List of New Zealand flags explained

This is a list of flags of New Zealand. It includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by institutions, local authorities, or the government of New Zealand. Some flags have historical or cultural (e.g. Māori culture) significance.

National flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1834–1840Flag of the United Tribes of New ZealandBased on the White Ensign. Two crosses of St George and four eight-point stars in the canton on a blue background.[1] (See also variant design under "Māori flags" below)
1840–1867British Union FlagAdopted following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
1867–1869The first flag of New Zealand based on the Blue EnsignBlue Ensign with the red letters "NZ" outlined in white
1902–presentFlag of New ZealandA defaced Blue Ensign with four red stars with white borders to the right, representing the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross.

Royal and viceregal

FlagDateUseDescription
1962–2022[2] Personal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II in New ZealandA banner of the coat of arms of New Zealand, defaced with a blue disc bearing the crowned letter 'E' in gold
1869–1874Flag of the governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with four five-pointed stars. This design was due to a misinterpretation of design instructions.
1874–1908Flag of the governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with a white circle, with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' at the centre, surrounded by a green wreath.
1908–1936Flag of the governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with a white circle, with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' at the centre, surrounded by a wreath of ferns.
1936–1953Flag of the governor-general of New ZealandA lion standing atop a crown, over a scroll inscribed "Dominion of New Zealand"
1953–2008Flag of the governor-general of New ZealandA lion standing atop a crown, over a scroll inscribed "New Zealand"
2008–presentFlag of the governor-general of New ZealandThe shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by the Royal Crown.
1979–presentFlag of the King's Representative in the Cook IslandsFlag of the Cook Islands with a crown in the centre of the ring of stars

Ensigns

FlagDateUseDescription
1901–presentNew Zealand Red EnsignA red ensign with four white stars representing the Southern Cross
1941–1968Royal New Zealand Navy EnsignBritish White Ensign, previously used by the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy It was replaced by the New Zealand White Ensign.
1968–presentRoyal New Zealand Navy EnsignA white ensign with four red stars representing the Southern Cross
1939–presentEnsign of the Royal New Zealand Air ForceA light blue field with the roundel of the Royal Air Force defaced with the letters, "NZ".
16 November 1938– presentNew Zealand Civil Air EnsignA 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 EnsignA blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the NZP emblem in the fly.
New Zealand Fire Service (Fire and Emergency Service) Ensign A blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the Fire Service emblem in the fly.
1966–presentNew Zealand Customs Service FlagA New Zealand Blue Ensign, with the letters "HMC" (for "Her Majesty's Customs" in the lower hoist was in use from 1966 to 1996. From 1996 the flag have the inspection "NZ CUSTOMS SERVICE" in the lower hoist.
1968–1998New Zealand Ministry of Transport EnsignA sky blue flag with the New Zealand Ensign in the canton, with the NZMOT coat of arms within a blue disc in the fly.
Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Yacht SquadronA white cross on a blue field, with the New Zealand Flag in the canton.

Associated states and territories

FlagDateUseDescription
1979–presentFlag of the Cook IslandsA Blue Ensign defaced with 15 stars in a ring
1975–presentFlag of NiueA yellow ensign, the Union Flag has a blue disc with a yellow star in the middle and four yellow stars forming a diamond around it
2008–presentA blue flag with a stylized Polynesian canoe (vaka) in gold and a representation of the Southern Cross in the fly
1993–presentUnofficial flag of the Chatham IslandsA blue flag with a depiction of the island superimposed on a rising sun.
1995–presentProposed flag of the Ross DependencyFlag of New Zealand with an azure blue, white outline of stars, and white stripe at bottom.

Regions and cities

FlagDateUseDescription
1980–2010Flag of the City of Auckland[3] A banner of arms of Auckland City's coat of arms.

Blue canton with cornucopia in top-hoist. Red canton with pick and shovel in top-fly. White lower half with ship and blue horizontal.

1976–presentFlag of the City of Christchurch[4] A banner of arms of Christchurch's coat of arms.

Chevron Gules a Mitre between a Fleece and a Garbe of the first in base two Bars wavy Azure on a Chief of the last four Lymphads sails furled, also of the first And for the Crest on a Wreath Or and Azure a Kiwi proper

1979–presentFlag of the City of Dunedin[5] A banner of arms of Dunedin's coat of arms.

Argent a fess dancetty vert on which a sheep's head caboshed between two wheat sheafs all proper. In chief a three-towered castle sable, mortared of the first and flagged gules on a rock proper. In base a lymphad sable sailed and flagged azure.

2012–presentFlag of the Town of Mārahau[6] Blue background with a green triangle and a yellow crescent moon and two yellow stars.
2020–presentFlag of the City of Napier[7] A banner of arms of Napier's coat of arms.

Three red roses from the coat of arms of Lord Napier and Ettrick (a direct descendant of Sir Charles Napier after whom Napier was named). Blue wave bands symbolise status as a coastal city and the Golden Fleece is the heraldic symbol of the wool industry, which Napier was one of the largest wool centres in New Zealand.

1987–presentFlag of the City of Nelson[8] [9] A banner of arms of Nelson's coat of arms.

Blue top third with bishop's mitre. Blue and white waves beneath with black cross flory.

2004–presentFlag of Otago[10] [11] Blue and gold, horizontally divided by a zigzag line ("dancetty", in vexillological terms), with counterchanged eight-pointed stars. Used by the Otago Regional Council, and widely by the general public in the Otago region.
–presentFlag of the City of Palmerston North[12] Plain white background with central coat of arms. 'City of Palmerston North, New Zealand' in black text above and below the coat of arms.
1998–presentFlag of the City of Porirua[13] [14] [15] The flag uses green, blue, and white elements to symbolise Whitireia and the harbour. It also incorporates Porirua's coat of arms, though there is also a version without the coat of arms for less formal occasions.
1962–presentFlag of the City of Wellington[16] [17] [18] Black symmetric cross on a yellow background with a central circular design of a ship with a dolphin on its sail.

