New Zealanders to vote on removing Union Jack from their national flag

New Zealand will hold a binding referendum in 2016 on whether to change the national flag, Prime Minister John Key said Wednesday. Key is a strong supporter of ditching the current flag, which features the Union Jack of former colonial power Britain in one corner, in favour of a more recognisably New Zealand banner. Key has previously said he would like to see a new flag featuring a silver fern, on a black background, similar to the banner already used by many New Zealand teams such as the All Blacks.

Our flag is the most important symbol of our national identity and I believe that this is the right time for New Zealanders to consider changing the design to one that better reflects our status as a modern, independent nation.

Prime Minister John Key

The centre-right leader vowed to press on with plans for a change after convincingly winning a third term in a general election last month, despite opposition from some quarters, such as veterans groups. The existing flag was first used in 1869 and formally adopted in 1902. Its supporters say that New Zealanders have fought and died under it for generations and a change would dishonour their memory. But critics argue it is too easily confused with those of other former British colonies such as Australia, which has an almost identical flag.

Asia-Pacific