Peak design gets Nelson boost

Seven hundred balloons and many hours of careful knotting by ‘‘Flossie the Balloon Lady’’ (Fellcity Yates) and helpers gave the Red Peak flag campaign a boost in Nelson on Saturday.

A mystery unveiling at the Church Steps had promised something ingenious and eyecatching.

Pre-publicity for the 10am event failed to excite the masses — there were only a few people on hand at the start time. But Flossie was late and by the time she and her creation arrived the number had swelled to about 25 – and they loved it.

Organiser and Nelson City Council member Matt Lawrey said it was ‘‘quality, not quantity’’ that mattered and helped to serve a Red Peak cake while the finishing touches were put to the balloon flag in a secret spot nearby.

Lawrey said regardless of the final choice, ‘‘having Red Peak included in the referendum has brought the whole process to life’’.

Joined by his childhood friend Eric Goodwin and a couple of others he also managed two verses of ‘‘All we are saying, Is give Peak a chance.’’

Goodwin said changing the New Zealand flag was a serious thing, ‘‘not like changing your haircut’’.

‘‘But I’ve been absolutely swayed by Red Peak, it’s really won me over.’’

Yates said she loved the Red Peak design, which made more and more sense as she learned more about it.

Co-organiser Annette Milligan said the flag design reflected the barge boards on wharenui she had seen around the North Island, and the shape of ‘‘the archetypal colonial house’’. ‘‘I love the Red Peak because it links us to the architecture of Maori and Pakeha.’’

Tahunanui resident and Red Peak campaigner Robert Haas, said simple flags were the best.

‘‘I just love this flag. It’s going to be seen by billions of people, the whole planet, not just Kiwis.

‘‘Do we want to look at a bunch of tea-towels or a real flag? Tea-towels or Red Peak, that’s the question.’’