Masterton council to fly alternative flags

ALL A-FLUTTER: A computer-generated image of what the five alternative flags could look like at Masterton's Genesis Recreation Centre.

The Masterton District Council is set to fly the five alternative flag designs, giving the community a chance to see them in action.

The Flag Consideration Project will provide free flags to any community with five ready and waiting flagpoles in close proximity to each other to request the designs for free.

The council will fly the flags on flagpoles at Masterton's Genesis Recreation Centre.

The flags are due to arrive this week.

Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson said flying the five flags will be a good opportunity for the community to develop an informed decision before the referendum.

"There's a whole range of opinions about whether or not the flag should be changed and we want to give our residents the opportunity to see what five proposed new designs look like," Mrs Patterson said. "Hopefully it will help to stimulate plenty of interest so that the country can make an informed decision in the forthcoming referendum."

South Wairarapa District Council executive assistant Barbara Gavan said they did not have enough flagpoles to put up a set of flags.

The governance manager at the Tararua District Council, Richard Taylor, said the district would not be flying the free flag designs on offer.

"We have no intention to do so," he said.

Mr Taylor said they had nowhere to hang the flags so it would be "easier to decline the offer".

Carterton District Council chief executive Colin Wright said Carterton would not see the five flags in action.

Mr Wright said they did not have the resources to fly all five at once and did not think it was worth putting up new poles.

In a press release, New Zealand First spokesman for Defence, Veterans Affairs and Local Government, Ron Mark said no flag but the current one should fly on council buildings.

Mr Mark said it was offensive to those who fought for it, were laid to rest under it and to the ratepayers who paid for the council buildings.

New Zealand First opted not to be part of the Cross Party MPs Group which is involved in the flag referendum process with representatives from National, Labour, Green, Maori, ACT and United Future.

The flags will fly in ample time for the November 20 to December 11 referendum.