19 May 2015

Fiji flag committee to look at designs this week

1:24 pm on 19 May 2015

Fiji's National Flag committee is set to begin sifting through 1,400 designs for the country's new flag this week.

The committee consists of 13 members across a broad spectrum of professions, including business, the arts, media, academia, unions, sport and traditional chiefs.

The committee is chaired by the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, Iliesa Delana.

The new flag is due to be raised at the October the 10th Fiji Day celebrations later this year.

A billboard outside Vatuwaqa Primary School, authorised by the Fiji Government.

A billboard outside Vatuwaqa Primary School, authorised by the Fiji Government. Photo: Supplied

The move to change the flag has come under criticism, and opposition calls for a referendum have been ignored by the Government.

The Fiji SODELPA youth council says it handed in 7,000 reproductions of the Fiji flag to the committee, which all seem to have been ignored.

The SODELPA MP, Bill Gavoka, said the submission was a gift from thousands of patriotic citizens who don't want the flag changed.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs