Greg Hine with his ute, which he had covered with a wrap-on sign of the New Zealand flag to show his support for keeping it.

Debate over the possible changing of the national flag has stirred one patriotic Marlborough man to show his support for the 181-year-old version by plastering it over his ute.

Former Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) serviceman Greg Hine said he considered plans to possibly replace the country's flag "the biggest waste of money since the start of time".

More than that, it would dishonour the servicemen and women, past and present, who had fought under it.

DEREK FLYNN/FAIRFAX NZ Marlborough RSA Members, from left, Peter Slape, who served with the New Zealand Army in Vietnam, Peter Callahan, who served with the army in Malaya and RSA president John Forrest, who served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force want the national flag to stay the same.

He had decided to "wear his heart on his sleeve" and had a wrap-on sign of the flag made and put on his ute, in the first week of August, to show his support.

"I've had mostly positive responses to it so far. I've had the odd scowl, but mostly I've been getting thumbs and and 'good on ya' from people as I drive past or when I'm parked up."

Hine had given eight years of service to the armed forces, while his father had a 20-year career with the RNZAF and his grand-father had served with J-Force after World War II.

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New Zealand's Maori Battalion had also "proudly borne" the union jack when they went into battle, he said.

When it came to a referendum to decide on making the change Hine believed the Government would end up with egg on its face.

"If you have a look on the Government's website set up for this, seven or eight out of 10 comments are against it, so there clearly the public don't want to change the flag."

Legislation was passed by parliament last which cleared the way for a referendum on changing the flag and an alternative design.

The National Returned and Services Association had also criticised plans for the change and said they would fly the existing flag throughout the referendum process. Marlborough RSA members backed this and said they thought it inappropriate to change the flag they and other members of the armed forces had fought and died for.