新西兰公布40幅新国旗入围设计稿
The independent panel tasked with deciding a potential new flag for New Zealand has published its long list of 40 possible designs.
新西兰的新国旗方案独立专家小组日前公布了40幅入围设计稿，这个小组将负责在其中选出新国旗的设计方案。
Nearly 10,300 were submitted by members of the public to a government website for consideration by the government-appointed panel of 16 people.
The process attracted international attention for its more off-the-wall entries, including memorably a kiwi with lasers for eyes, a crude line drawing of a man on a bicycle, a QR code, and the 10-year-old Pepe the Frog meme.
Unsurprisingly, but nonetheless somewhat disappointingly, the panel went for a more refined approach in the longlist of 40 designs it published on Monday, with variations on the silver fern, the Southern Cross constellation and the koru (unfurling fern frond) featuring prominently.
In an open letter jointly signed by all 12 members, the panel said its decision was guided by the input of "thousands of Kiwis across a range of communities told us when they shared what is special to them about New Zealand".
The panel is now faced with the task of whittling down the longlist of 40 to four designs that will be put to a public vote in a binding referendum in November or December.
A second referendum, to be held in March 2016, will be a run-off between the current flag and the preferred alternative design.
New Zealand's current flag, a pairing of the Union Jack with the Southern Cross constellation that closely resembles Australia's, was formally adopted in 1902.