The possibility of the national flag changing will boost turnout in the second referendum next year, the New Zealand Flag Association said.
The Black, White and Blue Silver Fern flag, designed by Kyle Lockwood Photo: SUPPLIED
The winning alternative flag, which will be confirmed on Tuesday, will go up against the existing flag in March.
A preliminary results shows 1,527,042 votes were cast in the first referendum, a 48 percent turnout of eligible voters.
The association's president, John Moody, said he expected more people would vote in the next one.
"Definitely a far higher turnout and much more interest and awareness - I think simply because it's really a change, we could retain the current flag or change to a new one and I think it will really excite people's minds in that regard."
He said the number of informal (148,022) and spoiled or invalid (2476) votes in the first referendum - just under 10 percent of the total votes cast - was disappointing, but not surprising.
An informal vote is where the person has not indicated a clear preference.