OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Yeah nah, but what *do* we stand for?

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  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alex Coleman,

    frond memories...

    Starry Fern wins

    Makes me think of the reality of shortland Street as shorthand for NZ - surely their flag would be a 'Red Fern'
    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Matthew Hooton, in reply to linger,

    The polls. Also, I thought there would be a bigger and better campaign creating momentum for change. But you reminding me of that analysis I did means I am slightly more confident there could be an upset win for the fern than yesterday (although the polls are usually pretty accurate).

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Now all sir has to choose is

    Arrrg! The choosing! It burns!!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    I think we'll head to the 22nd century with current flag and King George.

    Demographic change may disagree on that - depending how many of our new citizens defer to hereditary authority.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • linger, in reply to Sacha,

    Or indeed whether they still have voting rights under Prymincer For Life Maximillion Key II.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Matthew Hooton, in reply to Sacha,

    Demographic change may disagree on that – depending how many of our new citizens defer to hereditary authority.

    True. But I think (guess) that many new citizens are attracted to things like political stability, the Common Law, the Westminster system etc and may not be so keen on a change to a republic, especially with an elected president, if they perceive any risk to those things as a result. Note, that perception of risk doesn't have to be well founded.

    Auckland • Since Aug 2007 • 195 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    Yeah sure, I went to my wife's citizenship ceremony - she swore to the current crown and all her legal heirs .... we wondered out loud whether of not she could add "except for Charlie", several of the people around us agreed that that would be a good thing

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    I’d imagine there were some deep pockets amongst their members and supporters.

    I wonder why you think that, you pinko unwashed arty type…
    ;-)

    I had to post a comment on the YouTube site just in case foreigners thought our country stupid.

    Feel free to add your own comments on the YouTube site…/ ;-)
    Many, many of them…

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    I went to my wife’s citizenship ceremony – she swore to the current crown and all her legal heirs ….

    I will have been in this country for 30 years next Thursday.
    All this time I have wondered why I should have to swear allegiance to the Monarch of the country I chose to leave. I must add that I quite like the Queen, she bakes awfully nice scones, it was more the handbag wielding, war mongering monetarist, Union smashing, monster Margaret Hilda Thatcher (nee Roberts), the grocer's daughter from Grantham, that encouraged me to emigrate.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Well, no, that's the point of monarchy. You get whatever the previous monarch's offspring grew up into. If the (British, I guess) government starts picking and choosing, then basically we move to having our head of state be whoever the British government of the day wants to nominate*.


    * This of course has happened. Edward VIII got the shove, and earlier William of Orange was co-opted when Parliament wasn't having the pro-Catholic James II and VII.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Matthew Hooton,

    polls are usually pretty accurate

    Flag polls - give 'em a halyard and they'll take a mile...
    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Rochelle Wilson, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    expects their children, close friends and colleagues to call them “sir”.

    Certainly, children calling their parents "sir" and ma'am" is common in the USA [according to films etc].

    Kapiti • Since Jul 2007 • 17 posts Report

  • Alfie,

    Amidst the onslaught of famous people say change the flag stories scattered throughout the MSM at the moment, there's this little breath of fresh air.

    The Herald allows writer Bruce Logan and designer Michael Smythe to explain why the Weetbix-packet emulating aoteatowel (Smythe's term) is such a poor choice for a national flag.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • simon g,

    I did read Smythe's piece, but won't bother with Logan's. The Herald should do a lot better than just "XX is an Auckland writer" when they label their op-ed pieces. It's disingenuous, or even lying by omission. They should give readers full disclosure - or preferably, not take his pieces at all.

    (And no, I don't like the tea towel either. But I'm no more listening to Logan than McCaw).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Alfie, in reply to simon g,

    I did read Smythe’s piece, but won’t bother with Logan’s.

    I really have no idea who he is but Google shows a connection to the Maxim Institute. Sorry if I accidentally offended anyone.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • Alfie,

    Attachment

    Today's Herald cartoon.

    The same paper also has I don't give a hoot what Richie and Dan think -- a heartfelt opinion piece from Lizzie Marvelly describing the process as ...a taxpayer-funded national "best drawing" competition judged by a group of people with absolutely no design experience.

    With all due respect, I don't give a hoot what the Prime Minister, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter think about the flag. To me, the relationship Kiwis have with their flag should be wholly their own. They are absolutely entitled to their own views, but it is not for All Black legends or a leader democratically elected to serve all New Zealanders, to try to tell us what to think, much less how to vote in this ballot of lasting national significance.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Alfie,

    Attachment Attachment

    What goes around, comes around…

    I’d just like to make a case for the prescience of Chris Knox –
    my evidence the above two Max Media cartoons from 2005!

    (sorry about dodgy focus)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    bottom panel looks more like Mr Horan's water polo days.
    (h/t Ben Wilson)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Alfie,

    Former Listener editor Finlay Macdonald writing for RNZ -- Has the PM mistaken himself for a flag?

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Alfie,

    The Herald allows serial plagiarist Bruce Logan

    That's okay, I fixed it for you.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Emma Hart,

    The Herald allows serial plagiarist Bruce Logan

    That’s okay, I fixed it for you.

    Some strange bedfellows are being made over this. Not that Bruce Logan would approve of that sort of carry-on.

    It's funny that the new world in which columnists are not worth paying allows in known plagiarists.

    And when I say "funny", I mean "sad".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    I posted this in Russell's flag thread :

    I just received my ballot paper. In the information leaflet (English, only, unlike the "How to vote" leaflet, although you can download other language versions from their website) I find:

    Silver Fern Flag
    Designer: Kyle Lockwood
    The designer considers the silver fern a New Zealand icon which has been proudly worn by generations for over 160 years. The designer's intent is that the multiple points of the fern leaf represent Aotearoa's peaceful, multicultural society, a single fern spreading upwards representing one people growing onward into the future.
    The bright blue represents our clear skies and the Pacific Ocean, and the Southern Cross guided early settlers to our islands and represents our location in the South Pacific.

    Current New Zealand Flag
    Designer: Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham, KCB
    The royal blue background has come to represent the blue sea and sky surrounding us. The stars represent the Southern Cross constellation which can only be seen in the Southern Hemisphere, emphasising New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Jack in the top left-hand corner recognises New Zealand's historical foundations as a former British colony and dominion. This flag was officially adopted in 1902.

    One of these things is not like the other, to me. Am I alone in reading loaded language here?

    Also, according to Te Ara, the first use of the fern as a symbol of New Zealand was when it was "first worn by players in the 1888 New Zealand Natives rugby team which toured Britain." It's a long time since School C. maths, but that's not 160 years by any measure except dog (where it's a lot more).

    Also:

    This flag was officially adopted in 1902.

    This carefully misses the fact that it was designed and submitted to Governor George Bowen, and accepted by him in 1869, though based on the British naval Blue Ensign.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

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