Silver fern flag

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The most common version of the Silver Fern flag, similar to the All Blacks logo.

The silver fern flag is any flag design that incorporates a silver fern, and is usually a white silver fern on a black background. The silver fern motif is associated with New Zealand, and a silver fern flag may be used as an unofficial flag of New Zealand. The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols, including the coat of arms of New Zealand and the New Zealand one dollar coin. A number of New Zealand sports teams, such as the cricket team, the Silver Ferns and the All Blacks, use similar silver fern flags as part of their official merchandise.

The silver fern was first used on New Zealand military insignia during the South African War.[1] (1899–1902), and along with it the United Tribes of New Zealand flag design was also featured on the back of the Boer War medals presented to soldiers who served in the war.[2]

1980 Moscow Summer Olympics

New Zealand officially boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics as part of the US-led boycott of the games. However, four New Zealand athletes competed under the flag of New Zealand's Olympic committee, which was a black flag with a white silver fern imposed over the Olympic Rings.[3]

National flag proposals

The first suggestion that a silver fern flag be adopted as New Zealand's official flag came in 1998 from Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler of the National Party.[4] Hasler's proposal was backed by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. Along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, Shipley backed a white silver fern on a black background as a possible alternative flag, along the lines of the Canadian Maple Leaf flag.

In 2003, New Zealand's America's Cup team, Team New Zealand, launched the "Loyal" campaign, using a silver fern flag and a song of the same name by New Zealand musician Dave Dobbyn.

Referendum proposal

In January 2005 the NZ Flag.com Trust, using a stylised silver fern flag designed by Cameron Sanders, launched a petition to initiate a referendum on the flag issue, but failed to attract enough signatures.

  • James Dignan's proposed New Zealand flag

  • A Silver fern flag designed by Kyle Lockwood. It won a Wellington newspaper flag competition in July 2004 and appeared on TV3 in 2005 after winning a poll which included the present national flag.[1]

  • Cameron Sanders' proposed New Zealand flag


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See also

References

  1. ↑ Digger History: Badges of New Zealand
  2. ↑ Digger History: Medals of New Zealand
  3. ↑ 1980 Moscow Olympics boycott NZ History.net.nz.
  4. ↑ John Moody. "Past Attempts to Change New Zealand's Flag". The XIX International Congress of Vexillology. 

External links

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