February 26, 2016
Trust no reason for flag change
Labour leader Andrew Little says the Prime minister still hasn't explained why New Zealand needs a new flag.
Voting forms go out next week for the second flag referendum, when voters get the chance to choose between the existing flag and the black and blue fern design.
That's sparked a last-minute push from change campaigners, who have enlisted sports stars and other high profile New Zealanders to make public statements.
Mr Little says people are asking why the change is needed now, when John Key has ruled out discussion of other constitutional issues like becoming a republic.
"John Key has never made the case to New Zealanders about why there should be a change. He sort of announced he'd like it, he'd like a silver fern on it and away we all went. Every attempt through the political process to say well, how about we actually just ask New Zealanders the simple question , do you want to change the flag?, he refused to do. Now I think it's all coming home to roost. People don't understand why we are doing this and now they are opposed to a change," he says.
Andrew Little says as long as the Queen is the head of state the Union Jack should stay on the flag.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com