Rob's search for a new flag...

[Fozzer]

Doug.... ....

Waist is the ever increasing fat area around my middle.... ....

...and its a waste of time trying to reduce its size!... ...!

Paul.... ... ...!

[omitchell]

My four-penny-worth on bloody; "FLAGS, and flag waving".... ....!

There is nothing in this World that I find more annoying and aggravating than to have the "Star-Spangled-Spanner" thrust into my face, and attaching itself to my retina at every opportunity on American films

*Note to self* When waving Old Glory, do so on a people friendly soft pole and not try to rip his eye from his socket when waving said flag...

[Fozzer]

.... ... ... ...!

Flagging Confusion!... ....!

Paul... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Talking referendums when the people of NZ wanted a referendum on the sale of our state owned enterprises the only one that said no we won't have a referendum was the one and only John key its a waist of money.
When they finally did the referendum and the NZ public where overwhelming against the sale of our NZ silver but what did our deaf and defiant dictator PM J Key say its my idea to sell off all the NZ public's silver so he ignored it.
But now when the NZ public is saying don't waist our money on something the majority don't want the same defiant dictator PM J Key says its his idea so we will have the referendum regards.

Id just say Flag it ... all this Jibber Jibber , if its not the 'John Key' , then ya have a 'Little' man on the other side who appears to be lost all the time , and to really finish us off some twit called Colin ... ... we are all screwed which ever way we go ...... simply quit voting and oust the twits ..

A referendum : When was the last time one off those worked! ... Get someone one with the Balls ... tell them they are all fired ... I'll run for President off the new New Zealand Republic

[johnkiwi]

I'll run for President off the new New Zealand Republic

Then art and flight sim would be compulsory school subjects, and the national language would be : Ianglish of course

[cowpatz]

$24 to $25 Million on a flag referendum is simply outrageous and the result of more woolly thinking of from our arrogant PM whom has simply been in power for too long. If NZ were rolling in money, or even had the economy tracking in the right direction (and not a flash in the pan "Rockstar economy" that was) and we serfs not taxed to death, then yes dabble in this frivolous exercise.
The mistiming of the whole debacle is also an insult, what with it being the 100 yr WW1 anniversary celebrations etc.
Any reason that this could not have waited until the next election thereby significantly reducing the costs? Perhaps it might even encourage some of those feeble minded flag separatists to come out and vote. What is the hurry? Or is it to divert our attention from something we should be paying attention to more more closely, like the TTPP rort or the wide open immigration tap and foreign ownership (exploitation) of land.......and the bribing of Saudi "sheep farmers". The current mob of "Kardashian" journos love it because it doesn't need any work...great tabloid news.
Most of the 40 flag offerings appear to have been the result of a primary school competition to design a new flag.
It is interesting to listen to all the w--k about how each proposed flag represents NZ...really?
The current flag has a blue background - denotes where we are...the pacific....along with a star constellation to tell one how to get there.
The Union Jack represents the origins of one people with the Southern Cross and pacific blue the origins and migration paths of each.
Most people in the world have no idea where NZ is. Of those that do they say beside Australia.
Kind of makes our current flag all the more fitting really. A new flag wont fix anything.
JK says a new flag will reap NZ $billions in coming years......yeah right. Only his Chinese mobsters can do that.

I'll climb off my soap box now.......

[Ian Warren]

I'll run for President off the new New Zealand Republic

Then art and flight sim would be compulsory school subjects, and the national language would be : Ianglish of course

Not a bad idea , the changes I could make ..... If I rule the world tho

[Ian Warren]

the result of more woolly thinking of from our arrogant PM whom has simply been in power for too long.

Kind of makes our current flag all the more fitting really. A new flag wont fix anything.
JK says a new flag will reap NZ $billions in coming years......yeah right. Only his Chinese mobsters can do that.

......

Chinese mobsters and Judith Collins go well together .... even before a new flag is required the first is breaking the ties and become Independent but I think that Wally PM wants a knighthood.

