List of New Zealand flags
Encyclopedia
National flag
| Flag | |Use | United Tribes of New Zealand United Tribes of New Zealand The United Tribes of New Zealand was a loose confederation of Māori tribes based in the north of the North Island.- History :The confederation was convened in 1834 by British Resident James Busby... | Based on the White Ensign White Ensign The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton.... . Two crosses of St George and four five-point stars in the canton on a blue background. (See also variant design under "Maori flags" below) |
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1840–1902 | British Union Jack | Adopted following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand.... in 1840. |
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1867–1869 | The first flag of New Zealand based on the blue ensign | Blue ensign with the red letters "NZ" outlined in white |
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1902 (Official, in use from 1869) – | Flag of New Zealand Flag of New Zealand The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross.... |
A defaced Defacement (flag) Defacement is a term used in heraldry and vexillology to refer to the addition of a symbol or charge to another flag. For example, the Australian flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with the Southern Cross in the fly and the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter, beneath the Union... blue ensign Blue Ensign The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem.... with four red stars with white borders to the right, representing the constellation of Crux Crux Crux is the smallest of the 88 modern constellations, but is one of the most distinctive. Its name is Latin for cross, and it is dominated by a cross-shaped asterism that is commonly known as the Southern Cross.-Visibility:... , the Southern Cross. |
Royal and Viceregal
| Flag | |Use | Personal Flag Queen's Personal New Zealand Flag The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand, also known as the New Zealand Royal Standard, is the personal flag of Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of New Zealand. The flag was approved for use in 1962. It is used by the Queen only when she is in New Zealand or attending an event abroad in... of Queen Elizabeth II in New Zealand | A banner of the Coat of Arms of New Zealand Coat of arms of New Zealand The coat of arms of New Zealand is the official symbol of New Zealand. The initial coat of arms was granted by King George V on the 26 August 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.-History and design:... , defaced with a blue disc bearing the crowned letter 'E' in gold |
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| 1869–1874 | Governor of New Zealand | A Union Flag defaced with four five-pointed stars. This design was due to a misinterpretation of design instructions. | |
| 1874–1936 | Flag of the Governor of New Zealand | ||
| 1936–1953 | Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand The Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand is an official flag of New Zealand and is flown continuously in the presence of the Governor-General of New Zealand. The flag in its present from was adopted in 2008... |
A lion standing atop a crown, over a scroll inscribed "Dominion of New Zealand Dominion of New Zealand The Dominion of New Zealand is the former name of the Realm of New Zealand.Originally administered from New South Wales, New Zealand became a direct British colony in 1841 and received a large measure of self-government following the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852... " |
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| 1953–2008 | Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand The Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand is an official flag of New Zealand and is flown continuously in the presence of the Governor-General of New Zealand. The flag in its present from was adopted in 2008... |
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2008 – present | Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand The Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand is an official flag of New Zealand and is flown continuously in the presence of the Governor-General of New Zealand. The flag in its present from was adopted in 2008... |
The shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by the Royal Crown. |
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? | Flag of the Queen's Representative Queen's Representative The Queen's Representative is the formal title given to the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of New Zealand, in the Cook Islands.... in the Cook Islands |
Flag of the Cook Islands with a crown in the centre of the ring of stars |
Ensigns
| Flag | |Use | red ensign Red Ensign The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such... with four white stars representing Crux, the Southern Cross | |
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1968 – | Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Navy Royal New Zealand Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force... |
A white ensign with four red stars |
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Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Royal New Zealand Air Force The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force... |
A light blue ensign with the roundel Roundel A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:... of the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world... defaced with the letters, "NZ". |
