New Zealand Narrows New Flag Options to 40

New Zealand is in the middle of creating the world's first crowdsourced national flag, and it has been given plenty to choose from: More than 10,000 were submitted from around the world, and a government-appointed panel has narrowed it down to 40, most of them featuring national emblems like the Southern Cross or silver ferns, the AP reports. Rejected designs included a kiwi bird shooting lasers from its eyes, reports the Guardian. When the flag panel has narrowed the number of designs to four, there will be a national referendum to pick the favorite, followed by a vote in which the winner will go head-to-head with the existing flag, which Prime Minister John Key wants to get rid of. (More New Zealand stories.)