SUNDAY Q&A WITH DESIGNER KYLE LOCKWOOD

Which flag have you voted for?

Normally, I'd keep my voting private but in this instance I think you can understand that I have voted for the Silver Fern Flag design!
 
 
What do you think of the polls saying the flag won't change?
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They are interesting of course, but the only 'poll' as such that is relevant in this process, is the referendum. 

If your flag gets chosen in the referendum, does that mean you get paid?

No I will not.  I have assigned the rights to the Crown and would receive no payment whatsoever.


What will you do with your flag if it isn't successful in the referendum?

The Crown will assign the rights back to myself, There are a large number of supporters of the Silver Fern Flag, possibly over a million kiwis, and I will continue to sell the flag online through silverfernflag.org as I have done since 2006.

What does it feel like right now, when thinking your design could be the new NZ flag?

To be honest, it's huge and a little overwhelming. 
 
My grandmother flies my flag in the Wellington wind each day, and probably the most emotional and humbling moments for me have been seeing it flown around the country everywhere on boats, beaches, baches and buildings, and seeing it flying representing New Zealand in exotic places around the world has been pretty humbling too!

Have people recognised you? What's it been like to be in the 'public eye'?

I'm just an ordinary guy and life has been as per usual for me.  I've had people recognise me in the street and compliment me which was very nice of them.

 
Have you ever met John Key?

I'd never met him in my life until just a couple of weeks ago at an informal gathering where the designers from the first referendum were invited to attend by responsible minister Bill English, and acknowledged.
 
 
There's been criticism of the process, your design, and even that you are not a designer, what do you think of that?

I am an architectural designer with a 15-year international career in architecture, so I 'eat, breathe and sleep' design for a living.  I first designed this flag 16 years ago and have since carefully refined it a number of times based on feedback from leading international vexillogists. 
 
Of course there are going to be different viewpoints for all sorts of subjective reasons.  I remember a headline when the four alternatives were first announced "Four alternative flags, four million opinions" and that sums it up really!

 
Do you think the Flag Consideration Panel could have done things differently?

I don't think there's anything significant that you could do differently - they had a tough job to do.  It was a robust process, and let's face it, a selection had to be made by someone!  The fact that people get to vote on it in a democratic referendum process made me pretty proud to be a Kiwi! 


Change the NZ Flag, along with many high-profile New Zealanders have been promoting your flag, what's your involvement in that?

I'm not part of that organisation or have any financial part in it.  Of course, I'm very humbled by the many people who have shown support for the Silver Fern flag, and I thank them immensely for their passion and enthusiasm!

What's next for you? You've bought back the 10-year passport, you have designed what could be New Zealand's next flag, will you be writing a new national anthem for New Zealand?

I'm a designer, and definitely not a songwriter! I tend to campaign for matters that I am passionate about, and that I feel are beneficial to Kiwis both in New Zealand, and overseas!

silverfernflag.org