From the Editor - Issue 40

THE CAR IN FRONT of me was festooned with flapping flags at every door. The silver fern spoke clearly: unequivocally proud of New Zealand. Another vehicle was also flying a flag: the Union Jack on a blue background with... how many stars? Were they Aussies or Aotearoans?

I’d like to know at a glance. A national flag should coalesce pride in an instant. It’s meant to be a visual symbol, capable of flicking a switch in our brains telling us “My country”.

It doesn’t. Who can tell at a glance whether it’s the flag of New Zealand or Australia? Is this why people in other countries often think New Zealand and Australia are one and the same? Mention you come from New Zealand and foreigners begin telling you about their uncles who emigrated to Australia.

In 2005 the visionary New Zealander Lloyd Morrison initiated a debate about a potential redesign of our flag. I joined that band of would-be flag-changers and was shouted at in RSA rooms and on street corners for my temerity in asking for petition signatures. However, for every angry former soldier who accused me of traitorous behaviour, there was another opinion that things change and symbols can outlive their usefulness.

Change is inevitable and anything is possible; that’s always been our mantra here at NZ Life & Leisure. I notice on page 140 of this issue, in a story written by young journalist Charles Anderson who retraced his grandfather’s WWII steps to Monte Cassino, that the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force trunk which accompanied his grandfather to war was stencilled with a silver fern. Didn’t our soldiers fight with silver ferns on their lapels? Those silver ferns lay over their hearts as they fought for their country and for freedom.

I hope you’ve ordered your copies of The Insider’s Guide to New Zealand, our collector’s edition of NZ Life & Leisure, which goes on sale at the end of November. It’s been a labour of love. It’s beautiful and interesting and has had the unnerving impact of making us all desperate for holidays so we can head off to the places we’ve researched. See here for a sneak peek. At $19.90 (delivered), it’s my favourite Christmas gift this year – but then I would say that, wouldn’t I?

I’d also mention the best-ever Christmas price for a subscription to NZ Life & Leisure ($40) which comes with a $25 gift voucher from homewares retailer Redcurrent. That will pad out the Christmas shopping even futher. Go to www.mags4gifts.co.nz or call 0800 695 433.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a safe holiday from me and the team,