[toprob]

I started this thread as a bit of a good-natured discussion about something that all New Zealanders will get to vote on. In the old days when we had rules posted, I think there might have been a mention of politics, as this is one of the subjects which can derail a discussion very quickly. And some of the posts here illustrate this, breaking nearly all the rules which we used to have.

In a previous unrelated post, I did ask that comments are kept mainly positive, but that didn't work there, and it probably won't work here. There seems to me to be a real negative vibe on NZFF at the moment, at a time when we can least afford to drive more members away.

I'm not saying that everything should be rainbows and kittens, just that posts shouldn't break the rules that I seem to recall that we have -- in particular respect for others, including the prime minister...

If you do feel the need to carry on like this, then please start your own discussion.

[Ian Warren]

A storm in a tea cup , I don't recall what I typed ! ... my excuse ... anyway, the flag is a political agenda .

So ... I'll run for President off the new New Zealand Republic Vote now !

[cowpatz]

Valid points Rob.

However did you not think that starting a topic as emotive (for some) and polarising as replacing a flag was going to invite some robust debate?

I would prefer to spend my hard earned taxes on something worthwhile....like FS scenery

[toprob]

... anyway, the flag is a political agenda .

That may be true, but just saying it doesn't really add anything to any discussion about anything. Where's your proof? Or at least a link to a well thought-out argument, based on fact?

To me, this is just a lazy way of making a point, the same as spelling Microsoft 'Microshaft' -- what point are you trying to make (not you, personally, Ian)? If you do think that you have been shafted by Microsoft, the make a valid and factual argument. It seems to me that people are just reading stuff on the internet and repeating it because it amuses them. Sure, you can do that if you want, again just start your own discussion.

I expect to see a new thread started here entitled 'TPPA', and some very interesting discussions. I may or may not get involved, it depends on whether it includes anything sensible, or just anti government slogans.

[toprob]

I would prefer to spend my hard earned taxes on something worthwhile....like FS scenery

I don't know how many tax-payers in NZ, but let's say that your contribution to the $26 million is $10. Unfortunately that won't buy you much NZ scenery. Ok, that isn't a good argument for me to make...

[Ian Warren]

You look at the recent history .. A flip flop , A I don't recall that , The teapot saga , the Judith Collins Chinese episode , dirty politics saga , Niki Hagen saga , and list go's on .. before spending money fixing a flag , spend the money on fixing a government , ... put Donald Trump in as PM , he'll tell it as it is, and would more likely pay for a flag out off his on pocket.

Vote Ian for president

[toprob]

To me, the 'sagas' you've mentioned are just the result of the normal democratic process -- people in power being called out on things which normal people see as inappropriate. You missed the ponytail saga, by the way.
It's just that people -- and here I mean you, Ian -- who say that the Government is broken, and the opposition is worse, are really saying they don't like politics, so why the need to comment on the subject?

And Donald Trump? Really?

[Ian Warren]

Exactly why I don't even bother voting ... they are just as bad as each other National or Labour , Labour or National ..... even before changing the flag , don't you think the first thing to change is the countries Independence from the UK , that is what the flag is all about not some leader saying , "look at that kids , I did that, my legacy lives on" .

Donald Trump, YIP .. he's getting another wig ... one with a pony tail so he can 'yank' at that all he likes.

Vote Ian for president

[Fozzer]

...its Wednesday, over here in England!... ...!

Paul.... ...!

[Ian Warren]

Off to see Donnie today then, check to see if the flag has changed yet .... it more likely be a pair of underpants up the flag pole.

Vote Ian for president

[omitchell]

it more likely be a pair of underpants up the flag pole.

That's how you can tell when Ian's home...

[Fozzer]

it more likely be a pair of underpants up the flag pole.

That's how you can tell when Ian's home...

... ... ... ...!

Poor Ian.... ....!

Paul.... ... ...!