SUPPORTERS OF A NEW FLAG FOR NEW ZEALAND 

John Key Former Prime Minister

“My personal view is if you had an alternative I would go with the silver fern.”

“I actually think it looks magnificent on a flagpole, it's what's on our national sporting teams, it unifies us”
"Go and have a look at Kyle Lockwood's Flag"

Dame Cath Tizard Former Governor General

"We don't wear the clothes of a century ago or drive around today in Model T Fords. Our present flag served a young post-colonial country well, but the time has come to consider a change which more appropriately recognises our changed identity and confidence in ourselves."
​

Sir Geoffrey Palmer Former Prime Minister

"I've said all along that the silver fern was good.” 
 
"They're so beautiful and I think they represent us well".



​

COLIN MEADS    FORMER ALL BLACK CAPTAIN, DCNZM, MBE

"I'm a big supporter of New Zealanders choosing a new flag which better represents our country as it is today. Symbols like the silver fern seem the most likely choices. New Zealand has changed. I like the unity of patriotic support which the South African flag has brought that country. I think New Zealand needs the same."   
​

SIR RICHARD HADLEE    KBE, MBE, INTERNATIONAL CRICKETER

"The time is right for New Zealand to make changes to our flag. Too many people confuse our flag with the Australian one and it also becomes embarrassing when New Zealanders cannot tell the difference either. Clearly the silver fern and the kiwi makes us different. I would be happy to see a flag that incorporates those two emblems along with the stars and something British that signifies our past."   
"Personally, I think this is a very tasteful and appropriate design. It screams New Zealand,
​and has incorporated well known symbols well."

Rob Raeside 
Vexillologist, Flags of the World, Nova Scotia, Canada

Other Supporters

Beautiful! 
I am a long time English immigrant to New Zealand, and both my husband, who is German, and I think a change is long overdue. When I looked at your picture of the flag which you present, and what it represents, it literally brought tears to my eyes. I think it is just beautiful, and I hope one day we shall see it flying to represent New Zealand wherever we go. I sincerely hope we shall see the change within my lifetime. 
 
Joan Roesch. Lower Hutt

Best Alternative
I love that flag and I'm someone who hasn't thought about changing it, not really seeing the necessity until now. That's the best alternative I've seen!  

A. Rentzios. Wellington

Recognises History 
I LIKE that flag! Immediately identifiable as kiwi - but with a nod to the history of the present flag. Great idea.    

Rachael Shamy. Wellington

Soldier Supports Change 
I have served overseas with the NZ Defence Force (Army on several occasions) and find that it is very annoying , embarrassing and at times very dangerous to serve under a flag which is frequently confused with the Australian flag. Whilst overseas we are supposed to wear the NZ Flag badge along with the kiwi roundel, the latter of which I strongly support. However, with the situation Australia is now in, being seen as the third country in support of the USA, this can be very dangerous if foreigners confuse our flag with that of Australia. Some of our old soldiers may disagree with my comments, however, I would suggest they did not
serve in a time when international volatility was so widespread. I strongly support the change of our flag to having a design which is unique and closely associated to the uniqueness of New Zealand. 

Nigel Gattsche.  Ellsmere, Canterbury
 
Identity Needed 
For the last two years I've lived in Australia and have been very concerned about how the image of New Zealand is portrayed over here. The recent ANZAC celebrations were a prime example of how Australians see New Zealand as a partner in the World Wars etc. There was little mention of New Zealand in build-ups to the Gallipoli commemorations and I felt by looking at our flag how much they were the same. We need our own identity with our main focus on the silver fern and kiwi images. We could still retain the general perspective of the flag but add the fern and make it more recognisable to those of us who choose to live overseas but are still very proud Kiwis. 

David M Lysons-Smith. Acacia Ridge, Brisbane
© 2000-2023 Kyle Lockwood
Silver Fern Flag is a division of Architecture Ltd incorporated in NZ in 2006