UPDATED 2.30PM:  Political pressure and legal challenges probably won't be enough to get the Red Peak flag included in November's flag referendum.

LISTEN TO DICK FRIZELL'S INTERVIEW WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE

The government has rejected an online petition of about 20,000 people calling for Aaron Dustin's design to be included as a fifth option and barrister Graeme Edgeler thinks the Government isn't likely to intervene in an electoral process.

“Unless there’s a great deal of pressure put on the government in the next week or two the chances of them changing their minds is exceedingly unlikely,” he explained.

Edgeler said even an urgent member's bill, judicial review or regulatory review would be unlikely to succeed.

Despite all this, he said if people really love Red Peak, they can still adopt it as a de facto national flag. “It doesn’t have to be the New Zealand flag for them to start putting it up flag poles or embroiding it on their backpacks when they’re on their OE or anything like that."  

The ACT Party is also behind those wanting the Red Peak flag to be included.  Leader David Seymour said two of the four finalists are "practically identical except for one colour", adding that he thinks the "common sense thing" would be to widen the choices and add the Red Peak flag.