In February the Flag Consideration Panel (FCP) was announced by the Government. The panel of sports stars, business leaders and individuals, representing Maori, the military, New Zealand youth and academia will somewhat controversially be paid $640 per day to help select up to four flag designs from public submissions.
A group of MPs provided nominations for the FCP in December last year. Details about the criteria and make-up of the panel were outlined in the cabinet paper quoted below:
The FCP members will be the “face” of the New Zealand Flag discussion (well-known New Zealanders are likely members), and should represent a cross-section of New Zealand society, with members reflecting the following criteria, and having an understanding of all that goes to make up New Zealand’s sense of national identity:
national geographic coverage;
Maori representation;
representation of Pacific Island and ethnic communities;
a variety of age groups; and
gender balance.
The most controversial part of the announcement from the design industry’s point of view was not seeing one of our own on the panel. The Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ) expressed their concern about the lack of design representation on the FCP, however their written request to the Government was unsuccessful. You can read more about their efforts in this email sent to DINZ members.
As DINZ state in their email, it is disappointing, however there are some positive signs in the appendix outlining the process the Government will take regarding design representation. Throughout the submission phase (May 4th – August 21st 2015) the FCP will “seek input from flag and other design and Tikanga Maori experts” before presenting designs and preparing them for the referendum in November.
A great place for the FCP to find design professionals with appropriate experience would be the Best Awards judging panel. The experience of critiquing design work and judging the submissions quality and craftsmanship seems like an excellent skill to add to the process.
Below is the announcement and list of people on the FCP.
The Government has appointed 12 New Zealanders as members of the Flag Consideration Panel which will engage with the public about a possible new New Zealand flag, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says.
The panel will be chaired by former deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury Emeritus Professor John Burrows, ONZM, QC of Christchurch who was co-chair of the Constitutional Advisory Panel. Writer and reviewer Kate de Goldi of Wellington will be the deputy chair of the Flag Consideration Panel.
The other 10 members are:
Nicky Bell – CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand and board director, Auckland
Peter Chin, CNZM – Former Mayor of Dunedin, director and trustee, Dunedin
Julie Christie, ONZM – Director of Julie Christie Inc. and board member, Auckland
Rod Drury – CEO of Xero and technology entrepreneur, Havelock North
Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM – Olympian, Commonwealth gold medallist, ASB Head of Talent & People Strategy, board member and trustee, Waitakere
Lt Gen (Rtd) Rhys Jones, CNZM – Former Chief of NZ Defence Force, Wellington
Stephen Jones – Invercargill Youth Councillor, Invercargill
Sir Brian Lochore, ONZ, KNZM, OBE – Former All Blacks captain, coach and administrator, Masterton
Malcolm Mulholland – Academic and flag historian, Palmerston North
Hana O’Regan – Academic, Maori studies and the reo Maori, Christchurch
— https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/flag-consideration-panel-members-announced