Foxton96
Flying the flag(s)
The incumbent and the wannabe flapping in the westerly wind at the Levin Bowling Club.
INFORMAL SURVEY BACKS FLAG CONFUSION CLAIM
A "man-in-the-street'' survey conducted by a retired Dunedin academic has found 90% of respondents have trouble recognising the difference between the Australian and the New Zealand flags.
Former University of Otago information science lecturer Dr Colin Aldridge said his informal survey was far from scientifically robust, but published his findings anyway, because he was surprised at how many New Zealanders failed to recognise their own flag.
Dr Aldridge conducted the survey in Dunedin, Hastings and Havelock North during the Christmas-New Year holiday period, approaching pedestrians and showing them images of the proposed alternative New Zealand flag as Flag A, and the Australian flag as Flag B.
He then asked: "Which of these would you choose for the New Zealand flag?''
"Only 10% of those approached recognised the Australian flag for what it was.
"The 90% that didn't notice is not a number you can trust, speaking as a scientist. It should raise significant doubt.
"But I published the results because it's relevant to the current debate that a lot of people have difficulty distinguishing the New Zealand flag from the Australian flag.
"If I had put the Union Jack or the [Canadian] maple leaf or a few other distinctive flags, then there wouldn't have been any doubt about it in people's minds.
"They would have said: You're showing the Union Jack, why are you doing this?''
Dr Aldridge said the confusion between the New Zealand and Australian flags was a long-standing problem, and the results of his survey showed it was continuing.
The informal survey also found Dunedin respondents were the most observant, 16% of them recognising the Australian flag.
"In Havelock North, 11% correctly identified it, while in Hastings, only 4% did. The latter seemed to have a higher proportion of non-New Zealanders, though.''
Overall, 43% of respondents chose the proposed flag and 46% chose the Australian flag.
He said Dunedin was the most conservative. Only 27% of respondents selected the proposed flag.
In Hastings, nearly half of the respondents chose the new flag, and in Havelock North, 62% chose the new flag.
Dr Aldridge said he would personally like to see a new flag raised in New Zealand.
University of Otago Mathematics and Statistics Department head Prof Richard Barker said only 252 people responded to the survey, so they could not be regarded as a representative sample of New Zealanders.
"It was not robust in that sense.
"The methodology is such, that it cannot be regarded as a scientific poll.
"Strictly, these views can be taken only as the opinions of those sampled and can't be reliably extrapolated to the whole population.''
Prof Barker described the survey as "anecdotal'' and believed the statistics should be left for Otago Daily Times readers to decide for themselves, whether they were to be trusted or not.
The proposed new flag is now flying alongside the present New Zealand flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge until March 24, when the flag referendum will be complete.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said it was one of more than 250 sites around the country to fly the flag.
"Having the two flags flying side by side around New Zealand will help people compare the designs before making a decision in the final flag referendum, which runs from March 3 to March 24.'' - Otago Daily News 26/1/2016
CURRENT FLAG GETS THUMBS UP
January 30, 2016
The New Zealand flag will continue to be the New Zealand flag after the flag change referendum, and by a considerable margin if the Herald web poll this week is an indicator.
The question asked was “Which flag do you intend to vote for in the referendum?”
The current New Zealand flag attracted 61 percent support (275 votes out of the 444 people who responded).
The alternative black and blue silver fern flag had 32 percent support (146) and 5 percent (23) of respondents were undecided.
THOSE AGAINST
“There is nothing wrong with the original flag,” said one supporter of the existing flag.
“My grandfather fought for that flag in the war and it would not do his memory and all the other soldiers justice for the flag to be changed. We should be proud of what it stands for.”
“A total waste of our time and money changing the flag,” said another.
“Is the Government wanting to change the flag to keep certain people in this country happy?”
Others in favour of the status quo said “Why change it!!”
“I’m gutted Red Peak didn’t make it and can’t stand the silver fern one.
“It doesn’t even look like a flag. Badly designed and it would be embarrassing I think to have it as a flag.
“So I’d rather we keep the current one and vote again a few years down the track with some better options available.”
“Unless the newer design reflects the history of our country, including those who went to war and fought for king and country, I prefer not to change a thing.
“To me the original holds more mana than that of the black and blue silver fern.”
“The alternative is a poor choice for a new flag. It’s a shameless attack on our national sovereignty.”
“If it had been Kiwis proposing the idea of a new flag instead of John Key saying 'you guys should have a new flag', I would be more on board.”
Those in favour of the alternative flag put it this way:
“I’ve already bought one.
“Whether it wins or not, it’s now flying on my rooftop balcony here in Patterson Lakes, Victoria, where it can be seen for miles.”
Another said “Britain long ago cut the apron strings.
“It is time for us to stand on our own two feet and be proud of our new status.”
“I was quite happy with the old one but we have spent so much money sorting out the change, we might as well have the new one. I do like it better though.”
“Time for a change. The Canadian maple flag is very popular!”
One of the undecided put it this way: “These polls are not a true reflection of how the public feel, given the low numbers which are statistically flawed.”
Another said “I would prefer the silver fern was put on the existing flag or the union jack on the silver fern flag.”
