Denis O’Rourke MP
Spokesperson for Constitutional Review

12 MARCH 2015

Flag Referendum First Step to Republic

The government should have asked the New Zealand public whether they wanted to change the flag, says New Zealand First.

“They’ve overridden democracy and pushed ahead with a costly referendum, highly paid panellists, and are going to change the flag regardless of public opinion, says Spokesperson for Constitutional Review Denis O’Rourke.

“National has started down the track of republicanism. Perhaps John Key is working on a career succession plan to be New Zealand’s first president. That might explain his arrogant approach.

“If the government was really interested in asking if New Zealanders want a newflag, it should ask that simple question first. It has got the process the wrong way around.

“Before spending millions of dollars on the two referendums planned, there should be only one referendum before any panels are appointed or other expenses incurred, asking the simple question: ‘Do you want a new national flagto replace the current one?’

“The process set out in the New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill means the government is gerrymandering the result to get a new flag by pre-empting the primary question which should be asked first. Instead we have a back-to-front process as a blatant means of trying to influence the result. This is wrong, and there is a high probability that a move towards a republic will follow.

“This is not what New Zealanders have asked for, and the tens of millions of dollars required for a new flag would be better spent elsewhere, on new homes, education, and better health services,” says Mr O’Rourke.

ENDS

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