Flag Change Would Cost $458 Million for New Passports

If New Zealand’s flag changes, the Government has admitted it could cost up to $458 million just to change New Zealand passports alone, New Zealand First says.

“We asked the Minister of Internal Affairs what would the cost be if every valid New Zealand passport had to be recalled and re-issued,” New Zealand First leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters said in a speech to the Manurewa RSA today.

“The minister replied from ‘$0 to $458,221,788.’

“So, the cost of changing the passports would be $458 million but by saying $0 suggests no reissue is contemplated by the Government.

“This means if the alternative flag was adopted we would have the bizarre situation of having our passports with one flag, and our country with another flag.

“This is just another example of the Government’s incompetence and the work they never did when they put the issue to the New Zealand public. This week the PM said he was unconcerned that there had been no work done to find out the full cost of a flag change.

“The attempt to change the flag has been a shambles from the start and it’s appalling that it is costing the country $26 million,” Mr Peters says.

ENDS

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