More than two thirds of Kiwis are not happy with the national flag and say it's time for a change, according to a new poll.
The question was raised during the Rugby World Cup when many supporters chose the black flag with silver fern over the existing flag.
The WeatherWatch.co.nz poll asked 'is it time we changed the New Zealand Flag?', and 71 per cent of the 524 people who took part said yes.
A flag with a black background with silver fern was the most popular alternative on 48 per cent, followed by other, 11 per cent, the existing flag with the Union Jack replaced by the silver fern, 10 per cent, and a blue background with silver fern, 3 per cent.
Opponents to a black flag said it could be seen as negative colour but supporters disagreed saying it was connected to the All Blacks and a colour Kiwis identified with as a nation.
Twenty-nine per cent of those polled wanted the flag to stay as it is.
Steve Howard, an American now living in New Zealand, favoured the existing flag and said it was "wonderful'' the New Zealand and Australian flags were similar.
"Many Americans see the Australian and New Zealand flags so close to each other as being a sign of unity in Oceania - a partnership of sovereign nations who share a very unique place on this globe,'' he said.
However, not everyone agreed.
"I would prefer to have a flag that distinguishes us more from Australia, as we are our own nation. Personally I've had enough trouble in the past remembering which flag is ours and which is Aussie, let alone people from other countries distinguishing us,'' another person commented.
Many said the black background with the silver fern was already the de-facto national flag, and it simply needed to be made official.
"I think the fact that we have all been flying the silver fern lately shows that New Zealand is ready for change. I actually quite like the official Maori flag but it is far to political to ever be universally adopted'' said another person.