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1983 – | New Zealand Civil Air Ensign New Zealand Civil Air Ensign The New Zealand Civil Air Ensign is the flag that represents civil aviation in New Zealand.The ensign consists of a dark blue Latin cross edged with white on a light blue field. A Union Jack is placed in the first quarter and the Southern Cross, as seen from New Zealand, are shown in red in the... |
A blue cross with a wide border on a light blue field. The Union Flag is in the canton, with the Southern Cross in the fly. |
| New Zealand Police New Zealand Police The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand... Ensign |
A blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the NZP seal in the fly. | ||
| New Zealand Fire Service Ensign | A blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the Fire Service seal in the fly. | ||
| 1966–1996 | New Zealand Customs Flag | A New Zealand Blue Ensign, with the letters "HMC" (for "Her Majesty's Customs" in the lower hoist. This flag was superseded by a new Customs flag in 1996. | |
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1968–1998 | New Zealand Ministry of Transport Ensign | A sky blue flag with the New Zealand White Ensign in the canton, with the NZMOT seal within a white disc in the fly. |
Associated states
| Flag | |Use | Flag of the Cook Islands Flag of the Cook Islands The flag of the Cook Islands is based on the traditional design for former British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Union Flag in the upper left, and on the right, fifteen stars in a ring. The Union Flag is symbolic of the nation's historic ties to the United... | A blue ensign with 15 stars in a ring |
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1975 – | Flag of Niue Flag of Niue The flag of Niue was adopted in 1975. It consists of the Union Flag in the upper left corner with a star in the middle of the Union Flag and four stars forming a diamond around it. It is very unusual for a flag based on a British ensign design, in having not only a yellow background, but also a... |
A yellow ensign, the Union Flag Union Flag The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas... has a star in the middle and four stars forming a diamond around it |
Maori flags
| Flag | |Use | United Tribes of New Zealand United Tribes of New Zealand The United Tribes of New Zealand was a loose confederation of Māori tribes based in the north of the North Island.- History :The confederation was convened in 1834 by British Resident James Busby... flag, widely used by Maori groups | Similar to the amended design used as the de facto national flag 1835–1840, but with eight-pointed stars and black fimbriation in the canton |
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| 1990 – | Flag of Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga is a Māori term that can be interpreted as chieftainship. It is probably the most contentious phrase from the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi... – Official National Maori Flag, approved by the NZ Cabinet in 2010 |
A white curling stripe on a red and black field | |
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Example of a Maori Flag | Some Maori tribes use the Red Ensign defaced Defacement (flag) Defacement is a term used in heraldry and vexillology to refer to the addition of a symbol or charge to another flag. For example, the Australian flag is the British Blue Ensign defaced with the Southern Cross in the fly and the Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter, beneath the Union... with their tribal name |
Sporting flags
| Flag | |Use | Australasia Australasia Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes... n team at the 1908 1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games... and 1912 Olympiads 1912 Summer Olympics The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports... | A Blue Ensign Blue Ensign The Blue Ensign is a flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. It is used either plain, or defaced with a badge or other emblem.... defaced by a white circle containing the British Crown plus a shield containing the Southern Cross |
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1994 – | Flag of the New Zealand Olympic Committee New Zealand Olympic Committee The New Zealand Olympic Committee is the body in New Zealand responsible for selecting athletes to represent New Zealand in the Summer and Winter Olympic and the Commonwealth Games.... |
A white flag with a depiction of the silver fern superimposed on the five ringed emblem of the International Olympic Committee International Olympic Committee The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president... |
| 1987 (?) | Flag of the All Blacks All Blacks The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport.... , New Zealand's national rugby team. |
A black flag with a white silver fern. |
Other New Zealand flags
| Flag | |Use | Flag of the City of Nelson Flag of the City of Nelson The flag of the City of Nelson represents Nelson City, New Zealand. The flag is flown from many public buildings and other landmarks in Nelson including Christ Church Cathedral... | Blue top third with bishop's mitre Mitre The mitre , also spelled miter, is a type of headwear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran churches, and also bishops and certain other clergy in the Eastern Orthodox... . Blue and white waves beneath with black cross flory. |
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| Flag of the New Zealand Navy Board | A fouled anchor with a red-blue background | ||
| 1987 – | New Zealand Post New Zealand Post New Zealand Post, commonly referred by its acronym, NZPost is a State owned enterprise responsible for providing postal service in New Zealand.-History:... flag |
An orange-red flag with the NZ Post logo in white. Vertical White and Blue strip in the fly. | |
