NZ votes 57% to 43% against replacing the Union Jack on its flag with a Silver Fern

The provisional result of the referendum showed the above result according to the TVNZ website.  Participation, conducted by postal ballot, was about 67%.

The parliamentary opposition parties opposed the change, while the government supported it. For many, therefore, it was more a referendum on "do you like the government?" with the inevitable result.

Our hunch is that the level of support for change was sufficient to keep the issue alive, however.