Paul Hickey: Flag debate causes social media flutter

Plenty of people have designs on a new flag ... some good, some not so good. Photo / File

To change or not to change, that is the question. The New Zealand flag, that is, a debate which has certainly had plenty of mileage, especially through the media and social channels. But it doesn't seem to be enough of a topic to actually get people out participating in the debate.

The Flag Consideration Project roadshow were in Rotorua earlier this week, and a paltry 20 people turned up to their workshop. For me, I'm still in the undecided camp. I love our flag but there are a lot of great suggestions being put forward (with plenty of horrible ones too). I do like to look at other examples as to how they may reflect our country to ourselves and around the globe.

One of the most recognisable flags of the world is that of Canada. The red and white with the maple leaf is synonymous with the country. Put alongside their previous flag, which included the Union Jack, the maple leaf really does give them a sense of their own identity. They went through the same kind of process as we are now. This flag was changed only in 1965 but is instantly recognisable, and absolutely loved in Canada.

Many have also turned it into a political football - but this topic is one that has been debated for a long long time, so at least it will now be put to bed, one way or another, in the next eight months.

Whatever happens, I will happily accept and honour our flag, and be proud of what it stands for ... us.

Last week, I wrote about how I was going to be heading off with my daughter to her first big concert, featuring Aussie boy band 5 Seconds of Summer. Well, last night was the night and, as I write this, I'm hoping it all went well, as I ended up getting out of the chaperone duties.

It almost appeared that the concert might not happen at all, after one of the band members got burnt by the pyrotechnics on stage in London last weekend. Pretty scary stuff really and I must admit I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. These fireworks are being used more and more now as elements of stage shows and events such as concerts and sporting fixtures. We did have an incident at an All Blacks game in Auckland last year, involving a spectator and a dodgy firework, but I'm waiting for someone a bit closer to the action to get it wrong.

With some of the crazy antics that go on after scoring, can you imagine a player running over a flamethrower in celebration just as it goes off? I think that player will be spending more than 10 minutes in the bin.

Don't get me wrong, I love what they bring to the "show" but fireworks in general do give me the shakes.

Paul Hickey is the host of the locally based 9am-3pm show on The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM. Follow on Twitter @paulhickeynz or at The Hits Rotorua on Facebook.