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2004 – | Flag of Otago Flag of Otago Otago is one of the few regions of New Zealand to have officially adopted a flag.Otago has long been associated with several symbols and colours. The St. Andrew's Cross is one such symbol, in recognition of the former province's Scottish settlement... |
Blue and gold, horizontally divided by a zigzag line ("dancetty", in vexillological Vexillology Vexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum, meaning 'flag', and the Greek suffix -logy, meaning 'study'. The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word velum... terms), with counterchanged eight-pointed stars. Used by the Otago Regional Council, and widely by the general public in the Otago region |
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2007 – | The New Munster Cross (also known as the Zealandia Ensign), Unofficial flag of the South Island | A Nordic Cross with white background representing the Southern Alps, with a green cross representing the lush bush and farmland of the South Island and blue representing the ocean. Adopted and promoted by political groups advocating greater self-determination Self-determination Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference... for the South Island South Island The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean... . |
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2008 – | Flag of Tokelau Flag of Tokelau As Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand, the flag of New Zealand has been used as the official flag for Tokelau. However, in May 2008 the local parliament, the General Fono, approved a distinctive flag and national emblem for Tokelau. This flag has not yet been widely used for... |
A blue flag with a stylized Polynesian canoe (vaka) in gold and a representation of the Southern Cross in the fly |
Proposed alternative flags
| Flag | |Use | Koru Flag Koru Flag The Koru Flag has been proposed as a secondary flag for New Zealand. It was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in 1983. It is claimed by some New Zealanders that the current flag of New Zealand is a reminder of British colonialism and does not truly represent their culture; however, those who... (by Hundertwasser) | A White flag with a green spiral (Koru). |
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| 1990 – | Flag of Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga is a Māori term that can be interpreted as chieftainship. It is probably the most contentious phrase from the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi... – Official Maori Flag |
A white curling stripe on a red and black field | |
| 1998 | James Dignan's flag | Combines the red-white-blue and stars of the current flag (though with a brighter blue), as well as the bold diagonals of the Union Flag Union Flag The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas... with the black-white-red of the flag of Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga Tino rangatiratanga is a Māori term that can be interpreted as chieftainship. It is probably the most contentious phrase from the Māori version of the Treaty of Waitangi... , and adds the silver fern. Promoted widely after a New Zealand Herald article in 2002. |
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| 2000 | Aaron Nicholson’s flag | a modification of the current flag with The initials NZ to stylise the Union Jack and a Long White Cloud (2009) has made it to some a Flag of compromise. This combination retains traditional links with the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... and also New Zealand's Polynesian Polynesian culture Polynesian culture refers to the indigenous peoples' culture of Polynesia who share common traits in language, customs and society. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras:... heritage. The NZ “Jack” Design is also reminiscent of the old 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games insignia. This design was displayed in newspapers around the country in 2005, and on an earlier TV Debate with the late Angela De Audney.. |
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| 2004 | Cameron Sanders' flag | A stylised Silver fern flag Silver fern flag The silver fern flag is any flag design that incorporates a silver fern. The silver fern motif is associated with New Zealand, and a silver fern flag may be used as an unofficial flag of New Zealand. The silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols,... , used by the NZ Flag.com Trust NZ Flag.com Trust The NZ Flag.com Trust was established in 2003 by Wellington businessman Lloyd Morrison with purpose of encouraging New Zealanders to change the Flag of New Zealand, and frequently comments on the New Zealand flag debate.... . |
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| 2005 | Kyle Lockwood's Flag | A red, white and blue flag representing "the people of New Zealand". The blue colour represents the ocean, the red represents the Maori and the blood of soldiers, and white is a reference to the "Land of the Long White Cloud". | |
| 2007 | Blue Union Jack flag | Most flags proposed eliminate the Union Flag Union Flag The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas... entirely which some members of the public oppose. As a result a few amateur designs have been proposed which acknowledge New Zealand's British heritage such as this one. |
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| 2008 | John Traft's Flag | A red, white and blue flag in line with the current flag but without the Union Jack. | |
| 2009 | Proposed Flag By Adam Kibbey | This flag includes both the Union Jack, symbolising British links, as well as the colours of New Zealand; Black and White, with the Red from the Cross of the English flag being extended to show the Maori colour of red. The southern cross is also prominent. |