New Zealand chooses blue and black silver fern design as likely alternative flag

[muriel_volestrangler]

The first results are in: if New Zealand decides to change its flag next year, it will most likely be to a design incorporating a silver fern with black, white and blue background.

The country’s electoral commission announced on Friday that Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) by Kyle Lockwood was the “preferred alternative” to the current flag from preliminary results.

The design received 552,827 first-preference votes, and 50.53% of the total received, suggesting it will likely be pitted against New Zealand’s current flag in a second referendum in March next year.

It finished just ahead of Lockwood’s second shortlisted design, Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), which received 574,364 first-preference votes and 49.47% – making the margin between the two top-ranked flags less than one percentage point. Aaron Dustin’s Red Peak, a late addition to the shortlist, came in third, some way ahead of Alofi Kanter’s Silver Fern (Black and White). Andrew Fyfe’s Koru, also known as the “hypnoflag”, was the least favourite, with just under 52,000 first-preference votes.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/11/new-zealand-referendum-chooses-blue-and-black-silver-fern-design-as-likely-alternative-flag

[malaise]

1. I like it

It's already on some of their sports' teams gear.

[Adrahil]

2. Kinda like....

Still prefer the old flag, but this is nice.

[NV Whino]

3. Nice

I hope they go with it.

[frylock]

4. Very nice.