Todd Talks By Todd Muller

I spent most of 1997 travelling the world, or at least Asia and Eastern Europe. A year of many firsts, a year that changed me deeply, a year that really turned me into a passionate Kiwi. I found travelling made me more tuned than normal to the Down Under accent.

It's funny but you can spot Kiwis a mile off when overseas. There's a casual nonchalance we express, regardless of circumstance that makes us beguiling to many, attractive to some, perhaps even rude to a few. I loved the year offshore, with the silver fern on my backpack, typically chest puffing whenever NZ and our extraordinary achievements had the opportunity for a mention. I drank at Earls Gate, I watched the All Blacks at Lansdowne Rd and had a white Christmas feeling strangely out of sorts and nostalgic for Te Puna.

I returned home in early 1998. Perhaps it was the joyful tears at reuniting with my family, but the most striking recollection was the light, sheer, sharp, squinting light, searing itself in my mind. Foreign travellers speak of this effect, we who live here get adjusted, perhaps familiarity breeds a sunglass effect, but the light truly dances off our shores and hinterland like no other country. We stand out, this place of ours, our little space, it glints in the world, catching the worlds eye more than an island at the bottom of the world ought to.

This is why I support the alternative flag. It captures our light. I went for a run on Saturday around Tauranga's inner harbour estuary. Across the estuary is a huge flag pole donated by a local civic leader that of course normally flies the current NZ flag. I barely notice it. Today as I ran I saw this silver fern catching the light of a stunning summer's afternoon. From across the harbour I could see it, flashing its light almost incandescent at times, with its blue the exact shade of the sky. For a moment I was quite choked up, it just felt like us.

I know it has cost a lot. I know politicians of all hues have not helped the debate, but can I ask you to do this one last thing…

Before you vote, can you go outside, and just look at the two flags flying in the sun. One has done its job admirably, and if it is chosen I will still fly proudly. But only one catches the light. Only one sparkles like the rare gem of a nation we are. Let's have a flag that stands out in the world like we do.