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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/new-zealand-plans-flag-referendum
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| New Zealand considers flag referendum | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Senior New Zealand government ministers will next month discuss holding a referendum on changing the country's British-inspired flag. | Senior New Zealand government ministers will next month discuss holding a referendum on changing the country's British-inspired flag. |
| The Electoral Commission has said it would be a tough task | The Electoral Commission has said it would be a tough task |
| organising one in time for it to coincide with this year's election – likely to be held in December. | organising one in time for it to coincide with this year's election – likely to be held in December. |
| However, prime minister John Key doesn't seem to be in a hurry. | However, prime minister John Key doesn't seem to be in a hurry. |
| "All the decisions about timing have yet to be made - and also whether we will advance it," he said on Monday. | "All the decisions about timing have yet to be made - and also whether we will advance it," he said on Monday. |
| Asked when it would be discussed, he replied: "some time next | Asked when it would be discussed, he replied: "some time next |
| month ... I've had some advice on it, I'll be getting more but that's | month ... I've had some advice on it, I'll be getting more but that's |
| just been about the process and how things could be done." | just been about the process and how things could be done." |
| Mr Key floated the idea of a referendum last week, giving New | Mr Key floated the idea of a referendum last week, giving New |
| Zealanders the opportunity of retaining the current flag or choosing an | Zealanders the opportunity of retaining the current flag or choosing an |
| alternative. | alternative. |
| "I'd like to see a change," he told reporters. "But firstly it's not the single biggest issue that we as a country face. And secondly, even with those who want to change, there's not universal support for what we should change to." | "I'd like to see a change," he told reporters. "But firstly it's not the single biggest issue that we as a country face. And secondly, even with those who want to change, there's not universal support for what we should change to." |