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| New Zealand flag: Final voting begins | New Zealand flag: Final voting begins |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| New Zealanders will be able to vote from Thursday in a final referendum on whether to change their current flag. | New Zealanders will be able to vote from Thursday in a final referendum on whether to change their current flag. |
| They have until 24 March to choose between the present design and an alternative decided in a previous vote. | They have until 24 March to choose between the present design and an alternative decided in a previous vote. |
| The exercise has been controversial with many criticising the hefty price tag and shortlisted designs. | The exercise has been controversial with many criticising the hefty price tag and shortlisted designs. |
| But Prime Minister John Key and others have argued the country needs a more distinctive flag, as the current one looks similar to Australia's. | But Prime Minister John Key and others have argued the country needs a more distinctive flag, as the current one looks similar to Australia's. |
| The final referendum will be conducted as a postal vote. | The final referendum will be conducted as a postal vote. |
| Voting begins for NZ national flag | |
| In pictures: Weird and wonderful entries that lost out | In pictures: Weird and wonderful entries that lost out |
| What do schoolchildren think of the new designs? | What do schoolchildren think of the new designs? |
| The alternative design, Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) was decided in December after a first referendum where New Zealanders chose between five flag designs. | The alternative design, Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue) was decided in December after a first referendum where New Zealanders chose between five flag designs. |
| It was designed by architect Kyle Lockwood and about 1.5 million votes were cast in that referendum, which was about half of registered voters. | It was designed by architect Kyle Lockwood and about 1.5 million votes were cast in that referendum, which was about half of registered voters. |
| The five possible flag finalists were criticised as uninspiring, and were chosen by a committee from a large pool of entries submitted by the public - including designs featuring a kiwi shooting lasers out of its eyes and hand-drawn sheep. | The five possible flag finalists were criticised as uninspiring, and were chosen by a committee from a large pool of entries submitted by the public - including designs featuring a kiwi shooting lasers out of its eyes and hand-drawn sheep. |
| Many took issue as well with the NZ$27m ($18m; £12m) cost of the exercise, saying it was expensive and unnecessary. | Many took issue as well with the NZ$27m ($18m; £12m) cost of the exercise, saying it was expensive and unnecessary. |
| But Mr Key has argued for a more distinctive look for New Zealand's flag, and has said it is also time to drop the Union Jack. | But Mr Key has argued for a more distinctive look for New Zealand's flag, and has said it is also time to drop the Union Jack. |
| The prime minister, who backs the alternative design, said earlier this week that the exercise was New Zealand's last chance at changing its flag. | The prime minister, who backs the alternative design, said earlier this week that the exercise was New Zealand's last chance at changing its flag. |
| "If they don't vote for change now, they'll never get another chance until we become a republic," he said in a Radio New Zealand interview on Monday, adding that he did not think that would happen within his lifetime given the current popularity of the British royal family. | "If they don't vote for change now, they'll never get another chance until we become a republic," he said in a Radio New Zealand interview on Monday, adding that he did not think that would happen within his lifetime given the current popularity of the British royal family. |