Flag of New Zealand
New Zealand's flag is dark blue with the British Union Jack in the top corner and four red stars with white borders on the right, showing the Southern Cross.
At a glance
- Adopted
- March 24, 1902made the national flag by law in 1902 (Flags of the World gives 12 June 1902); the design had been used at sea since 1869
- Shape (height : width)
- 1:2
- Capital
- Wellington
- Continent
- Oceania
- Colours
- dark blue
- red
- white
What it means
- Union Jack: New Zealand's history as a British colony
- Four red stars: the Southern Cross constellation, marking New Zealand's place in the South Pacific
- Blue field: officially, it brings to mind the blue sea and sky around New Zealand
Where it came from
The flag is based on the British Blue Ensign, a blue flag with the Union Jack in the corner that British colonies used at sea. In 1867 the letters NZ were added, and in 1869 a design by naval officer Albert Hastings Markham replaced them with the four stars of the Southern Cross.
History
Before that, in 1834, Maori chiefs at Waitangi chose the United Tribes flag, a white flag with a red cross and a blue corner with four white stars. It is still flown at Waitangi.
The Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross became the national flag by law in 1902. In 2015 and 2016 New Zealand held two referendums on a new flag. Voters first picked a black, white and blue silver fern design, but in March 2016 they chose to keep the current flag, about 57 percent to 43 percent.
Fun facts
- New Zealanders voted on whether to change their flag, and decided to keep it.
- The stars are placed like the real stars of the Southern Cross, so the cross is a little crooked.
- The flag first flew in a sea battle on HMNZS Achilles in 1939.
- New Zealand ships that are not government ships fly a red version, nicknamed the red duster.
Easy to mix up with
Australia: Australia also has a blue field and the Union Jack, but its stars are white, it has five stars in its Southern Cross plus a bigger star under the Union Jack
Questions
What does the flag of New Zealand look like?
New Zealand's flag is dark blue with the British Union Jack in the top corner and four red stars with white borders on the right, showing the Southern Cross.
What do the colours and symbols on the flag of New Zealand mean?
Union Jack: New Zealand's history as a British colony; Four red stars: the Southern Cross constellation, marking New Zealand's place in the South Pacific; Blue field: officially, it brings to mind the blue sea and sky around New Zealand.
When was the flag of New Zealand adopted?
The current flag of New Zealand was adopted on March 24, 1902. (made the national flag by law in 1902 (Flags of the World gives 12 June 1902); the design had been used at sea since 1869)
What colours are on the flag of New Zealand?
The flag of New Zealand uses dark blue, red and white.
Which flag is easy to mix up with the flag of New Zealand?
It is easy to mix up with the flag of Australia. Australia also has a blue field and the Union Jack, but its stars are white, it has five stars in its Southern Cross plus a bigger star under the Union Jack
Famous landmarks in New Zealand
🎯 Play the flag quiz 🌍 Play the globe
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
- crwflags.com
- Flag picture: flagcdn.com (Wikimedia Commons)