Posted on 03/24/2016 7:58:54 AM PDT by BenLurkin
More than 2 million New Zealanders voted to keep the Union Jack on their national flag, ending a 10-month process and squashing a move Prime Minister John Key said would make it easier to distinguish from Australia's flag and bolster national pride.
A photo from December shows the current New Zealand flag (left) and the alternative design currently up for a vote.
The current flag has been the national symbol for 114 years, according to The Associated Press. The rejected design, which featured a silver fern, was selected from more than 10,000 submissions from the public.
Some people called a flag on the play over the estimated price tag: NZ$26 million, which is about $17 million in U.S. currency.
"Naturally I'm a little bit disappointed the flag didn't change tonight," Key told reporters on Thursday. But he accepted the decision, tweeting:
And, strangely, American comedian and actor Andy Richter seemed to follow the whole thing really closely, even offering up his flag choice:
The preliminary voting result was announced on Thursday, and final numbers are expected next week.
As a reminder, here's a taste of the flags New Zealand could have had — including the front-runners and some very, very long shots.
The final proposed alternative, "Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue)."
The final proposed alternative, "Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue)."
So the people of New Zealand decided to not show the “white feather” of cowardice.
As the folks over in Georgia learned, the politicians are likely to do what they want, whether the people like it or not.
Meet The U.K.'s Cutting-Edge Research Vessel ... Boaty McBoatface?
Despite their fierce rivalry with the Aussies (especially in cricket - ask any one of them about the “underarm bowling incident” in 1981), I suspect the Kiwi’s identify with the Aussies more than anyone else. I wonder if the similarity to the Australian flag was actually a positive for some of them.
The ferns fly to the stars I guess.
Gee, if you took out the vertical and horizontal stripes and just left the diagonal ones it would kinda look like the stars and bars less the stars. Must be racist. Or am I just really reaching. :>)
The proposed new flag was ugly!
Its nothing like the Canadian flag which invokes national colors and is rooted in the most famous symbol of Canada.
If a new flag is needed, it should represent the Southern Cross.
In its place, leave tradition well enough alone.
If you want to boost national pride then change your rotten socialist system so that your young people don’t desert your country in droves looking for jobs.
Thought for sure they would go for "Two Bonerz Rubbing"
Here is the actual proposal (called Huihui/Together):
replacing the Canadian Ensign: 
Yes, Pearson's rag is shown hanging upside down on purpose, a sign of distress both for that flag 'representing' my country, and for the state on the country!
Looks like the flag for Cassettetopia.
What a stupid design. I could get a better on Fiverr for $10.00.
Why not a whale? Or a lamb. Or islanders dancing the haka?
I suspect the Kiwi’s identify with the Aussies more than anyone else
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and you would be wrong...
Australia was a penal colony while New Zealand was settled by free men and women...
Both countries had a different purpose...the early start and later years gave the 2 peoples different outlooks and histories..
There has been envy by Aussies against the New Zealanders for generations...
Australia is a Continent...New Zealand is part of Polynesia...
The only thing they could best the Pacific Islands on was size...
And the state flag of Hawaii is ....
Forgot to post about this.
I’d have voted for the new flag.
Illinois could use a new flag.
Southern Maor better keep your flag
Don’t you let all those colors sag
Be careful what you ask for. They might put Zero on a redesigned flag of Illinois.
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