It's official, black and blue NZ flag the favourite

Photo/File

The Electoral Commission has released the official result for the first referendum on the New Zealand Flag.

The referendum asked the question: "If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?"

The most preferred alternative flag design chosen through the first referendum was option A: Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue).

The chosen flag. Photo/File

The next most preferred flag design was option E: Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue).

The last three flags followed in order of preference by option B of Red Peak, option D of Silver Fern (Black and White) and option C of the Koru came in last.

The total number of votes received was 1,546,734, which includes 149,747 informal votes (9.68 per cent) and 3,372 invalid votes (0.22 per cent).

Voter turnout was 48.78 per cent.

Turnout is calculated by taking the total votes received as a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled as at 19 November 2015 (3,170,726).