Clayton Mitchell New Zealand First MP

If the Government is insistent on railroading these flag referenda through, they should at least include the current New Zealand flag as one of the flag design choices from which to choose, during the first of the two referenda they're planning.

This would give New Zealanders the right to make the choice of keeping our current flag.

At the moment, the Government is planning two referenda; one forcing us to choose an alternate flag design and then a second one allowing us to choose between that alternate flag design and our current one. The additional expense of having a second referendum, when one would suffice, is irresponsible.

It is estimated that these flag referenda will cost us $26 million. What else could we put this money towards? For the same cost, we could upgrade 900 social houses with insulation and heating, or we could cover the costs of 1400 hip replacements! I'm sure each one of you reading this editorial can think of another handful of good uses for such a large sum of money.

We at New Zealand First are strongly opposed to these referenda. It's not the right time. It's not the right place. This is not a citizen initiated referenda but one created by the Government as a distraction and a legacy vanity project.

We've got bigger issues as a nation. For example, at the same time this Government is trying to urgently push through this flag referendum distraction, they are simultaneously moving full steam ahead with the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

The TPPA would strip New Zealand of its sovereignty, changing our culture and further hindering – perhaps crippling our industries. This is what the Government should be inviting us, as a nation, to discuss. Instead, they distract us with flag referenda the majority of us don't want and hide in secret meetings discussing the issues that really matter to us as a nation.