Following almost a year of campaign and debate, and after spending millions of dollars on a national referendum, the people of New Zealand have voted to keep the country’s current Union flag design.
Many Kiwis were venting their frustration on Facebook and Twitter this morning, but with a majority of 56.6% voting in favour of the old flag, things look set to stay the same for the foreseeable future.
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Despite deep-rooted links to New Zealand’s colonial past, and claims that New Zealand can “never be fully independent” without a flag of its own, the vote confirms that the flag will keep the Union flag of Britain inside it.
Exit polling reveals that for many New Zealanders, the biggest issues of the referendum were the cost of a new flag, and the fact that the new designs did not look different enough when compared to the to the old one.
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Shortly after the news was announced, deputy prime minister Bill English, himself a support of the new flag, said:
“I acknowledge there will be those who are disappointed with the outcome, but the majority of New Zealanders have spoken and we should all embrace that decision. This process has engaged Kiwis in their homes, in their schools and in their workplaces, here in New Zealand, and right around the world – it is something we’ve all had a point of view on.”
