When you think of a flag, you usually think of something stodgy. Maybe some stars, a few stripes, or a coat of arms that looks like it was designed in the 1700s. But for a brief, chaotic moment in the mid-2010s, New Zealand almost threw all of that out the window. People were genuinely debating whether a flightless bird shooting green lasers out of its eyes should represent an entire nation.
Honestly, the kiwi flag New Zealand debate was probably one of the most expensive and fascinating exercises in democracy the world has ever seen. It wasn't just about a bird. It was about identity, the ghost of British colonialism, and whether or not a country is allowed to have a sense of humor about itself on the world stage.
The whole thing cost about $26 million NZD. That is a lot of money for a "no change" result.
Why Change the Flag in the First Place?
John Key, who was the Prime Minister at the time, was the main driving force behind this. He felt the current flag—the Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the corner and the four stars of the Southern Cross—was a relic. It looks a lot like Australia's. Like, really a lot. If you're at the Olympics and you're squinting at the podium from the back row, you're going to get them confused.
Key wanted something uniquely Kiwi. He wanted the Silver Fern.
The Silver Fern is basically the unofficial logo of New Zealand anyway. You see it on the All Blacks jerseys. You see it on the back of the $1 coin. It’s everywhere. To many, the Union Jack represents a colonial past that New Zealand has long since outgrown. But the path from "let's change the flag" to actually doing it was paved with some of the weirdest graphic design choices in human history.
The People's Designs: From Majestic to Absurd
When the government opened up submissions to the public in 2015, they got over 10,000 entries.
Most were bad.
Some were incredible.
And then there was "Fire the Laser." Designed by James Gray, this became a global sensation. It was a crude drawing of a Kiwi bird with green lasers shooting from its eyes. Gray's logic was simple: lasers represent a powerful New Zealand. It sounds like a joke, and it was, but it also captured the internet's imagination. It became the face of the "let's just do something weird" movement.
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You also had "Bicycle Face," which was a weird smiley face made of bike parts, and a lot of flags that looked like they were made in Microsoft Paint by a toddler who had just discovered the spray paint tool.
But beneath the memes, there was serious art.
The "Red Peak" design, created by Aaron Dustin, gained a massive grassroots following. It didn't have a bird or a leaf. it was a geometric representation of mountains and Maori mythology. It was modern. It was clean. People loved it so much that they petitioned the government to add it to the final shortlist after it was initially left out.
The Silver Fern and the Final Contenders
Eventually, a panel narrowed the 10,000 down to 40, then down to four (which later became five).
Three of those final designs were by Kyle Lockwood.
Lockwood’s designs were variations of the Silver Fern. One was blue and black, one was red and blue. They were safe. They looked like something a corporate branding firm would come up with for a mid-tier airline. This was a major point of criticism. People felt the panel was too conservative.
The fifth addition, Red Peak, offered something different, but it never really stood a chance against the momentum of the fern.
Then came the first referendum in late 2015. Voters had to rank the five options. The winner was the Blue and Black Silver Fern.
Then came the real fight.
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The Great Divide: Tradition vs. Modernity
The second referendum in March 2016 was a straight head-to-head: The old flag vs. the new Lockwood design.
This is where things got heated.
You had the RSA (Returned and Services' Association) leading the charge for the old flag. Their argument was powerful: "Men fought and died under this flag." To them, changing the flag was a slap in the face to veterans. It didn't matter if it looked like Australia's flag or if it had a Union Jack; it was the flag that flew over trenches and battlefields.
On the other side, you had the progressives and the "Change the Flag" lobbyists. They argued that New Zealand is an independent Pacific nation, not a British colony. They wanted to move forward.
There was also a weird political undercurrent. Because John Key championed the change so hard, people who hated Key voted "No" just to spite him. It became a referendum on the Prime Minister himself rather than the piece of cloth.
The Result and the Aftermath
In the end, the old flag won.
It wasn't even that close. About 56.7% of people voted to keep the current flag, while 43.3% voted for the change.
$26 million later, New Zealand stayed exactly where it started.
Was it a waste of money? Many think so. But it did force a national conversation about what it means to be a New Zealander. It highlighted the tension between the country's British roots and its indigenous Maori heritage.
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Interestingly, the "Kiwi flag New Zealand" search traffic usually spikes when there’s a major international event. People see the flag at the World Cup or the Olympics and the debate starts all over again. The Silver Fern remains the symbol of Kiwi pride on the sports field, but the Southern Cross and the Union Jack still fly over the parliament buildings in Wellington.
The Unofficial Favorites
Even though it lost, the Silver Fern (specifically the Lockwood version) has become a sort of "secondary" flag. You’ll see it at rugby matches more often than the official flag.
And then there's the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.
This is the Maori flag—black, white, and red with a koru (unfolding fern frond) design. While it wasn't part of the official change-the-flag referendum process, it has gained immense official status. Since 2009, it flies alongside the national flag on Waitangi Day and other significant occasions. For many, this is the real second flag of New Zealand, representing the mana (prestige) of the indigenous people.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think the "Laser Kiwi" was a serious contender. It wasn't. It never made the shortlist. But its cultural impact was so huge that people still buy t-shirts and stickers of it today. In a way, the Laser Kiwi won the cultural war, even if it lost the political one.
Another misconception is that the referendum was about becoming a republic. It wasn't. New Zealand is still a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as the head of state. Changing the flag wouldn't have changed that. It was purely an aesthetic and symbolic move.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're interested in the history of New Zealand symbols or you're planning a trip and want to understand the vibe, here’s how to navigate the "Flag Factor":
- Recognize the difference: If you're looking at a flag and can't tell if it's NZ or Australia, look at the stars. NZ has four red stars with white borders. Australia has six white stars.
- Respect the RSA: When talking to older Kiwis, be mindful that the current flag carries heavy emotional weight due to military history. Don't just dismiss it as "too British."
- Look for the Koru: If you want to see the "real" New Zealand beyond the colonial symbols, look for the Koru. It’s the spiral shape based on a silver fern frond. It represents new life, growth, and peace. It's in the art, the tattoos, and the soul of the country.
- Visit the Te Papa Museum: If you're ever in Wellington, they have exhibits on the flag debate and the various designs. It's a great way to see the "Fire the Laser" bird in its true historical context.
The flag debate might be over for now, but the identity of New Zealand is always evolving. Whether they ever ditch the Union Jack remains to be seen, but for a few months in 2016, the world got to see a country grapple with who it is—and have a laugh at a laser-eyed bird while doing it.
If you're designing something today, remember the Red Peak. It taught us that sometimes the best symbols aren't literal drawings of birds or leaves, but abstract shapes that tell a story. Simplicity usually wins in the long run, even if the "safe" choice wins the vote.
Check out the official government archives if you want to see all 10,000 original submissions. It's a wild ride through the collective imagination of a nation.