Fern on flag
Philip Matthews’ article in last Saturday’s paper was, in my view, an attempt to belittle John Key and his new flag campaign, with negative references to his comments on the refugee crisis. Matthews has cobbled together a number of commentators, all disenchanted with the direction of the flag debate and the final selections.
Comments included the silver fern being a symbol for exporters and sport teams, a trade and diplomacy logo, a corporate brand, and a campaign for a national brand, not a national symbol.
The reality that these commentators conveniently dismiss, or are ignorant of, is that the silver fern has always been accepted as the symbol of New Zealand. The fern is prominently displayed on the cover of our new passports, has always featured on our currency and is a significant symbol on the New Zealand coat of arms. On our award and bravery medals the fern’s prominence gives our medals a unique difference when compared to medals of other nations.
Visit any Returned and Services Association cemetery and note that every headstone is adorned with the silver fern.
With this background it is quite understandable that of the 10,000 Germany is leading the way with its response to the refugee influx. How is New Zealand doing? Well, NZ is lagging behind. Amnesty International is campaigning for NZ to double the refugee quota.
Asylum-seekers are not refugees until our Government grants them refugee status. NZ receives some of the lowest numbers of asylum-seekers of any host country. flags submitted, the most common symbol was the silver fern. That the selection panel selected three of the four flags with the silver fern prominently displayed was to be expected and reflects an understanding that New Zealanders embrace it as the symbol of our nation.
The flag campaign Webb cited advised prospective flag designers a flag should be bold, uncluttered and easily copied when drawn by children. It cited the Canadian and Japanese flags as fine examples of what a flag should look like, and the silver fern on a black background fits these criteria perfectly.
It is not exactly one of the four choices but the black and white one is close. A Thomas
Timaru
This is probably because we are an island nation. Annually we see about 300 asylum-seekers, compared with 900 a decade ago.
About half of these people are granted refugee status.
Between now and June of next year, the Minister of Immigration and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade will prepare proposals about the next threeyear quota.
The outcome of their deliberations will likely be announced in July 2016.
Refugees and asylum-seekers don’t have a choice about where they end up. They are simply running for their lives. All they are asking for is the chance for a fresh start, a safe place to call home and rebuild their shattered lives. Will John Key give it to them? Neil McKinnon
Timaru
WOW. Melting Pot band (is) brilliant. This would have to be the best lineup - well done. Dugup Development is all good for Timaru. Keep it up. Ali0001
No doubt many will ignore a new flag and continue to fly the existing one; or will John Key order us to take them down?
I think I’ll just sew a silver fern under the Union Jack on my flag. I don’t like any of the other designs and can’t afford to buy another one. There’s plenty of room and it should quite clearly identify it from the Aussie flag. It would be a simple, cheaper option and should satisfy both sides of the debate. Pity it wasn’t included in the final 39 designs.
Meanwhile everybody, quite rightly, gets a vote. The intellectual and the imbecile and all in between, similarly. We will deliver up, as usual, a consensus based purely on numbers, not intellect.
Early detection for me saved me ... 23 years later I’m still here. Lurlene Roddick
Stephen Newman
Timaru