2015–16 New Zealand flag referendums Mallard this shows that the flag change process is suffering from "total spin" and that the panel is pushing to change the flag in breach of its mandate to be neutral. Documents revealed that Flag Consideration Panel judge Julie Christie is a board member of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) body "New Zealand Story" where she "had formally agreed to support the use of the NZ Way Fern Mark in any flag design". This fern design ended up as one of the shortlist entries. Christie had declared this as a potential conflict of interest but it was dismissed
Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand the timing coinciding with the official observance of the Queen's birthday. It is a blue field featuring the shield of the coat of arms surmounted by a Royal Crown (depicted as St Edward's Crown) in the centre. The previous design was deemed to be too 'colonial' and lacking in New Zealand elements. The new design was flown for first time at ceremonies at Government House, Auckland on 5 June 2008 and at Government House, Wellington on 17 June 2008. The flag of the Governor-General occupies the same position in New Zealand that a Royal Standard does in the United Kingdom.