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                    New Zealanders Vote to Keep Current Flag

   by VOA News

   Voters in New Zealand have soundly rejected a proposed new flag that
   would replace the British Union Jack in the current flag's upper left
   corner with a silver fern.

   Preliminary results released by the nation's electoral commission
   Thursday showed just over 56 percent of those participating in the
   postal-only referendum want to keep the current 114-year-old flag,
   compared to 43 percent who voted for the new design.

   The referendum was the result of an 18-month debate that cost taxpayers
   $17 million. Supporters of the proposed new flag, led by Prime Minister
   John Key, said the current version is a relic of New Zealand's colonial
   past, and too closely resembles that of neighboring Australia.

   But others mocked the alternative flag as nothing better than a beach
   towel, and said the referendum was a legacy-building exercise for Prime
   Minister Key, who enjoys high approval ratings after eight years in
   office.

   ''

   The alternative flag was among more than 10,000 potential designs
   submitted when the process began in 2014, and was picked as the final
   choice in an earlier referendum. The proposed replacement flag
   maintained the circular four-star pattern that represents the Southern
   Cross constellation seen on the current flag.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/new-zealanders-vote-to-keep-current-f
   lag/3252416.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/new-zealanders-vote-to-keep-current-flag/3252416.html