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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/dec/11/new-zealand-flag-referendum-first-results-live
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| New Zealand flag referendum: blue and black silver fern design wins – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.18am GMT08:18 | |
| #nzflag Twitter, by and large proponents of Red Peak (included in the shortlist partly because of a campaign carried out on social media), is not impressed – but not necessarily surprised, either. | |
| No expectations. No disappointments. No flag. No swag. #nzflag | |
| no no no no no no no no #nzflag | |
| Not gonna lie. I don't really give a toss about the #NZFlag, whatever it looks like. I'd use any of them for toilet paper if I had to. | |
| This is what the #nzflag referendum revealed: we are all just a bunch of ... pic.twitter.com/XN6d5Pn24F | |
| Yeah nah, don't think I want Chris Cairns' old playing shirt as our new flag #nzflag #nochange | |
| Screw this. I'm moving to [country with a non-embarrassment flag] #nzflag | |
| Sorry that the corporate logo has won the #nzflag referendum. No doubt #RedPeak will become NZ's "Boxing Kangaroo"– https://t.co/Ef9gQNtudM | |
| The weird obsession with the fern motif reminds me of this. Just replace "horse" with "fern". #nzflag pic.twitter.com/Me3Pr0nnXT | |
| Red Peak lost? It was so much better than the other 4 proposals it’s not even funny #nzflag #kiwicon | |
| No surprises there. #NZflag | |
| Of course, it being the internet, there’s a fair bit of schadenfreude, too. | |
| Right now i dont care if the flag doesnt change. Watching red peak's demise and constant whinging was all the entertainment i need #nzflag | |
| 8.10am GMT08:10 | |
| How far we’ve come from those first 10,292 submissions – and not necessarily for the better. | |
| Related: New Zealand's new flag: 15 quirky contenders | |
| May was a simpler time. The government had just called for submissions for New Zealand’s potential next flag, and the possibilities were literally endless. We didn’t have to make a decision, or even consider our designs as real-life possibilities of thread and cloth; we just had to make jokes online. | |
| Time to take a trip down memory lane, and wonder what could have been. | |
| it's not too late @johnkeypm #nzflag pic.twitter.com/WHliRMBZOz | |
| Never forget #nzflag pic.twitter.com/GOrdvVuxoC | |
| Is it too late to add this to the referendum? #nzflag pic.twitter.com/Hns4xebo0d | |
| Updated at 8.11am GMT | |
| 8.04am GMT08:04 | |
| What the result means – and doesn't mean | |
| Again, it must be stressed that these results are only preliminary – the binding result will be announced next week, with all votes dated on or before Friday 11 December and received by noon Tuesday counted. But, in the absence of a shock upset, the “preferred alternative” is highly likely to be Kyle Lockwood’s blue-and-black silver fern design. | |
| But it’s not over yet. | |
| The next step is a second referendum, to be held in March next year, that asks voters to choose between Lockwood’s design and the current flag. That result will be binding. So, there’s a strong chance that – after all this – New Zealanders might well end up maintaining the status quo. | |
| 7.42am GMT07:42 | 7.42am GMT07:42 |
| Based on the preliminary result, the most preferred alternative flag design chosen through the referendum was Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue design. | Based on the preliminary result, the most preferred alternative flag design chosen through the referendum was Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue design. |
| The next most preferred was Lockwood’s red, white and blue – followed, in order of preference, the red peak, the black-and-white silver fern, and the koru. | The next most preferred was Lockwood’s red, white and blue – followed, in order of preference, the red peak, the black-and-white silver fern, and the koru. |
| The total votes received were 1,527,042, including 148,022 informal votes and 2,476 invalid votes. | The total votes received were 1,527,042, including 148,022 informal votes and 2,476 invalid votes. |
| As a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled, turnout was 48.16%. | As a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled, turnout was 48.16%. |
| The Commission has also publicised its report into the flag referendum preliminary results by count. (You can see the below table in higher resolution here.) | The Commission has also publicised its report into the flag referendum preliminary results by count. (You can see the below table in higher resolution here.) |
| The #nzflag first referendum results from the New Zealand Electoral Commission pic.twitter.com/RulAenmJVv | The #nzflag first referendum results from the New Zealand Electoral Commission pic.twitter.com/RulAenmJVv |
| 7.35am GMT07:35 | 7.35am GMT07:35 |
| The results are in | The results are in |
| The top-ranked flag was Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue silver fern design, with 552,827 first-preference votes. | The top-ranked flag was Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue silver fern design, with 552,827 first-preference votes. |
| 7.33am GMT07:33 | 7.33am GMT07:33 |
| So, which is it going to be? | So, which is it going to be? |
| New Zealanders: place your bets for #nzflag | New Zealanders: place your bets for #nzflag |
| After his preferred silver fern on black was thrown out for its apparent similarity to the Isis flag (...seriously), John Key endorsed Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue design. That could be enough to swing it for supporters of his governing National party. | After his preferred silver fern on black was thrown out for its apparent similarity to the Isis flag (...seriously), John Key endorsed Kyle Lockwood’s black, white and blue design. That could be enough to swing it for supporters of his governing National party. |
| Lockwood’s red, white and blue design has been remarked on its similarity to not only the Weet-Bix box but a brand of plastic plates. | Lockwood’s red, white and blue design has been remarked on its similarity to not only the Weet-Bix box but a brand of plastic plates. |
| Yeah, something isn't right. Found this the other day. #NZflag pic.twitter.com/3Z9twOe9at | Yeah, something isn't right. Found this the other day. #NZflag pic.twitter.com/3Z9twOe9at |
