Official result of the first referendum on the New Zealand flag
The Electoral Commission has released the official result for the first referendum on the New Zealand Flag. The referendum asked the question:
“If the New Zealand flag changes, which flag would you prefer?”
The most preferred alternative flag design chosen through the first referendum is Option A: Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue).
The next most preferred flag design is Option E: Silver Fern (Red, White and Blue), followed in order of preference by Option B: Red Peak, Option D: Silver Fern (Black and White) and Option C: Koru.
The total votes received were 1,546,734, which includes 149,747 informal votes (9.68%) and 3,372 invalid votes (0.22%).
Voter turnout is 48.78%. Turnout is calculated by taking the total votes received as a percentage of the total number of voters enrolled as at 19 November 2015 (3,170,726).
The breakdown of the iterative count process of the votes received is available online at www.electionresults.govt.nz. Information on the turnout by each electorate is also available at www.electionresults.govt.nz.
The second binding referendum on the New Zealand flag will be held from 3-24 March 2016. Voters will be asked to choose between Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), being the most preferred flag design selected in this referendum, and the current flag. The flag that receives the most votes will be the official flag of New Zealand.
Voters should ensure that they are enrolled and their enrolment details are up to date well before voting begins in the second referendum at www.elections.org.nz/enrol.
ENDS
NOTE: This media release will be the Commission’s only comment on the result. No further comment will be made.