新西兰公投：银蕨星旗落败将沿用米字国旗_BEC初级作文

新西兰公投：银蕨星旗落败将沿用米字国旗

总理表示，他对于公投结果感到失望，但他同时呼吁全国“团结一致支持现有国旗，走出国门使用它、挥舞它，向全世界展示我们以新西兰为傲”。

His government would not return to the issue, the New Zealand Herald reported.

《新西兰先驱报》报道，在约翰·基总理的任期内不会再开展有关更换国旗的行动。

He also defended the expensive cost of the referendum, saying it had caused healthy debate about nationhood.

关于公投高额花费引发的争议，总理表示公投的意义在于掀起了一次关于国家地位的健康的全民讨论。

The voter turnout was about 67 percent, with just over 1.2 million voting for the existing flag and more than 915,000 voting for change, Stuff.co.nz reported.

据资讯网站Stuff.co.nz报道，目前选民投票率约为67%，其中支持现有国旗的人数稍多于120万，选择更换国旗的人数则超过91.5万。

A final result will be announced in about a week's time.

投票的最终结果将于一周后公布。

Last year, a competition was held to design options for a new flag for the country, which New Zealanders voted for.

去年，新西兰发起了一项设计新国旗的海选，最终选拔出来的设计就是参与此次公投的备选新国旗。

A selection committee chose four flags from a vast number of entries, and voting in an earlier referendum selected a black, white, blue and red fern and stars design by Kyle Lockwood.