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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/01/new-zealand-announces-final-shortlist-for-new-flag-design-live
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| New Zealand announces final shortlist for new flag design – live | New Zealand announces final shortlist for new flag design – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.09am BST01:09 | |
| Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), designed by Kyle Lockwood | |
| Fourth option for new NZ flag - second design on the shortlist from Kyle Lockwood @NZStuff pic.twitter.com/D99Bq2dpxg | |
| The designer’s description: The silver fern: A New Zealand icon for over 160 years, worn proudly by many generations. The fern is an element of indigenous flora representing the growth of our nation. The multiple points of the fern leaf represent Aotearoa’s peaceful multicultural society, a single fern spreading upwards represents that we are all one people growing onward into the future. The bright blue represents our clear atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean, over which all New Zealanders, or their ancestors, crossed to get here. The Southern Cross represents our geographic location in the antipodes. It has been used as a navigational aid for centuries and it helped guide early settlers to our islands. | |
| This blogger’s take: nuhrghghhgrghhjhgfghh | |
| Updated at 1.09am BST | |
| 1.06am BST01:06 | |
| Koru, designed by Andrew Fyfe | |
| Third contender for new NZ flag - Andrew Fyfe's Koru @NZStuff pic.twitter.com/0gAhuylLcC | |
| The designer’s description: As our flag unfurls, so too does its koru. The koru represents the fern frond, but is also reminiscent of a wave, a cloud, and a ram’s horn. In Māori kowhaiwhai patterns the koru represent new life, growth, strength and peace, and for this reason has taken a special place in Aotearoa’s visual language. | |
| This blogger’s take: It isn’t a fern! And John Key doesn’t like it. If you didn’t like John Key, maybe you would vote for this one. But, more likely, you’d just not vote at all. | |
| 1.00am BST01:00 | |
| Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), designed by Kyle Lockwood | |
| Second of the final four flag contenders @NZStuff pic.twitter.com/DbRvmp7pgJ | |
| The designer’s description: The silver fern: A New Zealand icon for over 160 years, worn proudly by many generations. The fern is an element of indigenous flora representing the growth of our nation. The multiple points of the fern leaf represent Aotearoa’s peaceful multicultural society, a single fern spreading upwards represents that we are all one people growing onward into the future. The red represents our heritage and sacrifices made. Blue represents our clear atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean, over which all New Zealanders, or their ancestors, crossed to get here. The Southern Cross represents our geographic location in the antipodes. It has been used as a navigational aid for centuries and it helped guide early settlers to our islands. | |
| This blogger’s take: This is John Key’s preferred alternative because it has a fern on it and it doesn’t look like Isis’ flag. It invokes less a feeling of patriotism in me than a feeling of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ | |
| Also: | |
| No further comment... pic.twitter.com/Z8UbKDvhpF | |
| 12.51am BST00:51 | |
| Between three ferns | |
| Enough dwelling on what could have been. Let’s find out a little bit more about the four flags that New Zealanders will rank in November or December (or not, whichever – there’s no compulsory voting). | |
| First up: Silver Fern (Black & White), designed by Alofi Kanter | |
| First of the final four #nzflag @NZStuff pic.twitter.com/aGf3ufeo7V | |
| The designer’s description: The fern has been a distinctive symbol of New Zealand for the past 100 years. Strong and simple, it represents our uniqueness as Aotearoa New Zealand and the black and white colours show our ‘yin and yang’, with the softly curved spine of the frond binding us all together as a young, independent and proud nation. Credit for the fern goes to The New Zealand Way Limited. | |
| This blogger’s take: The silver fern is obviously an iconic symbol of New Zealand, and we already know it looks good on an All Blacks jersey, second only to the flag in terms of fabric representations of nationhood. I suspect that the fact it’s familiar, and John Key’s enthusiastic support for it, will be enough for it to come out on top in the first referendum. | |
| But the fern is the logo of not only the All Blacks but also “The New Zealand Way Limited”, a joint venture company owned by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand. (You can read a very interesting academic paper (really) about the history of the silver fern brand here.) | |
| I might be being precious, but making it the flag seems a bit on-the-nose so far as national branding goes. Why not capitalise on our lively Lord of the Rings tourism industry and make the flag of The One Ring or a Hobbit-hole? | |
