amiga500: I find Red Peak to be visually jarring and to me just unpleasant. The winning alternative flag is not bold enough, I voted for the red and blue version, on the basis of which flag would I be least disappointed in should it win in March - if that makes sense. Although the winner is designed by one person, it could have been designed by a group of people striving for consensus. I shall be voting for the current flag.
I also think it is quite good that we have a flag similar to Australia. Although we are fierce rivals in sports, when one Country needs help who steps up first? Bush fires Kiwi fire fighters are over there helping. Christchurch earthquakes, Aussie Police helping out. RNZAF Orion looking for the Malaysian plane etc etc. Yes, true we are at times like fighting cousins, but we more alike than different.
That camaraderie is not due to the flag. Well, we don't have a flag, its a commonwealth flag that disappears to foreigners who see it as Australian, as due to size , Oz gets more air time than us. Ive seen that on sports broadcasts. We have zero recognition based on the flag