New Zealand is keeping its old flag - but things could have been so much better

And the results are in: after having opened up the opportunity to design New Zealand's flag to the population, here is what they chose:

Confused?

That's because, after more than 10,000 submissions, and £12 million spent on a referendum, 56.6 per cent voted to keep the old flag.

The other option was the Silver Fern flag, which had been designed as an alternative to the current flag depicting the Union Jack and New Zealand's colonial ties with Britain.

That's a very expensive 'no thank you, we'll keep it the same.'

And things could have been SO MUCH BETTER

These are some of the flags the Kiwis missed out on, courtesy of the flag website:

Four Seasons One Nation

Liam Gerrard from Auckland:

"I have used both traditional and new colours, plus the silver fern and the southern cross. The theme relates to our wild and different weather and natural beauty."

Woolly or wont he

Michael Tuffin from Manawatu-Wanganui:

"I am delighted to present a flag that every New Zealander can agree to. It is recognizable globally and represents our green countryside, our clear blue skies, and the sheep doubles as a long white cloud. It also carries forward, tradition with the use of the star in place of the eye."

Southern Kiwi

Aku A from Waikato:

"Bird accualy is kiwi. Is well known icon of our country and people. Also stars are southern cross and blue is pacific ocean. Where we're from and how we got here."

the happy nz flag

hannah jackson from Northland:

"i think it woudl make a good flag of nz because its yellow and is happy and it would really cheer people up."

Good flag

James Ireland from Auckland:

"Animals, nature, blah, blah, blah."

Happy Kiwi

Davy Lee from Auckland:

"Because it portrays that we are a nation of happy, harmless kwis."

Te Pepe

David Astil from Waikato:

"That feel when our eyes gaze upon the flightless and majestic rare-Kiwi bird is a classic icon of NZ's deep relationship with our ancestors, their spirit, land and culture. Te Pepe Tamariki, Te Papa Aotearoa."

Clean Green Kiwiana

Toko Ma from Taranaki:

"I would like the New Zealand flag to promote our Clean Green Environment."

Fush & Chups

Angela Inglis from Auckland:

"The yellow motif represents the golden sun, and the golden chips of this fair land. It's our British heritage, filling our hearts with pride and our tummy's with Kai. The Fish (Ika) represents the main source of food for Maori (after all the moa's had been scoffed up and before the settlers arrived). We haven't battered the fish so this flag is safe for all the gluten free people too."

Sheep le mon

KC from Auckland:

"Land of the sheep."

Gains

Logan Wu from Wellington:

"New Zealand has come a long way since colonialization in many ways. The icons in this flag are representative of our achievements from the successful implantation of Maori culture in the mountains of the individual cultures that make up our multiculturalism, to the freedom of expression enjoyed by all, including the national pastimes that have replaced the Southern Cross. Choosing a flag that celebrates and recognizes our achievements and forward thinking is one of the most important steps we can take to show the world how we, as kiwis, are off to a flying start."

Sheep and Hokey Pokey

Jesse Gibbs from Canterbury:

"This design represents all of NZ because we have lots of sheep and love hokey pokey ice cream. I even included the blue and red to keep all of you naysayers happy. Kiwi as bro."

Fire the Lazar!

James Gray from Auckland:

"The laser beam projects a powerful image of New Zealand. I believe my design is so powerful it does not need to be discussed."

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