Flag roadshow rolling into towns today

ON DISPLAY: A mock-up of some of the designs submitted for a possible New Zealand flag.

The Government's Flag Consideration Project roadshow will be in Greytown and Masterton today to provide information to the public ahead of the first flag referendum.

The Government has signalled a desire to redesign the New Zealand flag, with the public invited to submit designs for a flag consideration panel.

The "Standfor roadshow" will be at the Greytown Library between 10am and midday, and Masterton's Paper Plus on Queen St between 2pm and 4pm.

Project spokesperson Suzanne Stephenson said the roadshow consists of information stands, videos and staff to answer questions about the flag referendum.

The roadshow supplements the larger workshops held in major towns, said Ms Stephenson. "We'll head through to the workshop in Palmerston North on Monday night, then on to New Plymouth, Napier and back to Wellington.

"The workshops have two flag panel members available.

"In between the workshops, we have a team with an information stand, going out to busy public locations.

"People can come up, see the information about the process, see the flag designs."

She said there have been over 3000 designs submitted. "If people are not that internet-savvy, we can help them."

She said people should be aware their website, www.flag.govt.nz, contains a community resource kit, which allows community groups to conduct their own workshop.

"It's great for the areas that won't get a workshop, they can host their own discussion."

In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, there is also a schools' resource kit, allowing students to mirror the entire project, including holding their own referendum.

That information can also be sent in to the flag consideration panel "saying, here's the result of our process".

"A number of schools are doing it."

-Up until July 16 the country can have its say.