Aaron Dustin's Red Peak design has been officially named as a fifth option in the upcoming flag referendum.
Thursday morning saw an urgent debate resume in parliament, with legislation finally passed to allow the design onto the ballot.
Aaron Dustin's Red Peak flag. Photo: Red Peak NZ Flag Facebook page.
NZ First were the only party to vote against its inclusion.
Green MP Gareth Hughes moved to introduce the bill on Wednesday, but found the way blocked by NZ First.
However, the government picked it up and brokered a deal with the Greens as Labour weighed up using the addition to change the referendum process.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says: 'Parliament has voted by an overwhelming majority to have an additional, fifth option added to the first postal referendum ballot paper with the passing of the New Zealand Flag Referendums Amendment Bill.
'The amending legislation, adopted under urgency, will permit the Red Peak design to join the four design options already on the ballot after they were recommended by the NZ Flag Consideration Panel last month.
'The passing of the New Zealand Flag Referendums Amendment Bill confirms the government's pre-election commitment to secure New Zealanders their first opportunity ever to vote on the flag that best represents them and our country.”
The first postal referendum will take place between November 20 and December 11, empowering voters with the opportunity to rank five alternative designs.
21 comments
Similar to USA company logo
Posted on 24-09-2015 12:38 | By Annalist
I'm sick of the whole flag debate which seems to be characterised by various people throwing their toys out of the cot. But to make rules then change them seems poor to me. Will other designs also be added if there's enough tantrums? Mountains may be the backbone of the South Island but they have little in common with most of the North. It also worries me that the design is similar to a USA company. If we're going to change let's at least pick something unique to our country.
Changing the Rules
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:03 | By Colleen Spiro
Oh well.....I look forward to changing the government if we get one we do not agree with....It is amazing how they set up and paid this Committee to choose the crappy ones they did, THEN because someone thinks a logo should be included, they change the rules....
Integrity is dead
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:05 | By Murray.Guy
just as Tauranga/Motiti locals have observed in regards Rena processes and outcomes, integrity is rapidly becoming a scarce commodity in the hearts of those consumed with self-interest, and preservation. Regardless of one's personal preferences, the initial process was surprisingly democratic to a degree rarely offered (if ever). We were told an independent committee would manage the processes clearly defined in law, that the outcome would reflect the public will. Naively I assumed the Government would 'butt out'. Not so! It seems we were misled (those of us who were taken in), as contrary to understandings, the processes are NOT independent and the integrity of them are expendable. The public, the Flag Committee, the submitters of the 10,000 flag design options have all be shat on from a great height, the PM's Office. I hate being cheated on, despise our democratic processes being used and abused even more!
Flag
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:07 | By mlangdon
Doesn't change a thing for me, leave the flag alone !! we don't need a new flag, total waste of (our) money this whole referendum thing, should have just asked the simple question first... do we want a new Flag...NO NO NO!!
jmac
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:23 | By JohnMac
THis whole thing is degrading from bad to insulting. No one surely would consider this poor attempt at design as a serious flag option for NZ. John Key is losing the plot and has lost my support. This has gone too far already and now we are committed to spending a lot of money for something that is a waste of time.
Uluru?
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:27 | By cssr
Why would you want an Australian icon on your flag? The only red peak around this part of the globe is Ayres Rock, Uluru. I thought we were trying to look less like Australia. Change the flag by all means, but not to this monstrosity.
And where...
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:38 | By Woody
...is the morality in breaking the rules that all other designers abided by? The Greens have shown their true colours by getting into bed with National. Labour, at least, was attempting to change the referendum questions to show a more democratic process. There is nothing democratic about the government essentially invalidating the whole referendum process by breaking the rules. And once again we see John Key denigrating Labour in his usual little-boy-like manner. What
Woody
Posted on 24-09-2015 13:48 | By Plonker
Well the rules and committee all happened and done and dusted. So if you have any late-ish ideas then just get it up on the internet and let it go viral. So then bypass everything.
change the rules
Posted on 24-09-2015 14:13 | By wtf
to suit the moaners. I am sorry but I don't see any thing representing New Zealand in this flag.I think this is going to be one big farce. If a design gets chosen by the public we all know it will be ignored if a few minority don't want it. I am picking the Government already have chosen the one they want. Besides as unimportant as my opinion is I think our current flag is fine. My Grandfather served under it when he went to war.
What a FARCE
Posted on 24-09-2015 14:18 | By Merlin
What a you FARCE You can change the rules at the whim of 50,000 New Zealanders or 1.5% of the voting population.John Key is so desperate to get his flag change so he won't get egg on his face for wasting $26 millions dollars plus or the other costs to businesses.The Red Peak looks like a logo on a packet of something.
What a waste of money.
Posted on 24-09-2015 15:03 | By dgk
As we now know that National will change the rules, time to pester our MP's get get some more flag designs added :)
Make up your mind John Key
Posted on 24-09-2015 18:50 | By Merlin
1.From John Key i prefer the Silver Fern. 2.The Red Peak is not an Option. 3.Perhaps the Red Peak may be considered. 4.I think I will vote for the Red Peak. Well I ask you is this indecision or not or is it because he thinks it might have a chance to get his flag change.Debacle in the highest order
Great
Posted on 24-09-2015 21:21 | By Capt_Kaveman
so this is the 3rd worst option, if this comes about ill never fly it
oh dear
Posted on 24-09-2015 23:25 | By maildrop
this just gets funnier. What a sad little country. If it gets any more insecure and indecisive the cringing will be unbearable.
How ghastly
Posted on 26-09-2015 11:34 | By Papamoaner
Looks to me like the kind of flag we might see flying on a ute in Arabia with a machine gun on it
KNEEJERKING BACKFLIPPING BOZOs
Posted on 27-09-2015 15:02 | By ROCCO
The bumbling stumbling incoherent Key is a joke and can't abide by the rules so gets urgent legislation with the help of his arch enemies the Greens to float their preferred option.Completely in contravention of the process and terms of reference.We have wasted millions getting to this point and now because some don't like the track it is going down they move the goalposts.
Yuk
Posted on 01-10-2015 10:34 | By Plonker
Like that is one of the worst options possible. This is getting like TV, the more channels you have the more the good stuff is spread out, thinner.
DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
Posted on 03-10-2015 08:59 | By crazyhorse
All the poles are running around 60% to keep our flag so I don't think there is much to worry about, unless, it's pushed through regardless, "honest" John's not big on referendums unless they are going his way, wonder what the "boys" have been slipping through the back door while everyone talks flaggy stuff?.
HYPOCRITES
Posted on 03-10-2015 14:40 | By ROCCO
Agreed don't trust this lot they are selling NZ down the gurgler and don't care or have any conscience about how they achieve that goal.
Legal action?
Posted on 03-10-2015 21:34 | By Papamoaner
The best interests of NZ would be served if Peak Engineering and Arrow uniforms sued for breach of trademark over this horrible flag design I prefer to call Red Pewk.
Papamoaner
Posted on 14-10-2015 17:32 | By Plonker
Agree, hardly inspiring at all, in fact totally depressing. This only adds to the joke about to cost all taxpayers some $26 million or so.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.