The process lasted nearly two years, considered more than 10,000 designs and cost $26m but in the end it came to nothing: New Zealanders are sticking with colonial symbolism by keeping their current flag.
Results of a referendum that ended on Thursday will come as a blow to John Key, the country’s popular prime minister, who spearheaded the push for a new flag and described it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the national symbol.
Voters did not share the sentiment. More than 56 per cent of ballots — about 1.2m votes — were in favour of keeping the century-old Union Jack-anchored design rather than the alternative option of a silver fern on a black and blue background
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