Well the current flag is a Royal Navy Ensign with four stars stitched on to represent the Southern Cross, the stars sailors steer by in the Southern Hemisphere. It's a very colonial symbol and I can see why they'd want to change it.

The problem with having the public submit designs is that you then have individual designs to pick from, rather than the traditional committee-designed flag that combines several elements.

Looking at the long list you can see that the current colours are popular, as are the ferns, swirls and Southern Cross.

So how about this - the current blue field with the stars of the Southern Cross stylised symmetrically in the centre with four ferns, two above and two below curving inwards forming a diamond, in each corner a curled fern turned clockwise (it's important the flag cannot be mounted upside down by mistake).

That combines all of the most common features and, unlike the flags above, it can be easily reproduced at home or in school, using a single sheet as a base and painting/embroidering it.