Marama Fox @FoxMarama Flag Referendum debate is a one of representation - #changetheflag to a symbol of our duality of nationhood - a flag of our liberation

Arguments for change

Proponents for change argue that:The national flag is too similar to the flag of Australia and the two are often confused.
For example, in 1984 the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke was greeted by New Zealand flags when visiting Ottawa, and the current New Zealand prime minister John Key has been seated under the Australian flag in several international meetings.

As a derivative of the Blue Ensign, some feel that it does not represent New Zealand's current status as an independent, sovereign nation. Instead it alludes to New Zealand being a colony or sub-part of the United Kingdom, which is anachronistic.
The national flag exclusively acknowledges those of British heritage whilst ignoring New Zealand's Māori population and other ethnic groups, Some have called this inappropriate because the Treaty of Waitangi and Māori heritage are significant parts of New Zealand's history, and because New Zealand is a multi-ethnic society with increasingly diverse demographics. For example, the 1961 census reported that 92% of the population had European ancestry, but by the 2013 census it had changed to 74%; the figure is as low as 59.3% in Auckland.

Arguments against change

Opponents to change argue that:

The financial cost of changing the flag outweighs any possible advantages in changing it.

The national flag has "stood the test of time". Some New Zealanders feel attached to the flag as it has been part of the country's history; these events are what give the flag its symbolic and emotional value rather than the instrinsic design itself.

For example, all poll results from 2014 show that a large majority of the public are opposed to changing the flag or at least do not see it as a pressing issue.

The Union Jack in the flag represents New Zealand's strong past and present ties to the United Kingdom and its history as a part of the British Empire, and the Southern Cross represents its location in the South Pacific.
Generations of New Zealanders have fought and died under the current flag during many battles, and changing the flag would therefore be disrespectful to their efforts and sacrifice. The first time the current flag was officially flown in battle was from the HMS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate in 1939, however, the New Zealand national Blue Ensign flag was flown at Quinn's Post during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915. Rhys Jones, former chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, noted that the flag had already been changed during New Zealand's history, and a salient legacy of the Gallipoli campaign is representational of the nation's independent identity.]