New Zealand's new flag could be one of these designs

The government of New Zealand today published a list of 40 possible designs for its new national flag, ahead of a national referendum slated for later this year. The designs were selected by an independent panel from a list of nearly 10,300 online submissions that included a kiwi bird with laser eyes, a stick figure riding a bicycle, and an ice cream cone.

The designs selected today aren't nearly as daring. Many include national symbols like the silver fern, the Southern Cross constellation, and the koru — a fern leaf motif common in Maori tradition. Notably, none of the submissions include the British Union Jack that features prominently in its current flag.

"A flag should carry sufficient dignity to be appropriate for all situations in which New Zealanders might be represented," the 12-member "flag consideration panel" said in an open letter published Monday. "It should speak to all Kiwis. Our hope is that New Zealanders will see themselves reflected in these flags’ symbols, color and stories."

New Zealand's current flag