Q07094

New Zealand Flag – It’s Time For A Change

The people of New Zealand are different in lots of ways to people of other countries in our culture and togetherness. The New Zealand flag is too much like Australia’s, doesn’t have a cultural side to it and is not very original. The benefits of all of these points would bring New Zealand Kiwi feel to the flag.

The current New Zealand Flag is too much alike the Australian flag in most aspects. The Union Jack is the same also the colours; the only difference is a star. When you see the two flags hanging from flag poles it is hard to tell the difference between the two, until you see that one extra star on the Australian flag. My opinion is that we need to change the flag up a bit because at the moment it doesn’t represent the Kiwi culture at all.

We need an original Kiwi and cultural flag which would involve the Maori and Pakeha culture. There is more than just one culture in New Zealand and we don’t show this enough in our flag. The flag could include some Maori design on it. The Maori culture in New Zealand has died down a bit and is now starting to get recognised more in schools and there are courses at SIT where you can go and learn about the Maori language and culture which my mum is currently undertaking. My opinion is that the flag should include Maori designs and be more distinctive and recognisable as being “Kiwi”.

There are many benefits in having an original flag. If we started to introduce some Maori design to the flag, we would make the Maori side of our culture more recognised to the world through the cultural designs. There also could be a Kiwi or another iconic New Zealand thing. My opinion is that, as New Zealand, we should show our culture and icons through the flag and having some cultural aspects would be good for acknowledging Maori and their culture.

So as you can see, the New Zealand flag does not show any Maori culture and is not as original as it could be. The New Zealand Flag should be changed to include the culture and feel of New Zealand.