Parmar Parmjeet: New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParmar Parmjeet: New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 12 March 2015. Volume:703;Page:2241. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the first reading of the New Zealand Flag Referendums Bill. I am not on the Justice and Electoral Committee which has been given this bill so it is a real privilege for me to be able to make this contribution to the bill. I acknowledge the Deputy Prime Minister Bill English as the Minister responsible for the flag consideration process and I acknowledge the work that the Deputy Prime Minister Bill English has put into this bill.What we are hearing from the other side tells us about their lack of a futuristic approach. They do not believe in giving a fair opportunity to Kiwis to contribute to this issue. We know that this issue is not a new issue. This debate has come up many times before since the 1970s so it is time that we give Kiwis a formal and respectful platform to have this discussion. It is a non-partisan public engagement process that this Government is initiating. We have been very open about this. New Zealanders have given National a strong mandate for this term. We intend to work in the interests of every New Zealander. Over the past 6 years we have been very transparent and straightforward about the decisions we have made and the direction we have taken. We will continue to do so and to take New Zealanders with us. The National-led Government is already getting to work quickly on our priorities.A flag is the symbol of the realm—our Government and our people. Our flag’s royal blue background represents the blue sea and clear sky surrounding us. The stars of the Southern Cross emphasise the country’s location in the Pacific Ocean. The Union Jack represents our strong ties to the United Kingdom both historical and ongoing. I have had many opportunities to discuss this issue with our communities when I go to community events and there are many different sides to this discussion. Initially I found that there was some confusion about the process. The public did not know how this process would be followed and whether they would be able to make an active contribution on the issue of the flag. I explained that this is not how the National Government works that this is a very sensitive issue and that public participation will be allowed. Then I started getting very positive responses. New Zealanders realise that the Government’s role is to put structures and mechanisms in place so that New Zealanders can engage in a discussion and then make a decision.The support I saw in communities for these two referendums was from a group that believes in having a flag that better reflects our current status as a modern and independent nation. I remember that during campaigning I was approached by a resident in Mount Roskill. She had already done a design that she wanted to propose. I promised her that I would get back to her when the process was set up and we started to accept designs. So I feel very proud of the fact that we are doing what we promised to do. Now this individual will have the opportunity to submit her design to the Flag Consideration Panel.As I said there are many sides to this discussion. One says yes we want to go ahead with this formal process so people can make their contribution and another says as we heard from the other side of the House that it is an expensive process. Yes it is an expensive process. We are not taking this issue lightly. It needs a genuine democratic process and I believe that the value of the emotions attached to a flag—emotions on both sides about the current flag and emotions about changing the flag—is much more than the spending that is going into this process. There is emotional attachment to our current flag as it has been part of our country’s history. This should be respected for the sacrifices our people made. As a migrant I immensely appreciate and respect our veterans and those in the Defence Force who serve under our current flag.For some a flag is about our current society and for others it is about our history. There are loads of sentiments on both sides of the discussions I have been having in the community. Therefore this discussion cannot be taken lightly. The Canadians went through this discussion in the 1960s and as a result they adopted their new flag with the maple leaf which is now one of the most striking flags in the world. Talking about the striking nature of the flag as we have heard from other members on this side there has been some confusion over our flag and the Australian flag.This bill is needed in order to proceed with the thorough process we want to follow. A two-stage binding referendum is planned to take place next year after public consultation and input. It is evident from this bill that the National-led Government is not taking it lightly. This is a process where full consultation is done and then we will proceed to the next step. If—and only if—voters decide in the second referendum that the New Zealand flag is to change then that will automatically lead to the necessary legislative changes and the status of the current flag will be recognised. It will be for the public to decide not members of Parliament and it will be done through public engagement and a referendum process.I have seen some support for the change of design but retaining the current flag is a very possible outcome of this process. Therefore there is no assumption that the flag is going to change. As we heard from the Hon Maurice Williamson New Zealand has had three flags in its history. The Prime Minister has said he supports a design incorporating a fern. The silver fern is a distinctive and unique New Zealand symbol. Having said that I want to make it clear that no decision has been made on alternative designs. It will be up to New Zealanders to submit possible designs.The first step was nominating suitable candidates for a Flag Consideration Panel. The Government has appointed 12 New Zealanders as members of the Flag Consideration Panel which will engage with the public about a possible new New Zealand flag. Each member of the panel has committed to undertake the flag consideration process carefully respectfully and with no assumption in favour of change. The next stage is to enable the proposed two binding referendums on the flag to go ahead. The first referendum will invite the public to choose a preferred design from a range put forward by the Flag Consideration Panel. The second referendum to be held in 2016 will be a runoff between the preferred design and our current design. The projected timeline and cost is already made clear. The public engagement process is required to ensure that the public is well informed and has the opportunity to participate. The public engagement process is expected to begin in May. This will be to invite New Zealanders to send in designs or ideas regarding a possible alternative flag. The shortlisted designs will first go through a postal referendum—and that will be a preferential voting system—inviting voters to rank the designs in order of their preference.The second referendum against the current New Zealand flag will be a binding referendum and that will be the first-past-the-post voting system. This process will give New Zealanders the rare privilege of having a say on one of the most important symbols of our country. The Flag Consideration Panel is going to work independently to carry out the process. The members reflect a number of criteria. They reflect our new New Zealand: national geographical coverage Māori representation representation of Pacific Island and ethnic communities a variety of age groups and gender balance. Along with the public engagement process this panel will also undertake any research that will be required to make sure there are no issues with those shortlisted or proposed designs to make sure they are available and to make sure there are no legal issues attached to them. It is a fair process. It is about giving choice to New Zealanders.Again it is a real privilege to be able to contribute to this bill. I support the bill and commend it to the House. Thank you.