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New Zealand may ditch flag to shed colonial ties to Britain | New Zealand may ditch flag to shed colonial ties to Britain |
(about 17 hours later) | |
New Zealand may vote next year on changing its flag, the newly re-elected Prime Minister, John Key, said today, as the country seeks to assert an identity independent of colonial ties to Britain. | New Zealand may vote next year on changing its flag, the newly re-elected Prime Minister, John Key, said today, as the country seeks to assert an identity independent of colonial ties to Britain. |
Mr Key’s centre-right government was returned for a third three-year term in a resounding win on Saturday, promising to continue steady economic management and controls on spending, and possible tax cuts. | Mr Key’s centre-right government was returned for a third three-year term in a resounding win on Saturday, promising to continue steady economic management and controls on spending, and possible tax cuts. |
Asked about his promise of a referendum on a change of flag, Mr Key said he wanted it to be held next year, including finding an alternative and then putting that up against the current flag. “I’m obviously a big supporter of the change, I think there are a lot of strong arguments in favour,” he said on the Radio Live network. | Asked about his promise of a referendum on a change of flag, Mr Key said he wanted it to be held next year, including finding an alternative and then putting that up against the current flag. “I’m obviously a big supporter of the change, I think there are a lot of strong arguments in favour,” he said on the Radio Live network. |
Mr Key has previously said he wants a flag uniquely New Zealand in character that would be recognisable around the world. | Mr Key has previously said he wants a flag uniquely New Zealand in character that would be recognisable around the world. |
The current flag was adopted at the start of the 20th century and features the British Union flag in the top-left corner with the four red stars of the Southern Cross on a blue background. It is often confused with the similar-looking Australian flag. | The current flag was adopted at the start of the 20th century and features the British Union flag in the top-left corner with the four red stars of the Southern Cross on a blue background. It is often confused with the similar-looking Australian flag. |
Silver fern flag Mr Key has backed a new flag with a silver fern on a black background but he admits there would be strong arguments to retain the current flag. | |
REUTERS | REUTERS |
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