1st Lead: New Zealanders reject change to Union Jack in national flag

New Zealanders have voted to keep the British Union Jack in their national flag, spurning Prime Minister John Key's bid for a change to a silver fern design in a referendum that closed Thursday.

Almost 57 percent of the votes in the preliminary result were in favor of the country's colonial era naval ensign, which features the Union Jack prominently in the top left corner on a blue field with four red stars representing the Southern Cross constellation.

Just over 43 percent voted for the alternative offering of a stylized silver fern with the Southern Cross on a blue and black field.

Voter turnout was 67.3 percent of the electorate, or more than 2.12 million voters, according to the Electoral Commission. Endit