New Zealand has confirmed that the black, white and blue silver fern design won a referendum to become a possible new flag, after the final votes had been counted.
A second referendum will be held in March to decide whether to adopt the new flag or keep the current one.
The winning design, known officially as Silver Fern (Black, White and Blue), happens to be Prime Minister John Key’s pick, and he had earlier expressed delight that it had won in the preliminary tally.
New Zealanders were asked to choose which of five designs they preferred.
The referendum has divided opinion in New Zealand over its cost and timing.
NZ confirms Silver Fern as flag referendum candidate
