Proposed flag of New Zealand, termed “The Black &amp; Silver”. The flag consists of a silver fern frond in white on a black background between two white pillars. Artistic description: "The Black &amp; Silver is a tribute to a small nation at the edge of the world with a proud tradition of leading the world. The Silver Fern on black represents the moonlit forest where Maori would lay upturned ponga leaves to light the way for travellers. Nowadays the fern points to a shining future for all New Zealanders, against the black mantle of Te Korekore, the realm of potential. The white pillars signify the Southern Alps in the South Island, and the four great mountains of the North. Equally, they represent the long white cloud that greeted the first waka, and the white sails of the first ships. In the spirit of the fern, New Zealand’s human trailblazers have led mankind down into the nucleus of the smallest thing, the atom, out into the vastness of the biggest thing, space, and up to the summit of the highest peak, Everest. The Black &amp; Silver - not so much as a flag but as a standard of excellence that will inspire all New Zealanders in their quests for new elements, new galaxies, new Everests."
Traced from the design gallery for the New Zealand flag referendums, 2015–16
John Ansell, with help from Kenneth Wang &amp; Grant McLeod McLachlan