新西兰英语 224 Maori Flag

　　The Prime¹ Minister, Mr Key, announced that a Maori flag was chosen for Waitangi Day. It will fly on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and Parliament² along with the New Zealand flag. The Maori flag is black, red and white with a koru design. The koru is a young fern leaf and means new life.
Earlier this year, the Prime Minister asked Maori to choose a flag for Waitangi Day. Starting in July, 21 hui (meetings) were held throughout the country to discuss which flag Maori people wanted. There were four choices and this one was chosen by 80% of the people at the hui.
This flag will fly beside the New Zealand flag. There will be two flags together.
The New Zealand flag has a blue background. The Union Jack³ is in the left corner and on the right are the four stars of the Southern Cross which we can see in the night sky. The Australian flag is similar but has an extra star which is very big. Many people would like a new flag for New Zealand but it is hard to get people to agree to a change.

1 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

2 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。