The campaign to change the New Zealand flag gained some momentum last week when some notable New Zealanders took the campaign to the steps of parliament to launch a petition to change the flag. The petition aims to get 300000 signatures, thereby forcing the government to hold a referendum. The referendum is not binding, but a govenment that ignores it would be foolish.

Personally I am unsure whether or not we should change it. Just because it looks like Australia’s flag is not a justification; they could just as easily change theirs. However, New Zealand is a Pacific nation, independent of Britain, so there is good reason to drop the Union Jack. (As an aside, the Queen is Queen of New Zealand in its own right. She could in theory abdicate as Queen of England, and still maintain sovereignty over New Zealand).

What do you kiwis think?