In our current age here in Aotearoa, I don't think that a debate about changing the New Zealand flag carries quite the same gravitas or significance as the debate in Europe about how to remember the Holocaust. But there are now enough motivated people in this country to organise a petition to force a referendum on this issue. This fact alone indicates that some of us Kiwis are wanting to establish a more independent identity in the world, and perhaps further sever or renogotiate some of our colonial bonds.

It remains to be seen whether the high profile nzflag.com campaign can gain the 300,000 signatures necessary to launch a referendum at the 2005 general election.

NZ Flag Design: Michael Smythe

I am generally supportive of finding ways to reflect the uniqueness and contemporary identity of New Zealand, and particularly exploring methods to describe the dynamic (and difficult) relationship between Maori and Pakeha. Is a new flag the best way to do this? It is interesting to see what sort of images come out of the various designs that have been put together, and nzflag.com displays a few various ideas by some local artists, none of which particularly stand out to me. Do we try to portray our environment (the fern, the long white cloud, the ocean), our multiple cultural origins (Maori motifs, symbols of European colonisation), a combination of both, or something different entirely?

Design of a new national flag must be one of the most challenging tasks for any graphic or visual artist. Flags are more than logos, they are the ultimate uber-trademarks; they provide an image of what we think we remember of our past; they frame what we would like to think that our nation is all about. It could be fascinating to find out what us kiwis actually think about ourselves.