Children have say on NZ flag ideas

Amorangi Rayner, Rico Shann Ahleong, Jack Galvin, Victoria Collins and Cody Watson agree the flag should not change. PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO

Our youngest citizens are not eligible to vote in the upcoming flag referendums, although they have been participating in classroom debates and creating their own designs.

Education reporter Liz Wylie asked children from St Mary's and Tawhero schools to share their thoughts about the flag debate and how they would vote if they could.

Tawhero students had been working on their own flag projects with teacher Rex Denman - debating the topic, studying the history of our current flag and coming up with their own designs.

St Mary's students were united in their view that the flag does not need to change and all agreed that money could be better spent on other things while Tawhero School students were divided on the issue.

Why do you think we should or should not change the flag?

"Change it because it is too similar to the Australian one" - Tahu TeHuia, 9, Tawhero School.

"The old flag is from when Britain had taken us over," - Azaria Froggatt, 10, Tawhero School.

"The Anzac soldiers fought under that flag - it is part of important history," - Amorangi Rayner, 12, St Mary's School.

"The New Zealand flag is too similar to the Australian flag and they often get confused," - Tahu Te Huia, 9, Tawhero School.

"It is a memory of our services back in the days of war," - Cody Watson, 12, St Mary's School.

Do you know how much it will cost to change the flag?

"Over 26 million," - Victoria Collins, 12, St Mary's School.

"30 million dollars," - Rico Shann Ahleong, 11, St Mary's School.

"25.7 million,"- Rhythm Sutherland, 9, Tawhero School.

Which design would you choose if the flag is to be changed?

The most popular choice of the four designs selected by the flag panel was Kyle Lockwood's fern with the blue and black background and the southern cross. Tawhero School had even created their own life-size version and run it up the school flagpole, although they had also created their own designs which included more colours and designs they believe are important. Tahu Te Huia, who received a principal's award for his flag project, said he thought a new flag should have blue and green to represent the land and the sea. "We should have a kiwi as well, because it is New Zealand's native bird," he said.

Mr Denham said children were encouraged to discuss the issue with their families at home, and one boy disagreed with his parents as to whether the flag should change. "They told him it was okay to have a different view and they were proud of him for holding his own opinion."

Of the 24 Tawhero students who completed the flag project, 18 thought we should have a new flag and some said a new flag should have modern things on it and represent future Kiwis.