Interview: Rod Drury

In the midst of flag roadshows and running one of the fastest growing SaaS companies, Xero CEO Rod Drury kindy squeezed time into his busy schedule to answer questions about the flag consideration panel and his views on the process thus far.

Q&As

Dan (DN): As Xero already represents New Zealand on a global scale, what advice and views have you been able to share with the panel about the importance the flag will have internationally, not just as a symbol used here?

Rod (RD): For me personally, we value our deep relationships with the UK, but we also have increasing confidence being a New Zealand global company. When I begun this process I didn’t have a view either way on the flag but am finding the process very interesting as it has forced me to think deeply about our own identity.

DN: Have you spent time with DINZ or any design company to provide advice on design? If not, do you plan to do this? And if so how will that process occur?

RD: Yes we have spent time with DINZ and have been educated in the principles of flag design. There is a design video out soon I believe that goes through the core flag design principles.

DN: Do you have any thoughts about the use of colour and symbolism in the designs thus far and what that might mean internationally? For example I made a comment at the Wellington workshop about the use of green in African and Middle Eastern flags representing Muslim religion and culture, or red (revolution), black (death) etc. and whether we should be considerate of our choice in colours?

RD: Colors are something we’ve been getting good input on in the consultation sessions. There’s analysis on elements in the submitted flags so we can see what are the strongest colors and design elements that come through the process. That will help inform the panel.

DN: How have you been reviewing the designs submitted thus far? Can you talk about FLAGR (that you mentioned on Twitter) and how it works?

RD: FLAGR was my name (not the official name) for the evaluation tool that DIA have given us to review the designs. Already there are over 4000 designs so I’ve been keeping up to date. I can see 20 designs per page and select or mark the ones I think have promise and they go into my shortlist. Once the process closes we can get an aggregated long list and begin the process to bring it down to 4.

DN: Will you be providing your own recommendations of the four final short-list designs, or is the panel required to unanimously agree on this?

RD: I believe we do that as a group, but we are still pre long list. The panel are all quite smart and communicating well so no doubt we’ll have many ideas as to the best way to get down to 4.

DN: What have your thoughts been on the open process and engagement?

RD: It’s what’s great about New Zealand. This is the first time such an open and democratic process has been done to select a flag. I can see interest building week by week. Engagement was expectedly low at regional events on a winters night but online engagement has been very strong. But we believe it is still important to provide an in person opportunity for people to talk to the panel and flag team. It’s been great to see interest grow during the sessions as people find out more about the history of New Zealand and the flag.

I really like the community and education resource kits.

DN: Do you have any designs you’ve seen so far you’re excited about and can share / comment on? Or is the panel required to not share their individual views until the end of the process?

RD: It’s not appropriate for the panel to share views at this stage. I would say that many don’t meet generally accepted principles of good flag design, but you do see the themes coming through that are important to New Zealanders

DN: Have you familiarised yourself with the principles of flag design / vexillology and looked for the most “flag-like” submissions thus far?

RD: Yes, we have.

DN: How have you been dealing with the negative responses? Is the sentiment changing as the process continues?

RD: The biggest criticism is the cost. That is the cost of running a proper process. That’s out of the hands of the panel and as it’s committed to, we all believe it’s important not to waste the opportunity to have this discussion. I really hope people accept that the process is underway and engage.

DN: Do you think the new design should complement the Tino Rangatiratanga flag so they work together visually and symbolically?

RD: There are so many themes we need to boil down into a simple and clear design that adding that as a requirement would be very difficult. But who knows, perhaps a new design and Tino rangatiratanga would look good together anyway. Tino rangatiratanga is a very elegant design.

DN: Do you have any views or comments about at the process and quality of flags submitted in Fiji?

RD: I’ve read some of the criticism and my quick take is that it reinforces we’re running a pretty good process.

Thanks again to Rod for taking time to answer these questions. Hopefully they provide an interesting view on the flag consideration panel and their process.