PM: National anthem change would cost

The Prime Minister has criticised those slating the tone of the national anthem, saying the process to change it would be the same as the flag referendum they have opposed.

On Wednesday, Labour leader Andrew Little described the national anthem God Defend New Zealand as a ‘‘dirge’’ and said many Kiwis preferred the Australian anthem.

NZ First leader Winston Peters ech- oed Little’s sentiment, saying he would prefer something that was ‘‘memorable’’ and ‘‘stirring’’.

Both leaders’ parties have opposed the two-stage referendum to change the flag, which is estimated to cost $26 million.

Prime Minister John Key said on More FM yesterday he did not mind the anthem, but it had not been his big focus. ‘‘There’s always people that will make the case you can do better on it.’’

But he challenged the ‘‘audacity’’ of Little and Peters to call for a change of anthem, which would have to be done by a process the same as or similar to the one they opposed in changing the flag.

‘‘I don’t want to look a little catty here, but can I just raise one point?’’

Key said Labour was in favour of a flag change when it was first raised years ago, but as soon as he started the process began calling it Key’s ‘‘vanity project’’. ‘‘Now they’re saying, in the middle of all that debate, they’ve got the audacity to say we should change the national anthem . . . They’d have to go through the whole process, and someone should ask these people: what process would you use?

‘‘By the way, it’d be one where you have to consult and it’d cost money – it is just a joke to these people.’’