Preliminary results showed the Bay of Plenty had a 74.6 per cent voter turnout, with 18,197 or 51.4 per cent voting for change.
The Bay of Plenty was among only six electorates in New Zealand who voted with a slight majority for change.
The Waiariki electorate voted overwhelmingly to keep the current flag.
They had a 48.4 per cent voter turnout, with only 23.8 per cent voting for change, and one of the highest rates of 75.8 per cent voting to keep the current flag.
The Tauranga electorate followed the status quo with their 73.5 per cent voter turnout voting to keep the current flag.
However it was close, with 50.1 per cent voting to keep the flag, and 49.7 per cent voting for change.
Bay of Plenty:
Current flag - 17,118 48.4%
Silver Fern Flag - 18,197 51.4%
Waiariki:
Current flag - 12,848 75.8%
Silver Fern Flag - 4,035 23.8%
Tauranga:
Current flag - 17,604 50.1%
Silver Fern Flag - 17,489 49.7%