The People of New Zealand are asked to make a choice between the new flag design and the current one. In a nation’s history, there are occasions that call for bold decisions that could impact on future generations. When I was living in the Philippines, I experienced Martial Law under the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. The regime curtailed freedoms, detained its perceived enemies, and institutionalised graft and corruption. Through the National Citizens Movement from Free Elections (Namfrel), I volunteered to keep the snap presidential election clean so the popular choice of the people would prevail. But Marcos did everything to keep himself in power though it was clear that Corazon Aquino won. We were among the many that supported the call for civil disobedience and though we were distant from Manila, we prayed for the EDSA People Power Revolution to succeed. Freedom and democracy were restored by President Corazon Aquino. New Zealand is at the crossroads to determine whether it wants to be looked upon as an independent nation or to remain as a pseudo-colony of Great Britain through its flag. I am for a change in the New Zealand flag. The reasons I enumerate in the next pages. To be written in history is to fight for a just cause for the nation. And to campaign vigorously for a new flag is a just cause worth fighting for. Let us make history. Let us vote for a new New Zealand flag.
Mel B Libre
A flag is the symbol of the nation. What do the elements of the two flags mean to us as a nation?
iVote4NewNZFlag because of the symbolism. I interpret the colour black as the Maori people and the blue for the Pakeha. The silver fern I'd say represents the other migrants (Asians, Americans, Europeans, Africans, etc) who have become part of this nation and are bridging the gap between the two early settlers. The new flag acknowledges those who founded and built it and those who have embraced it as their own.
iVote4NewNZFlag because it stands for New Zealand as an independent nation that has its own rich history, heroes and hopes; no longer a colony of the United Kingdom, represented by the Union Jack in the current flag.
iVote4NewNZFlag because it will differentiate New Zealand from Australia that has a similarly designed flag. NZ has lived under the shadow on Oz long enough. It is time for NZ to shine as it deserves in the family of nations.
iVote4NewNZFlag because I want NZ to lead the way, and not wait until Oz decide to change their flag. Let us not procrastinate as NZ did in abolishing appeal to the Privy Council to finally create the Supreme Court. The time is now.
iVote4NewNZFlag because I want to be part of the history of New Zealand. While there is no revolution, no war, I will treat the act of changing the flag as a patriotic deed much like being one among the many weaving it and eventually waving this for the world to see.
iVote4NewNZFlag because I want to leave a legacy to my descendants. As a migrant, I have come to the realisation that I have become part of the Kiwi society; more so my children and my children's children for they will have lived most of their lives in New Zealand. When I am gone, I am sure that the new NZ flag will be a reminder for them of my zeal to reflect them in the flag through the silver fern (that represents all ethnicities other than the early settlers, Maori and Pakeha). It will remind them of how I campaigned vigorously for their cause.
VOTING IN THE SECOND REFERENDUM
Between 3 March and 24 March 2016, you’ll get to vote in the final binding referendum on the future of the New Zealand flag. You’ll be asked to choose between the current New Zealand flag and the preferred alternative design chosen in the first referendum at the end of 2015. The flag that gets the most votes in this referendum will be the official flag of New Zealand. To vote in the referendum, you must have been correctly enrolled by Wednesday 2 March. You cannot enrol once voting starts.
Voting is easy If you are correctly enrolled, you will receive your voting paper by post from Thursday 3 March. You should get your voting paper by Friday 11 March. Once you get your voting paper follow these four easy steps to vote: 1. 2. 3.
Tick the flag you want to be the New Zealand flag. Tear off the voting paper. Put it in the Freepost envelope included in your voting pack.
4.
Post it in a New Zealand Post mailbox by Monday 21 March to make sure it gets back on time. The flag that gets the most votes will be the official flag of New Zealand.
The voting paper looks like this:
The flag order was determined by random draw as required by law. The QR code enables voters’ names to be marked off the electoral roll when their voting papers are returned, while at the same time protecting the secrecy of the ballot. This is required by law to identify any cases of dual voting.
Returning your voting paper from within New Zealand If you do not get a pack by Friday 11 March, contact us to get a replacement paper. You can also get a replacement paper if you make a mistake, lose, or destroy your paper. Post your voting paper back once you’ve made your choice. There will be a return envelope in your voting pack. You must return your voting paper by post. If you are posting it within New Zealand make sure your voting paper is in a New Zealand Post mailbox by Monday 21 March to ensure it gets back by the close of voting on Thursday 24 March. If you lose your return envelope, you can use any envelope you have, without needing a stamp. Address it to: Freepost 244445 The Returning Office Private Bag 39801 Lower Hutt 5045
Going to be overseas? If you’ve enrolled and provided an overseas postal address your voting papers will be sent to you at that address. Otherwise you can arrange to get your voting papers forwarded to you from New Zealand, or apply here after Friday 11 March to request a replacement paper. There are three ways to return your voting paper from overseas. You can send it by post, but need to make sure the envelope is post-marked by Wednesday 23 March. You can also return it by fax or secure upload before 7.00pm Thursday 24 March (NZ time).
Need help to vote? If you need help to read or mark your voting paper you can ask anyone, including a friend or family member, to help you. Dictation voting will be available for voters who are blind, have low vision, or have a disability that means they are unable to complete their voting paper. Visit elections.org.nz or Freephone 0800 36 76 56 for more information about registering for dictation voting.
The results The preliminary results of the second referendum will be announced after 7.00pm Thursday 24 March. The final result will be declared on 30 March after all votes received in time have been processed. The result will be available from www.electionresults.govt.nz.
Informal and Invalid Votes Under section 32 of the New Zealand Flag Referendum Act, an informal vote is recorded when for the first referendum, the voting paper does not clearly indicate the voter’s first preference and for the second flag referendum, where the voting paper does not clearly indicate the option for which the elector wished to vote. This can be because the voter leaves the paper blank, the voter takes deliberate action to spoil the paper, or an error by the voter means that their intention is not clear. Informal votes are included in the overall turnout, but do not count towards the result. Under Section 33 of the Act, a vote is recorded as invalid for a number of reasons including being a forgery or a copy, being received after the voting period has closed, where a person has voted more than once, or the voting paper is damaged in such a way that it cannot be processed. The official results record turnout as percentage of enrolled electors, and how many informal votes and invalid votes were received in total.