“Neither — just an exercise in nationalism, thanks John Key!” - Gisborne Herald
Flying the flag(s)
The incumbent and the wannabe flapping in the westerly wind at the Levin Bowling Club.
INFORMAL SURVEY BACKS FLAG CONFUSION CLAIM
A "man-in-the-street'' survey conducted by a retired Dunedin academic has found 90% of respondents have trouble recognising the difference between the Australian and the New Zealand flags.
Former University of Otago information science lecturer Dr Colin Aldridge said his informal survey was far from scientifically robust, but published his findings anyway, because he was surprised at how many New Zealanders failed to recognise their own flag.
Dr Aldridge conducted the survey in Dunedin, Hastings and Havelock North during the Christmas-New Year holiday period, approaching pedestrians and showing them images of the proposed alternative New Zealand flag as Flag A, and the Australian flag as Flag B.
He then asked: "Which of these would you choose for the New Zealand flag?''
"Only 10% of those approached recognised the Australian flag for what it was.
"The 90% that didn't notice is not a number you can trust, speaking as a scientist. It should raise significant doubt.
"But I published the results because it's relevant to the current debate that a lot of people have difficulty distinguishing the New Zealand flag from the Australian flag.
"If I had put the Union Jack or the [Canadian] maple leaf or a few other distinctive flags, then there wouldn't have been any doubt about it in people's minds.
"They would have said: You're showing the Union Jack, why are you doing this?''
Dr Aldridge said the confusion between the New Zealand and Australian flags was a long-standing problem, and the results of his survey showed it was continuing.
The informal survey also found Dunedin respondents were the most observant, 16% of them recognising the Australian flag.
"In Havelock North, 11% correctly identified it, while in Hastings, only 4% did. The latter seemed to have a higher proportion of non-New Zealanders, though.''
Overall, 43% of respondents chose the proposed flag and 46% chose the Australian flag.
He said Dunedin was the most conservative. Only 27% of respondents selected the proposed flag.
In Hastings, nearly half of the respondents chose the new flag, and in Havelock North, 62% chose the new flag.
Dr Aldridge said he would personally like to see a new flag raised in New Zealand.
University of Otago Mathematics and Statistics Department head Prof Richard Barker said only 252 people responded to the survey, so they could not be regarded as a representative sample of New Zealanders.
"It was not robust in that sense.
"The methodology is such, that it cannot be regarded as a scientific poll.
"Strictly, these views can be taken only as the opinions of those sampled and can't be reliably extrapolated to the whole population.''
Prof Barker described the survey as "anecdotal'' and believed the statistics should be left for Otago Daily Times readers to decide for themselves, whether they were to be trusted or not.
The proposed new flag is now flying alongside the present New Zealand flag on the Auckland Harbour Bridge until March 24, when the flag referendum will be complete.
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said it was one of more than 250 sites around the country to fly the flag.
"Having the two flags flying side by side around New Zealand will help people compare the designs before making a decision in the final flag referendum, which runs from March 3 to March 24.'' - Otago Daily News 26/1/2016
CURRENT FLAG GETS THUMBS UP
January 30, 2016
The New Zealand flag will continue to be the New Zealand flag after the flag change referendum, and by a considerable margin if the Herald web poll this week is an indicator.
The question asked was “Which flag do you intend to vote for in the referendum?”
The current New Zealand flag attracted 61 percent support (275 votes out of the 444 people who responded).
The alternative black and blue silver fern flag had 32 percent support (146) and 5 percent (23) of respondents were undecided.
THOSE AGAINST
“There is nothing wrong with the original flag,” said one supporter of the existing flag.
“My grandfather fought for that flag in the war and it would not do his memory and all the other soldiers justice for the flag to be changed. We should be proud of what it stands for.”
“A total waste of our time and money changing the flag,” said another.
“Is the Government wanting to change the flag to keep certain people in this country happy?”
Others in favour of the status quo said “Why change it!!”
“I’m gutted Red Peak didn’t make it and can’t stand the silver fern one.
“It doesn’t even look like a flag. Badly designed and it would be embarrassing I think to have it as a flag.
“So I’d rather we keep the current one and vote again a few years down the track with some better options available.”
“Unless the newer design reflects the history of our country, including those who went to war and fought for king and country, I prefer not to change a thing.
“To me the original holds more mana than that of the black and blue silver fern.”
“The alternative is a poor choice for a new flag. It’s a shameless attack on our national sovereignty.”
“If it had been Kiwis proposing the idea of a new flag instead of John Key saying 'you guys should have a new flag', I would be more on board.”
Those in favour of the alternative flag put it this way:
“I’ve already bought one.
“Whether it wins or not, it’s now flying on my rooftop balcony here in Patterson Lakes, Victoria, where it can be seen for miles.”
Another said “Britain long ago cut the apron strings.
“It is time for us to stand on our own two feet and be proud of our new status.”
“I was quite happy with the old one but we have spent so much money sorting out the change, we might as well have the new one. I do like it better though.”
“Time for a change. The Canadian maple flag is very popular!”
One of the undecided put it this way: “These polls are not a true reflection of how the public feel, given the low numbers which are statistically flawed.”
Another said “I would prefer the silver fern was put on the existing flag or the union jack on the silver fern flag.”
“Neither — just an exercise in nationalism, thanks John Key!” - Gisborne Herald