A referendum on the change of state flag began in New Zealand

In New Zealand on Thursday, March 3, the second, final nationwide referendum on the change of state flag begins. Its participants will receive an official bulletin with the question “What flag do you choose?” In the next two weeks, TASS reports.

The choice is to be made between the two options: the current flag and black-blue cloth with four red stars, divided into two unequal parts of the silver branch of the New Zealand fern. It was this design of the new state symbol of New Zealand that became the winner of the first national referendum, held in November-December last year.

Recall that initially, only four options got into the short list, but the public was unhappy that the option with a red triangle proposed by Aaron Dustin did not enter the final. According to many, it was this flag that symbolized the merger of an aboriginal culture with a European heritage.

As a result of parliamentary debate and voting, the version of Dustin, known as Red Peak, was included in the number of finalists, but did not manage to get into the leaders.

Recall that the change in the state flag of the New Zealand authorities thought about this spring. From May 5 to July 16 this year, all citizens of the country were invited to participate in public discussions of this issue, to share their opinions that the flag should symbolize, and put forward their options. Anyone could offer their design by uploading a file with a picture to the government website.

The British "Union Jack" on the current flag of New Zealand symbolizes the colonial past - from 1839 to 1953 the country was a colony of Great Britain. Four stars located to the right of the flag have a different size and symbolize the constellation Southern Cross.