| 12.34am BST00:34 | 12.34am BST00:34 |
| You wouldn’t know it to look at the final four, but it didn’t have to be this way: the flag consideration panel had more than 10,000 designs to choose from, many of which did not feature silver ferns or the Southern Cross. | You wouldn’t know it to look at the final four, but it didn’t have to be this way: the flag consideration panel had more than 10,000 designs to choose from, many of which did not feature silver ferns or the Southern Cross. |
| No time to look at all 10,292 #NZflag designs? Don't worry, I did it for you. My long list. http://t.co/cyOYctcnWC pic.twitter.com/JN0XRx7gYN | No time to look at all 10,292 #NZflag designs? Don't worry, I did it for you. My long list. http://t.co/cyOYctcnWC pic.twitter.com/JN0XRx7gYN |
| 12.31am BST00:31 | 12.31am BST00:31 |
| The backlash about the final four seems aimed squarely at the process, rather than the designers. The lack of transparency about the panel’s decision-making, the absence of public consultation, and the resulting Hobson’s choice of mostly ferns seems to have soured people from both sides of the political spectrum on the process. | The backlash about the final four seems aimed squarely at the process, rather than the designers. The lack of transparency about the panel’s decision-making, the absence of public consultation, and the resulting Hobson’s choice of mostly ferns seems to have soured people from both sides of the political spectrum on the process. |
| It’s hard to identify a clear favourite among the shortlist of four from the response on social media, especially given that three are so similar. Could the black-and-white koru be in with a shot given that it’s a) the only design without a (botanically incorrect) fern, and b) the only design that prime minister John Key doesn’t prefer to the current flag? | It’s hard to identify a clear favourite among the shortlist of four from the response on social media, especially given that three are so similar. Could the black-and-white koru be in with a shot given that it’s a) the only design without a (botanically incorrect) fern, and b) the only design that prime minister John Key doesn’t prefer to the current flag? |
| “I don’t know if Kiwis care enough,” said my colleague (and New Zealand citizen) Calla Wahlquist. | “I don’t know if Kiwis care enough,” said my colleague (and New Zealand citizen) Calla Wahlquist. |
| If you wanted to express your discontentment with the process, your other alternative would be not voting in the first referendum at all. | If you wanted to express your discontentment with the process, your other alternative would be not voting in the first referendum at all. |
| 12.17am BST00:17 | 12.17am BST00:17 |
| One person I’m holding in my thoughts today is the Sydney-based gentleman who emailed me when the longlist of designs was announced to point out that “the majority of the designs [are] botanically incorrect”, attaching both a drawing and a scan of a silver fern to make his point. “You would expect them to get right,” he said. | One person I’m holding in my thoughts today is the Sydney-based gentleman who emailed me when the longlist of designs was announced to point out that “the majority of the designs [are] botanically incorrect”, attaching both a drawing and a scan of a silver fern to make his point. “You would expect them to get right,” he said. |
| A man once emailed me a scan of a silver fern to show how "the majority of the designs botanically incorrect" #nzflag pic.twitter.com/TgBie9NqdO | A man once emailed me a scan of a silver fern to show how "the majority of the designs botanically incorrect" #nzflag pic.twitter.com/TgBie9NqdO |
| 12.06am BST00:06 | 12.06am BST00:06 |
| It’s a big day for branding in New Zealand, with new banknote designs also announced today. They have been described as “funky”. | It’s a big day for branding in New Zealand, with new banknote designs also announced today. They have been described as “funky”. |
| Funky new New Zealand #banknotes released https://t.co/eW4lyOc5Uv pic.twitter.com/4d1XzBXTy6 | Funky new New Zealand #banknotes released https://t.co/eW4lyOc5Uv pic.twitter.com/4d1XzBXTy6 |
| Twitter isn’t happy with them, either. | Twitter isn’t happy with them, either. |
| Between the banknotes and the 'final four' flags, this is a dark day in New Zealand design history. @standfornz @flagpostnz *massive sigh* | Between the banknotes and the 'final four' flags, this is a dark day in New Zealand design history. @standfornz @flagpostnz *massive sigh* |
| Dear NZ Reserve Bank, your new #banknotes are a crime against design and sensibility. Please compare: pic.twitter.com/pic5reNsVW | Dear NZ Reserve Bank, your new #banknotes are a crime against design and sensibility. Please compare: pic.twitter.com/pic5reNsVW |
