Over a year after the New Zealand parliament agreed to hold a referendum on whether to change the country’s flag, voting has finally closed.
Polls suggest Kiwis will vote decisively to reject the challenger flag, selected in an initial referendum last year.
Voters chose the Silver Fern (black, white and blue) from a selection of five to go up against the existing standard, a legacy of British rule.
Voting opened in the final referendum at the beginning of this month, and a preliminary result is expected at 8.30 p.m. local time (3.30 a.m. ET). The final result will be announced on March 30.
Around two million votes are expected to be cast, according to the New Zealand Electoral Commission, or just over 60% of registered voters.
Expensive and controversial
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, a big proponent of changing the country’s flag, has argued that the silver fern is a historical symbol of the country and will promote national pride.
But Key’s critics have pointed to the vast cost of the referendums — $17.6 million (NZ$26M) — and a lack of general support for changing the flag among the general public. A UMR Research poll taken between March 10% and 15 found only 35% in favor of changing flags.
And, of the 1.5 million voters who took part in the initial referendum, only 40% or so chose the silver fern as their first choice to go up against the current flag.
Supporters of changing the flag have argued that the cost of the campaign would be outweighed by greater tourist and branding revenues generated by a new, iconic standard.