New Zealand votes for a new flag

New Zealanders voted on Friday November 20 in a referendum to choose a new flag. Five design options are being considered as the voting continues until December 11. The winning design will compete with the current flag in a second referendum in March 2016.

The current flag has the Britain’s Union Jack symbol and the four stars of the United Tribes of New Zealand. It was adopted in 1834, chosen by Maori chiefs. When it joined the British colonies the flag was changed to include the Union Jack in the top left hand corner in 1902, with four red stars. It also looks similar to the flag of Australia - the Australian flag has 6 white stars.

The flag design competition attracted 10,292 entries, and the Flag Consideration Panel chose 40 of them, which has been reduced to five for voting.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/12006912/Voting-opens-in-New-Zealand-flag-referendum.html

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