By 3 News online staff
A New Zealander has won an international competition to redesign the country's flag.
DesignCrowd asked its 180,000 users to come up with a new-look New Zealand flag.
While the competition has no official bearing on the pending referendum on the national ensign, Shelly Richards – who uses the online moniker Beare – was eventually selected as the winner, and awarded $300 for her design.
Prime Minister John Key wants the flag referendum to take place during the next Parliamentary term "so it does not intrude on the 2017 elections". Earlier this year he said this gives proper time for rational debate away from party politics.
Most political parties have also supported the idea of a referendum.
Check out some of the other designs.
source: newshub archive
