Union Jack officially retains place on New Zealand flag

The British Union Jack was cemented in New Zealand's national flag for the foreseeable future Wednesday when the official result of a referendum on changing the design was released.

The official result from the Electoral Commission mirrored the preliminary results published last week, showing 56.6 percent voting in favor of the current flag and 43.2 percent voting for an alternative new design.

More than 2.14 million votes were cast, representing a voter turnout of 67.78 percent.

The result has widely been seen as a snub for Prime Minister John Key who personally initiated the bid to change the flag and openly supported the alternative silver fern design.

The government has pledged not to revisit the issue and urged New Zealanders to embrace the current 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.

The alternative had a stylized silver fern with the Southern Cross on a blue and black field -- a design critics likened to a souvenir tea towel and a corporate logo.

The result ended months of polarizing and rancorous debate that straddled political party lines, although campaigners for change say the debate will continue.

The process was marred by controversy and rancor since it was initiated by Key after the 2014 general election.

Critics of the present flag, including Key, said it is too similar to the Australian flag and that it is a hangover from the country's colonial past.

Key said earlier this month that New Zealanders were unlikely to have another chance to choose their flag before the country became a republic -- an event that was unlikely to happen in his lifetime. Endit