A failure

I think John Key's campaign to change the New Zealand flag can now be officially described as a failure:

The first meeting in a $27.5 million project to chose a national flag has flopped.

It was reported that fewer than 10 people showed up to the first consultation meeting in Christchurch on Sunday.

The 12-strong Flag Consideration Panel outnumbered those in attendance.

While I want the flag changed and will vote for that, its pretty clear that there's no public enthusiasm for it. Even those opposed don't care enough to turn up and say "no". And under these circumstances, I can't see the second referendum succeeding.

Thanks, John Key. Treating this as your personal vanity project, a chance to literally "make your mark" on the country, has doomed it to defeat.