New Zealanders Called To Join New Flag Discussion; Winston Peters Says It's 'Gross Waste' Of Money

New Zealanders are being urged to express their opinion about the upcoming changes to their country’s flag. The Flag Consideration Project has recently announced the beginning of a formal process for the people of New Zealand to consider a new national flag.

Kiwis can participate through online discussions and a roadshow including community meetings, according to the project’s press release. The activities will be held across the country to provide an opportunity for New Zealanders to talk about the flag and how it should represent the country.

John Burrows, the project’s panel chairman Emeritus Professor, said the series of roadshows will mark the first time in New Zealand history that the public was given the chance to have a say in the future national flag. The first discussion will be on May 16 in Christchurch.

“Anyone can attend a community workshop, hold their own discussion or share their thoughts online,” said Burrows. He added that schools can start their own flag discussions and referendums with the formal process as a learning exercise.

New Zealanders are also invited to submit their own design to www.flag.govt.nz starting today until July 16. They can also share their thoughts on what the flag should signify at www.standfor.co.nz.

Burrows said the public’s contributions will help the panel gain “valuable insights” and consider designs most significant to the people of New Zealand. He revealed that participants in the flag discussions can choose to have their name carved on a commemorative national flag pole monument, at Te Papa’s Te Pou Herenga Tangata, reports New Zealand Herald.

The New Zealand government is planning to conduct two postal referendums to decide on a new flag. The first referendum is scheduled between November 20 and December 11. Voters will have the chance to shortlist one of the four flag alternatives. In March 2016, voters will select between the current design of the New Zealand flag ad the preferred new alternatives.

Meanwhile, New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters said the whole process was a “gross waste of money.” He added that his party is opposed to the flag referendum. TVNZ reports that New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is under pressure to explain why millions are being spent to change the national flag. A recent poll showed that only one in four Kiwis want to see changes to the country’s flag.

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