New Zealanders have voted to keep the same flag they've had for the past 114 years, rejecting the chance for a new design.

 

投票显示，新西兰人民拒绝更换国旗，决定继续沿用飘扬了114年的米字旗。
 

 

Preliminary results from voting in a referendum to decide if the flag would be changed were in favour of keeping the old design, which is similar to the Australian flag and incorporates the Union Jack¹.

 

The New Zealand Herald² reported 2.1 million people voting with the result as 56.6 percent in favour of the same flag and 43.2 percent in favour of a new flag.

 

The 18-month process, driven by Prime Minister John Key, cost $NZ26 million (£11.9million).

 

Mr Key said he was disappointed with the outcome, but called for the country to 'rally behind the flag that's been chosen, to go out and use, to wave it and to be proud of it and to celebrate the fact that we've got an amazing country'.

 

His government would not return to the issue, the New Zealand Herald reported.

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