Students to strut creative stuff on flag debate

Taking a creative approach to how New Zealand portrays itself could win a young college student a lifetime experience - a day at Weta Workshop - in a competition to design a new New Zealand flag.

As debate heats up around the country about how our national identity is portrayed, the NZflag.com competition offers year nine and ten secondary school students the opportunity to have their say.

An ideal Term 4 activity designed to supplement the curriculum for years 9 & 10, the competition has two strands: a design competition for a new New Zealand flag and an essay competition in which students are asked to write about "Why New Zealand Should Change its Flag".

The national winner of each competition will spend an all-expenses paid day at Weta Workshop in Wellington. Regional finalists will have their designs made into flags.

"New Zealand, Aotearoa, is a land of inspiration, innovation and original thought," says Weta CEO Richard Taylor. "Our culture is special, our people unique. Let's celebrate our land, our people, with a national flag that respects and appreciates the wonderful country that we have become."

Entry forms and flyers have been distributed to Social Studies, English and Art department heads at secondary schools nationwide or are available from www.nzflag.com. Students have six weeks to come up with engaging designs and incisive arguments - the Competition closes on 12 November. Winners will be announced week beginning 22 November 2004.

The school with the most students participating in either the Design-A-Flag competition and/or the essay competition will win a visit from one of the NZ Flag.com Trust celebrity endorser list - to find out more visit www.nzflag.com.

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