Communities wanting to fly the five official alternative flags before the referendum to decide a favourite are being offered a free set to display.
The five flags, plus New Zealand's current flag in bottom centre position. Photo: RNZ
Four of the flags were selected by the Flag Consideration Panel and a fifth, the Red Peak, was added after a campaign to have it included.
Communities able to fly all five flags next to each other can apply for a set.
The panel's chair Professor John Burrows said it would give people the opportunity to see the flags in real-life situations.
"People can just see them and get used to them as it were, and compare them and see how they look when they're actually flying."
John Burrows says the public will vote on their preference in a postal referendum at the end of November.
The public will vote on their preference in a postal referendum between 20 November and 11 December. The winner will go up against the current flag in a second referendum in March.
The flags will need to be returned after the poll.
