Rival flags on show in the North

The New Zealand flag (left) and its proposed replacement that will be voted on in a referendum in March, are flying at a number of sites across Northland, including Forum North, Whangarei. Photo / Mike Dinsdale

Northlanders wanting to see what the proposed new flag for the country looks like beside the existing flag can do so at a number of sites across the region.

New Zealanders go to the polls in March in a referendum asking whether to replace the existing flag with one chosen from a selection of five late last year - a silver fern on a blue and black background.

The Flag Consideration Panel - which chose the five alternatives to choose from - is making more than 280 sets of flags available to communities across the country to help Kiwis see both the current New Zealand flag and the Silver Fern flag in real-life situations, and consider their symbols, colours and meaning before the final referendum in March.

The New Zealand flag.

The Silver Fern flag.

In Northland, the flags are flying at the Whangarei District Council offices at Forum North, Whangarei, as well as at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, Awanui; Waihouoma Lodge, Kai Iwi Lakes; 107 Webb Rd, Teal Bay; 2 Blencowe St, Kaitaia; 11 Kaiaua Lane, Kamo; 96 Doves Bay Rd, Kerikeri; Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, 62 Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri; 83 Waikuku Rd, Waimate North; Far North District Council, Memorial Ave, Kaikohe; 6/275 Molesworth Dr, Mangawhai Heads; Culture North, 1738 SH1, Okaihau; Bay of Islands Marina, Baffin St, Opua; 27 Point Veronica Dr, Opua; Bay of Islands Swordfish Club, 25 The Strand, Russell; 36 Oneroa Rd, Russell; Schnappa Rock Restaurant, and 10 Genoa Lane, Tutukaka.

Locations of all the flags can be found on www.flag.govt.nz and include highly visible locations such the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The two flags will fly on the bridge until March 24, with the exception of Waitangi Day when the current New Zealand flag will be flown with the Tino Rangatiratanga flag.

Flag Consideration Panel chairman Professor John Burrows said whether the flag should change or not was a very personal decision and an historic one; it came down to which flag voters believed best represented New Zealanders.

He said it was a decision that all eligible voters should take part in, and make their vote count.

"To help voters consider all perspectives before making their decision in March's referendum, the panel has summarised the wide range of views to provide a balanced perspective in a number of ways," he said.