Editorial: People have spoken loudly in flag poll

It is an old saying, and some may argue it is a cliche, but it is appropriate for the result of the national event called the flag referendum.

Now, I do not consider myself to be in possession of the slightest shred of psychic ability but something niggled at me about this whole thing since day one.

I kept sort of sensing voices - voices which were saying "it is not going to happen".

I had sensed the same voices when there was a vote on merging the Hawke's Bay councils into one.

I suspect there is a genuine Kiwi-istic trait at work here - if it's not broke, don't fix it.

But then this was an issue which arguably needed to be addressed as this country is no longer tied to the apron strings of Mother Britain ... ask any Kiwi who has to go through a third-degree grilling at Gatwick immigration while those clearly not from lands of the old empire wander in gleefully.

The stars looked pretty cool but did we want or need a Union Jack on one corner of the flag?

Why not a silver fern, or a Kiwi ... or maybe a good old half-gallon jar?

So perhaps it was time to ask the people what they would prefer as a flag.

However, with a price tag of $26 million the matter was always going to be contentious, and I note Prime Minister John Key effectively defended the cost as it had sparked "enormous" healthy debate across the country and was necessary for a young country discussing nationhood.

Yes, I heard some debates and lots of talk, but got the feeling early on that the alternative flag chosen was never going to leave the ground.

Mr Key said he was disappointed that 56.6 per cent of Kiwis who voted said they wanted the current flag retained, but was buoyed by the figures that showed nearly one million who voted wanted the alternative.

He also said he would embrace the current flag and leave it at that.

I have no issues with the result, given that on all our coins and banknotes is a picture of the lady upon whose house in London the Union Jack flies from.

Take off one, you'd then have to look at taking off the other, wouldn't you?

Do I sense a referendum on republicanism beginning to stir?

No, at the end of the day there's really nothing left to say.

No, wait, there is ... "the people have spoken".