New government video urges Kiwis to say what they ‘stand for’ as $27m flag change debate gets underway

Debate over a new flag for New Zealand is heating up with the government urging its citizens to have their say and submit their own design ahead of a referendum next year.

Less than a year remains before New Zealanders will make their final decision on changing the flag, in March 2016.

The first referendum will be held from November 20-December 11 this year, when people will be asked to rank the four flag alternatives selected by a chosen panel.

From these four options the most popular will be chosen to run against the existing flag in a second referendum from March 3-24.

The process is estimated to cost NZ$25.7m ($26.88m).

Prime Minister John Key is in favour of changing the flag to reflect a post-colonial New Zealand - removing in particular the Union Jack.

He has previously said he would like to adopt a black flag with a silver fern emblem, similar to the strip of the nation's All Blacks rugby side.

The silver fern also lends its name to the New Zealand netball team.

However, many responses on the government's flag-change feedback website have been against the change, claiming New Zealand should continue to honour its history.

The current New Zealand flag has been in use since 1902.

It is extremely similar to the Australian one - itself officially recognised in 1954 - but is missing the Australian seven-pointed star and its Southern Cross motif is coloured red and constructed of only four stars.