right? Prior to 1965 the flag on the top was the flag of Canada. Although the idea of a new design had been discussed for decades in the 1900s, it was in the 1960s that the debate intensified and became a subject of considerable controversy, After much debate new flag was officially proclaimed in 1965. The Canadian people were not given the chance to vote on the new design. Despite the preceding acrimony, the new flag was quickly embraced by the Canadian public, and internationally the flag quickly became a welcome marker of Canadians around the world. The pre-1965 flag still remains an official flag in Canada, and is sometimes flown today. The Kiwi Way - DemocraticNew Zealand can take the lead from countries like Canada and Jamaica, but we can improve on it, we believe that flag change should not be forced on the country by a government, like in the Canadian example. Kiwis should have the right to vote, to either, retain the existing ensign, or vote for a new national flag. It should be noted here that New Zealanders have never had the chance to vote for our present flag, as it was forced upon us by the British government.
We can learn from Canada too, in that once an new official flag is adopted, we can retain the existing ensign as an official flag, as some will choose to fly it. It will be like how God Save the Queen is still an official anthem of New Zealand, but today most Kiwis sing and recognise God Defend New Zealand as our anthem. What do you think? Vote above, and add your comments below! © 2012 silverfernflag.org Christchurch, Sydney, London, Los Angeles, Pukekohe... the Silver Fern Flag represents New Zealand around the world, here's a world map showing cities and locations where, over the past decade, online customers have bought our Silver Fern Flag products. It's also good indicator of where New Zealander's abroad tend to live, although some buyers aren't Kiwi, they just happen to love New Zealand so much they fly our flag anyway! Typically the Silver Fern Flag is bought in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, which isn't too suprizing, but perhaps the most unusual places it has been sent to are Hradec Králové, a township outside Prague in the Czech Republic, and Willemstad, Curacao, a small Dutch Carribean island off the coast of Venezuela, The Silver Fern Flag is now represented on every continent except Antartica, but perhaps some cool Kiwis at Scott Base can change that for us!? Click here to see the full map:  Click on map to see full version 
People have asked 'How do I fold the flag properly?' which is a really good question! a Google search gives us a lot of results on folding the USA Flag, but few on how to fold a New Zealand Flag. Check out our slideshow and download our flag care .pdf here this gives you information about the significance of the Silver Fern Flag and the proper method of folding a flag, The method is actually useful for most Commonwealth of Nations countries, including folding the flags of New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
James Elvery, senior athlete from the NZ Elite Triathlon Team, has sent us some preliminary photographs of the team uniform, before they head over to Sydney next week for a race.
“The uniforms came out awesome! Exactly how I wanted them to look so that has been really pleasing. Thanks very much for the use of the fern. Everyone is stoked!” said James. All the best for your race in Sydney next week, Go the Silver Fern! Go New Zealand! Kyle Lockwood/silverfernflag.org The New Zealand Elite Triathlon Team, for the 2012 Olympics, has chosen Kyle Lockwood's Silver Fern design to appear on their cycling uniform. The uniforms are presently being made up. Photographs of the athletes in uniform will be posted here once the uniforms have been distributed to the team.
Kyle Lockwood/silverfernflag.org |
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©2000-2026 Kyle Lockwood
Director, Architecture Ltd, est. 2006, T/A Silver Fern Flag. We are not affiliated with the NZ Government.
Director, Architecture Ltd, est. 2006, T/A Silver Fern Flag. We are not affiliated with the NZ Government.