The country's had its say, $26 million has been spent and the alternative flag has been committed to the shredder without so much as a flutter.

But that doesn't mean the issue is dead. Not by a long shot. Not according to Tauranga's John Hepburn.

'That referendum result was very, very much closer than any of the earlier polls suggested,” says John. Consequently, this advocate of change wants the whole matter revisited by 2020.

'One year before the referendum, the polls were about 80-20 in favour of keeping the flag.” Then six months out things narrowed dramatically. 'The final poll before the referendum was more 60-40,” says John. It narrowed even further for the main event – 56.6 per cent in favour of retaining the flag and 43.2 per cent against.

John says when people have to sit down and tick a box, that's when they get really focused on the issue.

This all tells John something. 'The flag issue had been trending more and more towards change. If that trend continued, and there's no reason to believe it wouldn't, then clearly next time we would end up with a new flag.”

So why are we listening to John? Well John appeared in The Weekend Sun in late-2014 as the whole flag thing was unfurling – and he predicted the referenda was destined for disaster.

'There was such a range of flags in the first, none could achieve an outright majority. And the second was overly politicised with people voting in protest at the cost, the process and [Prime Minister John Key].” It all played out pretty much according to Hepburn.

And now, just when it seems the nation has moved on, John tells us we haven't. The matter is not resolved and won't be resolved until we get a new flag. 'And I think it'll happen.”

'There's a certain inevitability about a new flag.” So now he's thinking about when and how.

'There should be another referendum run in conjunction with the General Election of 2020.There would be no need to spend more than a couple of million dollars,” says John.

And we will need to call on the wisdom of an experienced internationally-renowned vexillologist – a person who studies the history, symbolism and usage of flags. 'Someone with knowledge of flag design, someone who could deliver some valuable input. Something that seemed lacking last time.”

The vexillologist would be part of a flag consideration panel, but without voting rights. 'The panel would be perhaps seven young New Zealanders, all under 45. It would choose 40 designs and put them out into the public arena for several months for feedback.”

Then the panel, under the stewardship of the vexillologist, would choose the alternative flag to be considered alongside the current flag in a referendum in 2020. 'I would also lower the voting age especially for the referendum – 16 or even lower – after all they would have to live with the new flag.”

John cites the example of the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. 'That result mirrored the outcome of our flag referendum. Scotland answered 55.3 per cent against independence to 44.7 per cent for it.

But the flag issue here in NZ is gathering momentum again. 'They're predicting another referendum within five years.”

And like our flag, says John, it will happen in time.