Māori flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1834–presentOriginal design of the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, widely used by Māori groupsSimilar to the amended design used as the de facto national flag 1835–1840, but with eight-pointed stars and black fimbriation in the canton
1990–presentFlag of Tino rangatiratanga – Official National Māori Flag, approved by the NZ Cabinet in 2010[19] A white curling stripe on a red and black field
Standard of Dame Te Atairangikaahu, modern Kīngitanga flagAdopted during the reign of Dame Te Atairangikaahu (reign from 1966 to 2006). It is still popularly used today.
?-presentThe flag of the KīngitangaOn a red field, the crest of the Kīngitanga coat of arms with the motto Maori: KO TE MANA MOTUHAKE beneath it, both in gold.[20]
Kotahitanga flag – unofficial Māori flag, widely used by Māori groupsThree horizontal stripes of red, white and black, defaced with a circular emblem featuring a mere crossed with a scroll representing the Treaty of Waitangi within a border of koru containing the word "Kotahitanga" (unity)
Example of a Māori FlagSome Māori tribes use the Red Ensign defaced with their tribal name
1864Flag used in the Battle of Gate Pā[21] A white Greek cross on its left upper canton, a four pointed white star (ascending Star of Bethlehem) on its right lower canton, and downward white crescent (new moon) in the centre on a field of red.
1977Flag used at the Bastion Point demonstration against the New Zealand Crown's occupation of the landTwo horizontal stripes of red and black defaced with a mangopare (hammerhead shark) design, representing tenacity.

Sporting flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1908–1912Flag of the Australasian team at the 1908 and 1912 Olympic GamesA Blue Ensign defaced by a white circle containing the British Crown plus a shield containing the Southern Cross
1994–presentFlag of the New Zealand Olympic CommitteeA white flag with a depiction of the silver fern superimposed on the five ringed emblem of the International Olympic Committee
1979–1994Flag of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games AssociationA black flag with a depiction (in white) of a silver fern on the Olympic rings.
1987Flag of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team.A black flag with a white silver fern.
Burgee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht SquadronA blue triangular flag with a white cross, with the Southern Cross in the canton and a crown in the centre.

Other New Zealand flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the New Zealand Navy Board[22] A fouled anchor with a red-blue background
1970–2022Queen's Colour of the Royal New Zealand Navy
1900–1987[23] New Zealand Post flagBlue field with the New Zealand Post Office emblem.
Flag of the Grand Orange Lodge of New ZealandAn orange ensign with the Saint George's Cross in the canton, and in the fly an open book surmounted by a Saint Edward's Crown and surrounded by the four stars of the New Zealand Southern Cross.
Flag of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers

Proposed alternative flags

See also: New Zealand flag debate and 2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. http://www.mch.govt.nz/nzflag/history/united-flag.html The drawing of the United Tribes Ensign sent by Governor Bourke to King William IV
  2. Web site: Death of The Queen: Information . www.dpmc.govt.nz . . 11 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Auckland region (New Zealand) . www.crwflags.com . 25 February 2023.
  4. Web site: Council flag poles . ccc.govt.nz . 25 February 2023.
  5. Web site: Dunedin City Council history . www.dunedin.govt.nz . 25 February 2023.
  6. Web site: Marahau's flag flies proudly over 'independent' community . Stuff.co.nz . 25 February 2023 . Carly . Gooch .
  7. Web site: New Napier flag to go ahead but potential for further discussions . Blair . Voorend . . 31 January 2020 . 5 September 2023 .
  8. Web site: Purchase a Nelson City Flag - Nelson City Council .
  9. Web site: Nelson province (New Zealand) .
  10. Web site: Otago region (New Zealand) . www.crwflags.com . Flags of the World . 5 February 2023.
  11. Web site: Picks 'underwhelming', Otago flag designer says . www.odt.co.nz . Otago Daily Times . Carla . Green . 5 February 2023.
  12. Web site: Palmerston North could adopt green and white theme for a flag . Stuff.co.nz . 25 February 2023.
  13. Web site: Porirua City Flags . www.pcc.govt.nz . . 25 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201192504/http://www.pcc.govt.nz/%2fAbout-Porirua%2fPorirua-s-heritage%2fPorirua-s-natural--cultural-and-historic-heritage%2fCivic-History%2fPorirua-City-Flags . 1 February 2016.
  14. Web site: Porirua (Wellington, New Zealand) . www.fotw.info . . 25 August 2023.
  15. Web site: Pollock . Kerryn . Flags - Other flags . Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . 5 September 2023.
  16. Web site: Wellington, New Zealand . www.crwflags.com . 25 February 2023.
  17. Web site: The Lost History of the Flag of Wellington . medium.com . 25 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Time to revive the flag? No not that one – the Wellington one . Stuff.co.nz . 25 February 2023.
  19. Web site: National Māori flag. Ministry for Culture & Heritage. 28 June 2012. 18 May 2015.
  20. News: Gifford . Adam . Flag raised for Koroneihana . 29 June 2024 . Waatea News: Māori Radio Station . 18 August 2023 . en-NZ.
  21. Web site: 2014-04-28 . Traces of Pukehinahina / The Battle of Gate Pā in Te Papa – The New Zealand Wars . 2023-12-12 . Te Papa’s Blog . en-NZ.
  22. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/nz%5Enav.html New Zealand Naval Flags
  23. Web site: Flag - New Zealand Post Office . 2023-07-12 . Te Awamutu Museum Collection Online . en.