Traditional Army crest discarded

"Changing the Army's near century old crest just because focus groups didn't think it was a strong brand is ridiculous," says National's Defence spokesman Simon Power.

"But what is more absurd is that Defence Minister Mark Burton said that the crest - depicting a sword and taiaha, crossed behind a crown and lion - was not a strong brand.

"He believes that 'better brand identity would give [New Zealanders] familiarity, security and trust in the New Zealand Army'.

"It's a credible, reliable and well-equipped Army, not brand identity, that assures New Zealanders that they are protected," says Mr Power.

"The traditional crest has provided "familiarity, security, and trust" in the New Zealand Army for many years. And for generations of our servicemen and women the crest has symbolised pride and strength.

"What's also absurd is that consultation alone for the new logo has reached $24,000, and the final figure for development and design, currently being withheld, will no doubt be even higher.

"For Mr Burton to allow the crest to be discarded is an affront to that tradition and to all those who have served wearing the crest," says Mr Power.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>