Mr Key said this morning he would consult with senior ministers about a new flag, and would not rule out a referendum on the issue as part of the general election.
He believed a change was unlikely but he wanted to test the waters to see if the public wanted a new flag.
If ministers agreed, the Government would choose a flag and ask the public to vote yes or no, Mr Key said.
His personal preference was for a silver fern on a black background, but he said it would be very difficult to get a consensus on a new design.
- By Isaac Davison of the NZ Herald