Flag of New Zealand

What the flag means

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, which looks after the flag, says the blue recalls the sea and sky around New Zealand and the stars mark its place in the South Pacific. The Union Jack refers to New Zealand's origins as a British colony.

History

Albert Hastings Markham, a lieutenant on HMS Blanche, proposed the Southern Cross design, approved for government ships in 1869. The New Zealand Ensign Act 1901 made it the national flag in 1902. In March 2014 Prime Minister John Key announced two referendums. In the first, held from 20 November to 11 December 2015, voters picked Kyle Lockwood's black, white and blue silver fern design as the alternative. In the second, in March 2016, 56.7 per cent voted to keep the existing flag.

In 1867 the letters NZ were added to the Royal Navy's Blue Ensign, because the colony had no badge of its own. Markham's Southern Cross replaced the letters in 1869.

Earlier flags of New Zealand

1. 1834–1840Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand

Flags that look like this one

AustraliaNew Zealand

Both show the Union Jack and the Southern Cross on dark blue. Australia's stars are white, with a large seven-pointed star under the Union Jack. New Zealand has four red stars with white borders.