The British Empire may have held on to Scotland, but its former colonies are feeling rebellious. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said he would hold a referendum on changing the nation’s flag next year. “I’d like to get on with it. I’d like to do it as a 2015 issue,” he told a New Zealand radio station. “I’m obviously a big supporter of the change, I think there are a lot of strong arguments in favor of the change.” The prime minister has made his preference for ditching the Union Jack known. He has said he would prefer a a silver fern against a black background, which is already used by New Zealand sports teams like the All Blacks. Others have complained that such a flag would make New Zealand synonymous with their sports teams and also look too similar to a pirate’s flag. Earlier this year, Key urged his fellow Kiwis to think of Canada’s decision to replace their Union Jack flag. “I know it was a ferocious debate in Canada, but in the end would any Canadians look back and say they got it wrong with the maple leaf?” he said.
Read it at TVNZ