| Banknotes that look like a granny's biscuit tin, flags that look like primary school project. Good luck selling NZ design now. | Banknotes that look like a granny's biscuit tin, flags that look like primary school project. Good luck selling NZ design now. |
| 11.57pm BST23:57 | 11.57pm BST23:57 |
| The Vortex flag and the final shot of the shower scene in Psycho. Uncanny. pic.twitter.com/bEMPjN4HYM | The Vortex flag and the final shot of the shower scene in Psycho. Uncanny. pic.twitter.com/bEMPjN4HYM |
| 11.56pm BST23:56 | 11.56pm BST23:56 |
| Allowing for the fact that New Zealanders on Twitter are not representative of New Zealanders as a whole, the reaction to the shortlisted four is overwhelmingly negative. There seems to be a sense that an opportunity was squandered and the population wasn’t listened to. | Allowing for the fact that New Zealanders on Twitter are not representative of New Zealanders as a whole, the reaction to the shortlisted four is overwhelmingly negative. There seems to be a sense that an opportunity was squandered and the population wasn’t listened to. |
| The flag consideration panel did not consult with the public on either its longlist of 40 (39, if you disregard the one that breached copyright!) published two months ago, or the shortlist of four just announced. | The flag consideration panel did not consult with the public on either its longlist of 40 (39, if you disregard the one that breached copyright!) published two months ago, or the shortlist of four just announced. |
| Has this entire process just been one long elaborate practical joke? That's the only way to explain the #NZflag shortlist. Utterly awful | Has this entire process just been one long elaborate practical joke? That's the only way to explain the #NZflag shortlist. Utterly awful |
| What a farce that was. Money well spent, huh guys? #nzflag | What a farce that was. Money well spent, huh guys? #nzflag |
| I actually want a new flag. Shame they squandered that opportunity #nzflag | I actually want a new flag. Shame they squandered that opportunity #nzflag |
| We should have just gone with "We love the All Blacks" in comic sans with a smiley face emoji #NZFlag | We should have just gone with "We love the All Blacks" in comic sans with a smiley face emoji #NZFlag |
| Still, every cloud: | Still, every cloud: |
| the only thing to look forward to is @iamjohnoliver's reaction #nzflag | the only thing to look forward to is @iamjohnoliver's reaction #nzflag |
| Updated at 12.00am BST | Updated at 12.00am BST |
| 11.47pm BST23:47 | 11.47pm BST23:47 |
| The final four: same, same, bit different | The final four: same, same, bit different |
| These are the final four flags that New Zealanders will be asked to rank in a postal referendum later this year. As far as I am aware, “none of the above” will not be an option, despite clear calls for it from Twitter commentators. | These are the final four flags that New Zealanders will be asked to rank in a postal referendum later this year. As far as I am aware, “none of the above” will not be an option, despite clear calls for it from Twitter commentators. |
| Here are the official images showing the final four flag referendum choices in flight: #nzflag pic.twitter.com/2MOasBbia2 | Here are the official images showing the final four flag referendum choices in flight: #nzflag pic.twitter.com/2MOasBbia2 |
| The preferred fern design (let’s be real here) will then be deemed the “preferred alternative”. Early next year, the public will vote whether they’d rather it or the current flag they know and love (or, at least, now newly appreciate). | The preferred fern design (let’s be real here) will then be deemed the “preferred alternative”. Early next year, the public will vote whether they’d rather it or the current flag they know and love (or, at least, now newly appreciate). |
| Here they are flying in all their glory. Or, lack thereof #nzflag pic.twitter.com/QskRdoRqxd | Here they are flying in all their glory. Or, lack thereof #nzflag pic.twitter.com/QskRdoRqxd |
| Updated at 11.48pm BST | Updated at 11.48pm BST |
| 11.42pm BST23:42 | 11.42pm BST23:42 |
| The flag consideration panel was appointed to represent “everyday New Zealanders” – was this in the back of their mind when they made their decision? | The flag consideration panel was appointed to represent “everyday New Zealanders” – was this in the back of their mind when they made their decision? |
| At least people with Southern Cross tattoos have a 50/50 chance of not removing them. #nzflag pic.twitter.com/wK3iBNTJSt | At least people with Southern Cross tattoos have a 50/50 chance of not removing them. #nzflag pic.twitter.com/wK3iBNTJSt |
| 11.40pm BST23:40 | 11.40pm BST23:40 |
| What could have been. | What could have been. |
| Damn, was really rooting for this guy #NZFlag pic.twitter.com/EnFIDLexFG | Damn, was really rooting for this guy #NZFlag pic.twitter.com/EnFIDLexFG |
| 11.40pm BST23:40 | 11.40pm BST23:40 |
| So, the final four: a fern, a fern, a fern and a koru. | So, the final four: a fern, a fern, a fern and a koru. |
