A flag is mostly a piece of fabric that is distinct to each country.Flags are usually rectangular in shape and also have a specific color and flag design. Flags can often be a symbol of a country’s values and culture using unique designs and color combinations. This meaning holds true for the New Zealand flag too. They can also be used for decoration. The study of the flag is called vexillology, which is a word from Latin origin known as ‘vexillum’ meaning ‘banner’ or ‘flag’. Flags are a basic tool for identification in environments where communicating with others is difficult, like in maritime areas. Patriotic symbols are often used in military associations, and they are also commonly used in advertising, decorating, and messaging purposes.Do you like learning about flags and learning about what the flags signify? If so, why not check out or other flag articles, like Canada flag facts and Venezuela flag facts!Some Cool Facts About The New Zealand FlagThe first flag of New Zealand was United Tribes. The United Tribes flag of New Zealand was officially adopted in 1834, six years before New Zealand separated from New South Wales, Australia. The New Zealand flag started being developed after an incident in 1830, when The Sir George Murray ship sailed to Sydney from New Zealand without a register flying a British flag. New Zealand ships couldn’t sail under the British national ensign because they were not then a British colony so landing in Australia broke British navigation laws. This prompted a review of the flagless state and led to the development of the New Zealand flag.After making the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand was created as a distinct colony in 1840. The flag of St George’s Cross was chosen by an assembly (national conference) of Maori chiefs in the same year, with one more cross in canton that had four stars with a blue field on the back. The British ensigns flag began to be used after the colonies were formed in 1840. The country’s current flag was primarily made to be used on government ships in 1869 which related to British navigation laws established by the British Government. This flag was almost immediately adopted as New Zealand’s national flag and was also given international recognition in 1902.There is another important flag used in New Zealand that gives recognition to the indigenous people of New Zealand, called Maori. This New Zealand flag is called Tino Rangatiratanga, which was designed in 1990. There is a curling white stripe on the flag, which is a symbol of hope and new life. This flag was seen flowing for the first time over the Auckland Harbour bridge in 2010. New Zealand has three main territories in the South Pacific: the Cook Islands, Tokelau, and Niue. Each of them has its own distinct flag to give them their own identity.The History Behind The New Zealand FlagIn March 1834, New Zealand adopted its first flag, and this was voted by the United Tribes at a meeting. The tribes made the declaration of independence of New Zealand at Waitangi in the year 1835. Initially, three flags were proposed. All these flags were made and designed by missionary Henry Williams. He played a very important role during the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi, which happened in 1835. In favor of the White Ensign and St George’s Cross, the chiefs in charge rejected the other two flags, one of which also consisted of the Union Jack. The battle at Quinn’s Post in 1915 recorded the hoisting of the Blue Ensign flag. However, it was not officially flown at that time. Private John Taylor, Canterbury Battalion, brought that flag back to New Zealand from New York. The first time the national flag was flown officially for the first time in a naval battle was on HMS Achilles, which was there during the Battle of River Plate in 1939.Cultural Values Of The New Zealand FlagThe United Tribes flag was the first-ever flag of New Zealand. The Flag of New Zealand is a matter of pride and honor for the people of the country and as such, it should always be treated with respect. It is considered offensive to destroy, damage, display, and use the flag in any way that dishonors it. It is also considered to be offensive to place any emblem or letter on the flag to represent the national flag in any other way, the only exception being when used in advertisements. The Flags, National Emblem, and Names Protection Act 1981 governs the use of the New Zealand flag and people can be prosecuted for misuse of the flag under this law. The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage is responsible for authorizing the size, dimension, color, and proportions of the New Zealand flag. There is no permission required to fly the flag any day of the year on public or government buildings. Any building featuring a flag pole is especially encouraged to fly the flag high during working hours. The only requirement is that the flag is in good condition as to represent New Zealand appropriately.There is an ongoing debate over whether the flag of the nation should be changed. Over a number of years, numerous designs have been developed but there has been no clear majority winner. Some of the common criticisms for the national flag include its similarity to the national flag of Australia. Some New Zealanders are not happy with keeping the Union Jack on the British blue ensign (New Zealand Ensign). There have been many polls conducted for designs of New Zealand flags, however currently it seems that the majority of New Zealand citizens prefer the current design and flag. The Prime Minister of New Zealand has held two-stage voting to change the flag design and drop the Union Jack. The top four flags chosen to replace the existing flag with an alternative flag were however not free of criticism, with the winning flag from the first round losing in the second round of voting. It was called unfair for the Prime Minister at the time (John Key) to endorse the silver fern flag. In the end, 56.6% of voters chose to retain the current flag as it is instead of the new flag. When the Prime Minister retired in 2016, he said that the referendum of the alternate design was one of his main regrets. The Characteristics Of The New Zealand FlagThe New Zealand flag currently has a dark blue background. On the left top-hand corner of the national flag, there is a Union Jack with a white and red cross. The red on the flag in the Union Jack represents the Kingdom of England. The red crosses are diagonally placed and look as though they are superimposed on the top of white ones. Unlike the Australian flag, which has a total of six stars, New Zealand’s official flag has four stars on the right outer half of the flag. These four stars represent the formation of the Southern Cross constellation. This constellation is only visible from the southern hemisphere of the South Pacific Ocean. Each of these stars has five points and white borders with red color. The dark blue (from the royal navy) background is officially known as the Blue Ensign. In the past, many British colony flags were given this color. New Zealand was also a British colony during British sovereignty.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our article on New Zealand flag facts then why not take a look at Nicaragua flag facts, or Japan flag facts!
A flag is mostly a piece of fabric that is distinct to each country.
