Labour MP Charles Chauvel wants the future of New Zealand's flag to be in the hands of the public, and he hopes a member's bill he has drafted will help achieve that.The bill, which is in a ballot with others and will be debated by Parliament when it is d
Labour MP Charles Chauvel wants the future of New Zealand's flag to be in the hands of the public, and he hopes a member's bill he has drafted will help achieve that.
The bill, which is in a ballot with others and will be debated by Parliament when it is drawn, would require the prime minister to create a commission, which would spend 18 months seeking public input into the issue of adopting a new flag.
The commission would hold a nationwide competition for new flag designs, ranking the results by how they best reflected New Zealand's national identity, aspirations, culture and heritage.
A referendum would then be held, giving voters the opportunity to vote for one of the three new designs, or to retain the current flag.
Mr Chauvel said it was timely to have a debate about New Zealand's flag.
"That debate should be properly resourced, involve widespread consultation, and be respectful," Mr Chauvel said.
"Only a publicly funded and run process can hope to ensure these three outcomes."
However, Mr Chauvel may have his work cut out for him as Prime Minister John Key has said changing New Zealand's flag isn't on the Government's agenda.
Member's bills don't get past their first reading without government support.
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