| Red Peak, the late addition, is beloved of the New Zealand liberal “Twitterati” and art and design set, which could work both for and against it, depending on in what numbers they turned out to vote. Because Key first dismissed calls to have it included in the shortlist, its subsequent addition in late September was construed as a bit of a win for the left. | Red Peak, the late addition, is beloved of the New Zealand liberal “Twitterati” and art and design set, which could work both for and against it, depending on in what numbers they turned out to vote. Because Key first dismissed calls to have it included in the shortlist, its subsequent addition in late September was construed as a bit of a win for the left. |
| The most you can say of the koru is that it’s better known as the ‘hypnoflag’. | The most you can say of the koru is that it’s better known as the ‘hypnoflag’. |
| 7.19am GMT07:19 | 7.19am GMT07:19 |
| I don’t care to let on how many times I’ve watched that “John Key says ‘flag’” video (“fhleg”). | I don’t care to let on how many times I’ve watched that “John Key says ‘flag’” video (“fhleg”). |
| 7.16am GMT07:16 | 7.16am GMT07:16 |
| The Electoral Commission are expected to announce the preliminary results to the referendum in approximately 15 minutes’ time, which will be 8.30pm in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. | The Electoral Commission are expected to announce the preliminary results to the referendum in approximately 15 minutes’ time, which will be 8.30pm in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. |
| It is, we must stress, a preliminary result, which may change when the final voting papers are counted. Though the referendum technically closed today, any votes that are stamped or postmarked on or before Friday 11 December will be counted if they are received by noon on Tuesday 15 December. | It is, we must stress, a preliminary result, which may change when the final voting papers are counted. Though the referendum technically closed today, any votes that are stamped or postmarked on or before Friday 11 December will be counted if they are received by noon on Tuesday 15 December. |
| But unless it’s an exceedingly close-run contest between the top two designs, the best-ranked design tonight will likely be the one that goes head-to-head against the current flag in the second referendum in March. | But unless it’s an exceedingly close-run contest between the top two designs, the best-ranked design tonight will likely be the one that goes head-to-head against the current flag in the second referendum in March. |
| Just over 1.5m votes had been received by the Electoral Commission yesterday – 47.40% of enrolled voters. | Just over 1.5m votes had been received by the Electoral Commission yesterday – 47.40% of enrolled voters. |
| First, a word from the New Zealand prime minister, John Key. | First, a word from the New Zealand prime minister, John Key. |
| 7.09am GMT07:09 | 7.09am GMT07:09 |
| Let’s assess the five contenders, which New Zealanders were asked to rank in this first postal referendum. | Let’s assess the five contenders, which New Zealanders were asked to rank in this first postal referendum. |
| The question posed was “If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?” | The question posed was “If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?” |
| Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), by Kyle Lockwood | Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), by Kyle Lockwood |
| Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), by Kyle Lockwood | Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), by Kyle Lockwood |
| Koru, by Andrew Fyfe | Koru, by Andrew Fyfe |
| Silver Fern (Black and White), by Alofi Kanter | Silver Fern (Black and White), by Alofi Kanter |
| Red Peak, by Aaron Dustin | Red Peak, by Aaron Dustin |
| 6.51am GMT06:51 | 6.51am GMT06:51 |
| TGIF – thank god it’s flag day | TGIF – thank god it’s flag day |
| Welcome to the live blog of the first New Zealand flag referendum announcement. | Welcome to the live blog of the first New Zealand flag referendum announcement. |
| Related: New Zealand's prime minister John Key wants a new flag. Does anybody else? | Related: New Zealand's prime minister John Key wants a new flag. Does anybody else? |
| The bid to change New Zealand’s flag began in earnest seven months ago, when the government put out a call for alternative designs. | The bid to change New Zealand’s flag began in earnest seven months ago, when the government put out a call for alternative designs. |
| Nearly 10,300 were submitted, which a government-appointed panel of 12 people was tasked with whittling down to 4o, then four. A fifth design, Red Peak, was added to the shortlist following public pressure. | Nearly 10,300 were submitted, which a government-appointed panel of 12 people was tasked with whittling down to 4o, then four. A fifth design, Red Peak, was added to the shortlist following public pressure. |
| Related: New Zealand's flag referendum: fifth option to be added after public pressure | Related: New Zealand's flag referendum: fifth option to be added after public pressure |
| The New Zealand Electoral Commission will shortly announce the preliminary results of the first referendum, which asked voters to rank the five flags in order of preference. | The New Zealand Electoral Commission will shortly announce the preliminary results of the first referendum, which asked voters to rank the five flags in order of preference. |
| But the process doesn’t end tonight: the top-ranked design will be pitted against the current flag in a second and final referendum in March next year. | But the process doesn’t end tonight: the top-ranked design will be pitted against the current flag in a second and final referendum in March next year. |
| Will Red Peak’s late addition to the list be justified? Will the black-and-white koru, or ‘hypnoflag’, be a surprise contender? Or, as is statistically likely, will the winning design be a silver fern? | Will Red Peak’s late addition to the list be justified? Will the black-and-white koru, or ‘hypnoflag’, be a surprise contender? Or, as is statistically likely, will the winning design be a silver fern? |
| We’ll be covering the announcement and the reaction from around the globe. You can tweet at me at @mlle_elle, keep up with the discussion on Twitter at #nzflag, or comment below. | We’ll be covering the announcement and the reaction from around the globe. You can tweet at me at @mlle_elle, keep up with the discussion on Twitter at #nzflag, or comment below. |