Kiwis have voted to keep the New Zealand flag.
Over two million people had their say in the second binding referendum on the flag, but the result - announced on Thursday night - was much closer than polls had predicted.
Almost 57 per cent voted to stick with the existing design, Union Jack and all.
Just over 43 per cent wanted change, voting for Kyle Lockwood's black and blue silver fern design.
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Voter turnout in the postal ballot hit just above 67 per cent, significantly higher than the turnout for the first referendum held late last year, which was a little under 50 per cent.
Prime Minister John Key, a vocal supporter of the alternative design, says he's "naturally a little bit disappointed" by the result.
However, he'll now be throwing his full support behind the existing flag and he's urging New Zealanders to do the same.
"What this process has shown over the last three or four months is we as a country can get out there and fly our flag," he told reporters in Auckland.
"So my only request to New Zealanders is to rally behind the flag that's been chosen."
Mr Key says the conversation about nationhood and what New Zealanders stand for that was sparked by the referendum process has been an important one.
"I don't think we should shy away from having a discussion about contentious issues just because they are, by nature, contentious," he said.
Both NZ Labour and the Greens have criticised the referendum process, which cost taxpayers about $NZ26 million ($A23.18 million) all up, saying it's been a wasted opportunity.
New Zealand is the only country in the world that's ever asked its citizens directly whether they want to change their flag.
Mr Key kicked off the discussion about New Zealand's flag back in March 2014 when he announced National's intention to hold a referendum if it was re-elected.
Then-Labour leader David Cunliffe pledged to do the same if his party ended up in power.
Last year, more than 10,000 public flag design submissions were whittled down to a long-list of 40 by the 12-member flag consideration panel.
That became a short-list of four, but public pressure resulted in a fifth alternative flag - Red Peak - being added as one of the options in the first referendum held late last year.
The official result will be announced on March 30.
