Doug MacKenzie, who has a property in Letts Gully Rd, on the outskirts of Alexandra, quite likes the blue and black silver fern option, one of the four flags that will be voted on in the flag referendum later this year.
However, it seems someone strongly opposes the flag to a point where Mr MacKenzie's flag has been taken down and replaced with another - twice.
Mr MacKenzie decided to fly the flag outside his property, after he bought it from designer Kyle Lockwood. Within 24 hours, it had been stolen and replaced with the present New Zealand flag.
Not to be discouraged, he decided to concrete the pole base the next day and raise the flag that had been left behind. But it was pulled down again the same night.
''The concrete wasn't even set,'' he said.
This time, someone put up an All Blacks silver fern flag, while the New Zealand flag was left draped over the mailbox.
''By this time, I was getting p... off, so I took the All Blacks flag down, and with nothing up the pole I re-concreted the base and left it overnight.
''It did not stop there.
''Next morning, the pole had been pulled over again.''
The mysterious prankster had propped up the pole, with the originally stolen black and blue silver fern flag now tied to the top.
Mr MacKenzie decided to take down the flag, re-concrete the base and wait three days before putting up his blue and black silver fern flag, with the New Zealand flag flying underneath.
Since then, his flagpole and flags have been left alone for almost three weeks.
Did he have any idea who might have done it? ''Not a clue.''
Mr MacKenzie did not go to the police, mostly because he did not think the police would have much evidence to go on.
He put the flag up originally to get a ''bit of feedback on my choice of flag''.
''I certainly got that.''
Although he expected a few phone calls, he did not think it would create such a stir.
Other flags are flying in Letts Gully too, or ''Flag Gully'' as Mr MacKenzie calls it.
John Grant, owner of Hawkdun Rise Vineyard, said he had been flying the red and blue silver fern option alongside the present one outside his property for three weeks, without any trouble.
''I looked at the flag designs and thought: some of them should be put up for public scrutiny,'' he said.
Christine Butler, who also flies the black and blue silver fern option on her property, said she had not had any trouble.
An Australian Northern Territory flag, two more present New Zealand flags, and one unknown one were also flying in Letts Gully yesterday.
