New Zealand's new flag design has been voted on by the people, bringing out more than the nation's leaders thought to vote on the narrowed down pool of designs that originally had over 10,000 to choose from, according to ABC News.
When you choose a flag, Think of the kids who need to draw it at kindergarten. #newzealand pic.twitter.com/cramRqLsLN
— Oren Gal (@oren_gal) December 11, 2015
The current flag has been flown since 1902, so making the change is a serious decision. Back in September, New Zealand revealed the final four designs after deciding that the current flag looks too similar to Australia's flag, as HNGN previously reported.
New Zealand's proposed new flag is elegant and looks as it should: as the standard of a Pacific island pic.twitter.com/Hr6nx4Uhzm — Jonathan Eyal (@JEyal_RUSI) December 11, 2015
Prime Minister John Key backed the decision, stating that it is time to remove the Union Jack from the flag, according to BBC News.
The final four were then narrowed down to a field of two and voted on again by the people, with 1,527,042 votes cast. The final two are very similar, but the winner with a narrow lead of 50.53 percent of the votes is The Silver Fern Design, which is blue, black and white in color.
The government was keen to change the current flag & fly a flag that is “unmistakably New Zealand.” #newzealandflag pic.twitter.com/vpnWignxuO
— Fuad Alakbarov (@DrAlakbarov) December 11, 2015
Don't start flying the new flag yet, as the road isn't over, CNN reported. Now the design will go up against the current flag, and voters will choose whether to make the change or not. The upcoming second referendum is planned for March, in which New Zealanders will be given the choice of keeping the existing flag or moving to The Silver Fern as their choice.
Here is the winner going up against the current flag:
