Silver fern flag

The Silver fern flag is sometimes seen as an unofficial flag of New Zealand, in several variants. The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols, including the Coat of arms of New Zealand and the New Zealand One Dollar coin. A number of New Zealand sports teams, such as the Silver Ferns and the All Blacks use similar silver fern flags as part of their official merchandise.

The silver fern was first used on New Zealand military insignia South African War [ [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/new_zealand.htm Digger History: Badges of New Zealand] ] (1899 - 1902), and along with the United Tribes of New Zealand flag design also features on the back of the Boer War medals presented to soldiers who served in the war [ [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-medals/new_zealand2.htm Digger History: Medals of New Zealand] ] .

1980 Moscow Summer Olympics

New Zealand officially boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the US-led boycott of the games. However, four New Zealand athletes competed under the flag of New Zealand's Olympic committee, which was a black and white silver fern flag.

National flag proposals

The first suggestion that a silver fern flag be adopted as New Zealand's official flag came in 1998 from the Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler. Hasler's proposal was backed by the then National Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. Along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, Shipley backed a white silver fern on a black background as a possible alternative flag, along the lines of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag. Critics of the flag have often likened it to the Jolly Roger.

In 2003, New Zealand's Americas Cup team, Team New Zealand, launched the "Loyal" campaign, using a silver fern flag and a song of the same name by New Zealand musician Dave Dobbyn.

Referendum proposal

In January 2005 the NZ Flag.com Trust, using a stylised silver fern flag designed by Cameron Sanders, launched a petition to bring about a referendum on the flag issue. However, the Trust failed to attract enough signatures to bring about a referendum on the issue.

ee also

* Flag of New Zealand
* List of New Zealand flags

References