| This seems to sum up the response of New Zealanders to the shortlist on Twitter. | This seems to sum up the response of New Zealanders to the shortlist on Twitter. |
| Hhhhhhhnnnnnnggggghhhh #nzflag | Hhhhhhhnnnnnnggggghhhh #nzflag |
| It could be fatigue with the drawn-out process, it could be displeasure with having been given a choice between three ferns, but people aren’t happy. | It could be fatigue with the drawn-out process, it could be displeasure with having been given a choice between three ferns, but people aren’t happy. |
| I hope to God that there is an option in the first referendum to choose 'none of the above'. Those designs are disgusting. #NZflag | I hope to God that there is an option in the first referendum to choose 'none of the above'. Those designs are disgusting. #NZflag |
| My issue with a black and white #nzflag is that's the color of the pirates and isis flags. | My issue with a black and white #nzflag is that's the color of the pirates and isis flags. |
| Not impressed. #nzflag | Not impressed. #nzflag |
| Can you feeeeeeeeeeeeeel the democracy and transparency, folks? #nzflag | Can you feeeeeeeeeeeeeel the democracy and transparency, folks? #nzflag |
| Maybe instead of listening to masses & giving us what we wanted, the panel should have given us what we needed? #nzflag | Maybe instead of listening to masses & giving us what we wanted, the panel should have given us what we needed? #nzflag |
| WHY DID THEY CHOOSE THE BUDGET SPORTS APPAREL FERN FOR THE TOP 4? NZ I am very disappointed in you. #nzflag | WHY DID THEY CHOOSE THE BUDGET SPORTS APPAREL FERN FOR THE TOP 4? NZ I am very disappointed in you. #nzflag |
| Those who want to keep the current flag will be feeling more relaxed now after the release of the mediocre top 4. #nzflag | Those who want to keep the current flag will be feeling more relaxed now after the release of the mediocre top 4. #nzflag |
| WHERE'S YOUR DESIGN GOD NOW? | WHERE'S YOUR DESIGN GOD NOW? |
| 11.33pm BST23:33 | 11.33pm BST23:33 |
| Aaaaaaaaand: here they are. | Aaaaaaaaand: here they are. |
| The top four new flag designs have been unveiled. Check them out. pic.twitter.com/1eF0UP99zO | The top four new flag designs have been unveiled. Check them out. pic.twitter.com/1eF0UP99zO |
| 11.31pm BST23:31 | 11.31pm BST23:31 |
| Here’s the third option. | Here’s the third option. |
| The 3rd alternative #nzflag pic.twitter.com/ssMWlnOj8m | The 3rd alternative #nzflag pic.twitter.com/ssMWlnOj8m |
| Given that prime minister John Key has been unequivocal about his preference for a silver fern design, it seems reasonable to assume that this is the one of the shortlisted four that he doesn’t prefer to the current flag. | Given that prime minister John Key has been unequivocal about his preference for a silver fern design, it seems reasonable to assume that this is the one of the shortlisted four that he doesn’t prefer to the current flag. |
| 11.29pm BST23:29 | 11.29pm BST23:29 |
| The first two of the final four flags have been unveiled – unfurled? – by the deputy prime minister, Bill English. So far: two silver ferns! | The first two of the final four flags have been unveiled – unfurled? – by the deputy prime minister, Bill English. So far: two silver ferns! |
| First of the four flag designs announced #nzflag pic.twitter.com/Xhyl3eKFkE | First of the four flag designs announced #nzflag pic.twitter.com/Xhyl3eKFkE |
| Second of the four final flag designs. Silver Fern ratio currently at 1/2 #nzflag pic.twitter.com/OUQp39By8T | Second of the four final flag designs. Silver Fern ratio currently at 1/2 #nzflag pic.twitter.com/OUQp39By8T |
| This prediction is shaping up to be on the money. | This prediction is shaping up to be on the money. |
| Updated at 11.45pm BST | Updated at 11.45pm BST |
| 11.26pm BST23:26 | 11.26pm BST23:26 |
| Here's the flag consideration panel. Still to find out which flags they've picked pic.twitter.com/2oqcyrHzpd | Here's the flag consideration panel. Still to find out which flags they've picked pic.twitter.com/2oqcyrHzpd |
| Members of the flag consideration panel are waiting for the deputy prime minister, Bill English, to announce their decision. | Members of the flag consideration panel are waiting for the deputy prime minister, Bill English, to announce their decision. |
| The makeup of this panel has been one of the most contentious points of the process to change the flag, the fact that there’s not a graphic designer or vexillologist among them in particular. | The makeup of this panel has been one of the most contentious points of the process to change the flag, the fact that there’s not a graphic designer or vexillologist among them in particular. |
| The 12 people were chosen to represent New Zealanders “from all walks of life, age and experience” by a cross-party group of MPs in late February. | The 12 people were chosen to represent New Zealanders “from all walks of life, age and experience” by a cross-party group of MPs in late February. |
| Updated at 11.58pm BST | Updated at 11.58pm BST |
| 11.10pm BST23:10 | 11.10pm BST23:10 |
