You can't beat Wellington on a good day: the galleon cutting through the harbour, the dragon-like fish leaping high, the English flag fluttering in the breeze.

Chances are that's not the Wellington most of us recognise, but it's how the city's British-designed flag sees us.

The flag has been around since the early 1960s – not that most Wellingtonians would know. It hangs behind the mayor's seat in the Town Hall council chamber, and has occasionally fluttered from flagpoles in Civic Square, but its rather outdated symbols have seen it fall out of favour.

SUPPLIED After multiple failed attempts to design a new flag in the late-1950s, Wellington asked Britain’s College of Arms to design one. This is its offering - which is still the official flag of Wellington city.

Now Massey design graduate Thomas Le Bas is proposing a competition to design a new one.

READ MORE:

* Flags of New Zealand: the official ones, and the distant relatives

* New flag website lets public have their say

* Flag war erupts

"The current flag has a very UK-centric design and misrepresents Wellington," he said.

SUPPLIED Designer Thomas Le Bas wants to know if Wellingtonians want a new flag. He was behind the Flagpost website during the national flag debate.

"Perhaps something better could be designed that could provide a positive element to Wellington's identity. I lived in the city for 10 years and the city has the right culture to explore a process."

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester agreed the flag was a bit ridiculous and a relic of the past, but was cautious about a competition for a new one.

That would need to be driven by the community, and if there was an overwhelming will from Wellingtonians, then it would be something the council would support, he said.

"Until then, we are watching with interest to see what appetite there is from the community."

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the council wondered whether Wellingtonians were even aware of the existing flag, and it was too early to say whether it would fund a competition.

"New Zealand has had a recent unhappy history in regard to flag redesigns. We wonder if there's an appetite for ratepayers' money to be spent on an exercise that's likely to generate images of various local luminaries with green laser beams shooting from their eyes."

SUPPLIED A competition was held in 1957 but the designs were considered either too detailed or unsuitable. Another was held in 1958, but the issue became so contentious that no decision could be reached.

Rongotai MP and former Wellington deputy mayor Paul Eagle questioned whether the city even needed a flag.

The reality was the Absolutely Positively Wellington brand was powerful, and the envy of many of councils, he said.

"What would a flag even be used for? I'd rather the time and money was spent on other things."

SUPPLIED Another unsuccessful Wellington flag design entry form 1958.

If there was a new flag, it would have to have Māori and cultural significance, he said.

Wellington-based artist Matt Hunt said he did not know Wellington had a flag, but was not a fan of it, saying it was colonial and out of date.

"At least someone is asking what we think. If it goes ahead, it should be a slow process, and not shoddy like the national flag [referendum]."

SUPPLIED The flag used to be a permanent feature behind the mayor's seat in the Town Hall and was flown occasionally above Civic Square before falling out of favour.

He envisaged a flag that drew inspiration from the sea, and from the city being the heart of New Zealand.

Wellington broadcaster Keith Quinn thought he could vaguely remember seeing the flag before, but was also a critic. "It's got a bit too much English in it. That is three too many [St George's crosses]."

Le Bas was a Massey student during the NZ Flag Consideration Project and was behind the 2015 Flagpost website, which was a public discussion forum and was part of his design masters project.

@thomaslebas/Twitter A tweet in 2016 from designer, Thomas Le Bas, who is proposing to change the Wellington flag, that is pictured here with Wellington Mayor Justin Lester.

In an effort not to replicate the mistakes of that process, he wants Wellington's efforts to include designers, and leave room for tweaking - but only if Wellingtonians are interested.

"It has to be a flexible process to ensure it will be something people will be proud of."

HOW DID WE END UP WITH THAT?

KEVIN STENT/STUFF Callan Moody and Lauren Giumarra show off the little-known Wellington city flag in the capital's Civic Square.

* The idea for a Wellington flag was first raised in 1957, and was to feature the coat of arms.

* A competition was held that year, but the designs were considered either too detailed or unsuitable. Another was held in 1958, but the issue became so contentious that no decision could be reached.

* The council then asked the College of Arms in London to design a flag without the "impractical" coat of arms.

* In December 1962, the council approved the design of a black cross on a gold background, with the badge of a ship with a dolphin "naiant" – or swimming horizontally – on its sail.

* The first orders for the new flag were made in preparation for the royal visit of 1963.