A new flag for New Zealand?

For years, most people have mistaken the Kiwi flag for its Australian counterpart and it's urgent to put an end to that terrible confusion! This would seem like a pretty simple problem to address, but a majority of New Zealanders are not quite sold on the idea, especially in view of the fact that it will cost them some $17 million.

The Russians and other former Soviet republics didn't make such a fuss; they exchanged their red hammer and sickle flags for new flags and that was it. Since these old flags must have been horded somewhere in anticipation of a likely resurrection of the USSR by Mr. Putin, there should be a strong used-flag market in all of these countries, and nothing would prevent to recycle all of them by slapping the “silver fern” in the middle as suggested on the illustration.

I would leave the meaningless communist emblem on, because it's not that big and it might add a tinge of nostalgia to the general look and feel of the piece. Since the first referendum on the subject is planned next November, my plan and design idea should be added to the four flag alternatives voters will have to decide upon. Another two-cent suggestion of mine to solve a multi-million dollar problem!