ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
With voting papers being delivered to more than three million New Zealanders from November 20, Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, is encouraging Kiwis to have their say on what New Zealand’s flag should look like.
“Look out for your voting paper in the mail over the next few days,” says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer. “They’ll arrive between today [November 20] and Friday 27 November. Your voting pack will include your voting paper, a return free post envelope, full information on how to complete your paper, and information about the five flag options.”
The first postal referendum, which will give New Zealanders the first ever opportunity to vote on the flag that best represents them, began on November 20 and runs until December 11.
Mr English says voters should take advantage of the opportunity to rank the five alternative designs selected by the Flag Consideration Panel.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Very few governments around the world have ever asked their citizens for their views on the design of their national flags.
“I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to have their say and choose the flag they feel best represents New Zealand’s proud, pioneering past and its exciting, ambitious future,” he says.
The Electoral Commission aims to announce the official result of this first referendum on 15 December. That design will then proceed to a second binding referendum in March, where voters will choose between it and the current flag.
Enrolled voters who do not receive their pack by then should visit elections.org.nz or free phone 0800 36 76 56 to get a replacement paper. They can also request a replacement paper if they make a mistake, lose, or destroy their paper.
Once completed, voting papers should be placed in the return envelope, and posted in a New Zealand Post post box by Tuesday, December 8 to ensure they get back in time.
In March 2016, there will be another referendum to choose the most preferred option from the first referendum and the current New Zealand flag. The flag that receives the most votes in the second referendum will be the official flag of New Zealand.
With voting papers being delivered to more than three million New Zealanders from November 20, Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, is encouraging Kiwis to have their say on what New Zealand’s flag should look like.
“Look out for your voting paper in the mail over the next few days,” says Robert...
With voting papers being delivered to more than three million New Zealanders from November 20, Deputy Prime Minister, Bill English, is encouraging Kiwis to have their say on what New Zealand’s flag should look like.
“Look out for your voting paper in the mail over the next few days,” says Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer. “They’ll arrive between today [November 20] and Friday 27 November. Your voting pack will include your voting paper, a return free post envelope, full information on how to complete your paper, and information about the five flag options.”
The first postal referendum, which will give New Zealanders the first ever opportunity to vote on the flag that best represents them, began on November 20 and runs until December 11.
Mr English says voters should take advantage of the opportunity to rank the five alternative designs selected by the Flag Consideration Panel.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Very few governments around the world have ever asked their citizens for their views on the design of their national flags.
“I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to have their say and choose the flag they feel best represents New Zealand’s proud, pioneering past and its exciting, ambitious future,” he says.
The Electoral Commission aims to announce the official result of this first referendum on 15 December. That design will then proceed to a second binding referendum in March, where voters will choose between it and the current flag.
Enrolled voters who do not receive their pack by then should visit elections.org.nz or free phone 0800 36 76 56 to get a replacement paper. They can also request a replacement paper if they make a mistake, lose, or destroy their paper.
Once completed, voting papers should be placed in the return envelope, and posted in a New Zealand Post post box by Tuesday, December 8 to ensure they get back in time.
In March 2016, there will be another referendum to choose the most preferred option from the first referendum and the current New Zealand flag. The flag that receives the most votes in the second referendum will be the official flag of New Zealand.
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