| The final four are being picked from all but one of the 40 designs that made the panel’s longlist in August. One design was made ineligible after it was found to have been in breach of copyright. You had one job … | The final four are being picked from all but one of the 40 designs that made the panel’s longlist in August. One design was made ineligible after it was found to have been in breach of copyright. You had one job … |
| The #nzflag longlist of 40 was reduced to 39 after this design was found to breach copyright https://t.co/dBhOuk4qzJ pic.twitter.com/MEnABWoavd | The #nzflag longlist of 40 was reduced to 39 after this design was found to breach copyright https://t.co/dBhOuk4qzJ pic.twitter.com/MEnABWoavd |
| 11.06pm BST23:06 | 11.06pm BST23:06 |
| New Zealand Twitter, which is disproportionately journalists and communications professionals, is playing along at home with flag bingo. | New Zealand Twitter, which is disproportionately journalists and communications professionals, is playing along at home with flag bingo. |
| Flag bingo: Here are my guesses for the four flags which will be announced as the finalists: pic.twitter.com/kJHFyIB1wh | Flag bingo: Here are my guesses for the four flags which will be announced as the finalists: pic.twitter.com/kJHFyIB1wh |
| uninformed guess at the four the flag panel will pick for the shortlist tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/hgRjzl3FiV | uninformed guess at the four the flag panel will pick for the shortlist tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/hgRjzl3FiV |
| It’s not about which flag you want anymore. It’s about who can bestguess the hivemind of the flag consideration panel. | It’s not about which flag you want anymore. It’s about who can bestguess the hivemind of the flag consideration panel. |
| Here's the final flag shortlist! Choose option A, B, C or D. #NZflag #vexiLOLogy pic.twitter.com/PWBEvKRsIt | Here's the final flag shortlist! Choose option A, B, C or D. #NZflag #vexiLOLogy pic.twitter.com/PWBEvKRsIt |
| Updated at 12.19am BST | Updated at 12.19am BST |
| 11.02pm BST23:02 | 11.02pm BST23:02 |
| New Zealand’s hunt for a new flag has been observed with interest by the rest of the world and this morning the government-appointed flag consideration panel of 12 people will announce their shortlist of four designs. | New Zealand’s hunt for a new flag has been observed with interest by the rest of the world and this morning the government-appointed flag consideration panel of 12 people will announce their shortlist of four designs. |
| Before the end of the year, the New Zealand public will be rank these four designs in the first of two public referendums – this one will determine a preferred alternative, while the next, early next year, will pit that against the current pairing of the Union Jack and the Southern Cross. | Before the end of the year, the New Zealand public will be rank these four designs in the first of two public referendums – this one will determine a preferred alternative, while the next, early next year, will pit that against the current pairing of the Union Jack and the Southern Cross. |
| So, after all this expense and lively debate about nationhood, there’s a chance that New Zealand won’t end up with a new flag at all. | So, after all this expense and lively debate about nationhood, there’s a chance that New Zealand won’t end up with a new flag at all. |
| But that’s putting the cart before the kiwi-with-laser-eyes – which, unfortunately, won’t be appearing on the shortlist of four this morning. The panel published its longlist of 40 designs only two months ago – prompting the world’s media to mourn what could have been (man on a bicycle! deranged cat!) and to start taking the debate seriously. | But that’s putting the cart before the kiwi-with-laser-eyes – which, unfortunately, won’t be appearing on the shortlist of four this morning. The panel published its longlist of 40 designs only two months ago – prompting the world’s media to mourn what could have been (man on a bicycle! deranged cat!) and to start taking the debate seriously. |
| The prime minister John Key – his preference is for a silver fern flag, if not necessarily on black (because, you know, Isis) – has said that three of the four would be an improvement on the current flag. But the New Zealand public – eventually by referendum, inititally on Twitter – will be the judge of that. | The prime minister John Key – his preference is for a silver fern flag, if not necessarily on black (because, you know, Isis) – has said that three of the four would be an improvement on the current flag. But the New Zealand public – eventually by referendum, inititally on Twitter – will be the judge of that. |
| Keep up with the decision and the reaction here, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. | Keep up with the decision and the reaction here, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. |
| Updated at 11.08pm BST | Updated at 11.08pm BST |