The Flag Consideration Panel will name the four flag finalists at Te Papa in Wellington this morning, the 4 alternatives will be ranked by eligible voters in the first binding referendum.
New Zealander's will find out soon which flags they can vote for in the referendum. This will determine whether New Zealand adopts a new design.
The Flag Consideration Project Panel reviewed all 10,292 suggested flag designs and recently announced an official long list of 40 flag designs.
In an open letter to all New Zealanders, the Panel explained how the designs were chosen, and what happens next. They highlighted that "The message was clear, and the Panel agreed. A potential new flag should unmistakably be from New Zealand and celebrate us as a progressive, inclusive nation that is connected to its environment, and has a sense of its past and a vision for its future."
More than 10,000 designs were submitted during the flag consultation process, which were whittled down to 40 alternative flags.
The cross-party panel, led by Professor John Burrows, selected the top four.
In John Key's post cabinet press conference yesterday Key said there were two or three flags he would personally vote for in the shortlist. He said the chosen flag would be instantly recognisable as a representation of New Zealand.
Key stood by the process of the flag panel and referendum. He said a YouTube video on the Flag Consideration had garnered over 700,000 views, demonstrating New Zealanders' interest in the proposed change.
The announcement will be made this morning at 10am at Te Papa in Wellington.