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# New Zealand Votes to Preserve Colonial-era Flag
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/new-zealand-votes-to-preserve-colonial-era-flag/
- Published: 2016-03-24T18:16:21.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:42:29.000Z
- Description: After a nearly yearlong process that involved two national referendums and that cost taxpayers US$17.6 million, New Zealanders have finally voted to hold on to the flag their country has been flying for 114 years.
- Author: Claire Voon
- Tags: In Brief, New Zealand, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:17 (2016, 2017, part 1)

![The kiwi from James Gray's "Fire the Lazer!" and Kyle Lockwood's silver fern flag could not beat the original flag's design (image by the author for Hyperallergic) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2016/03/flag.jpg)

The kiwi from James Gray’s “Fire the Lazer!” and Kyle Lockwood’s silver fern flag could not beat the original flag’s design (image by the author for Hyperallergic)

After a nearly yearlong process that involved two national referendums and that cost taxpayers US$17.6 million, New Zealanders have finally voted to hold on to the flag their country has been flying for 114 years. Results from the final poll [show](http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/299854/nz-flag-result-how-it-happened?ref=hyperallergic.com) that over 56.6% of Kiwis are in favor of keeping the colonial-era design, which features the Union Jack, over the alternative by architectural designer Kyle Lockwood, which features a silver fern — widely considered a national symbol.

![ResizedImage11711491-govt-nz-infographic-referendum-2-rev1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2016/03/resizedimage11711491-govt-nz-infographic-referendum-2-rev1.jpg)

(infographic via govt.nz)

The pretty anti-climactic results arrive after a lengthy and historic campaign spearheaded by Prime Minister John Key, whose [Flag Consideration Project](https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/?ref=hyperallergic.com) officially kicked off last year. An [open call](http://hyperallergic.com/228776/40-designs-vying-to-replace-new-zealands-national-flag/) for potential redesigns had received many tasteful silver fern and [koru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koru?ref=hyperallergic.com)\-adorned flags but also some fantastic Microsoft Paint-based masterpieces, including an[ infamous kiwi](https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/the-nz-flag-your-chance-to-decide/gallery/design/3127?ref=hyperallergic.com) shooting laser beams from its eyes.

“Obviously I’m a bit disappointed there was no change but nearly a million people voted for change,” Key [said](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/24/new-zealand-votes-to-keep-its-flag-in-referendum?ref=hyperallergic.com). “Just because it’s not the outcome I wanted doesn’t mean it wasn’t a worthwhile process.”

Sorry, Key, better luck next time — although considering the price-tag of this process, a push for a new flag may be far off in the distant future. As somewhat of a consolation prize, perhaps, at least one of those new banknotes, which many [considered](http://hyperallergic.com/233870/new-zealanders-embarrassed-by-finalists-for-national-flag-and-banknote-redesigns/) over-designed, has been [nominated](http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/77899326/new-zealands-5-note-in-the-running-for-greatest-in-the-world?ref=hyperallergic.com) for the International Banknote Society’s Banknote of the Year.