1.
Flag of New Zealand
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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 pattern represents the asterism within the constellation of Crux, chosen by an assembly of Māori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834, the flag was of a St Georges Cross with another cross in the canton containing four stars on a blue field. After the formation of the colony in 1840, British ensigns began to be used, the current flag was designed and adopted for use on Colonial ships in 1869, was quickly adopted as New Zealands national flag, and given statutory recognition in 1902. For several decades there has been debate about changing the flag, in 2016, a two-stage binding referendum on a flag change took place with voting on the second final stage closing on 24 March. In this referendum, the country voted to keep the flag by 57% to 43%. The need for a flag of New Zealand first became clear when the trading ship Sir George Murray, the ship had been sailing without a flag, a violation of British navigation laws. New Zealand was not a colony at the time and had no flag, among the passengers on the ship were two high-ranking Māori chiefs, believed to be Patuone and Taonui. The ships detention was reported as arousing indignation among the Māori population, unless a flag was selected, ships could continue to be seized. The first flag of New Zealand was adopted 9 March 1834 by a made by the United Tribes of New Zealand. The United Tribes later made the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand at Waitangi in 1835, three flags were proposed, all designed by the missionary Henry Williams, who was to play a major role in the translation of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The flag is flown on the flag pole at Waitangi. After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the British Union Flag was used, although the former United Tribes flag was used by a number of ships from New Zealand. The New Zealand Company settlement at Wellington, for example, continued to use the United Tribes flag until ordered to replace it by Governor William Hobson in May 1840. New Zealand did not have a badge, or indeed a coat of arms of its own at this stage. In 1869 the First Lieutenant of the Royal Navy vessel Blanche, Albert Hastings Markham, submitted a design to Sir George Bowen and his proposal, incorporating the Southern Cross, was approved. It was initially used only on government ships, but was adopted as the de facto national flag, one of the first recorded accounts of the New Zealand national Blue Ensign flag being flown in battle was at Quinns Post, Gallipoli, in 1915. It was not, however, flown officially, the flag was brought back to New Zealand by Private John Taylor, Canterbury Battalion. The first time the Flag of New Zealand was flown in a naval battle, the national flag is defined in legislation as the symbol of the Realm, Government, and people of New Zealand and like most other laws, can be changed by a simple majority in Parliament
2.
Flag of the Cook Islands
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The flag of the Cook Islands, officially known as the Cook Islands Ensign, 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, the Union Flag is symbolic of the nations historic ties to the United Kingdom and to the Commonwealth of Nations. The stars stand for the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands, the blue represents the ocean and the peaceful nature of the inhabitants. From 1973 to 1979, the flag was green with the stars in yellow shifted towards the fly, the green colour represented the continuous growth and life of the islands, the yellow represented the faith, love, happiness, and commitment shown by the islanders. The circle represented the union of the islands and the union between the islanders and the land itself, list of New Zealand flags Cook Islands at Flags of the World World Statesmen - Cook Islands
3.
Flags of Antarctica
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Prior to 2002 Antarctica had no official flag as the condominium that governs the continent had not yet formally selected one even though a particular design was in widespread use. The consultative members of the Antarctic Treaty System officially adopted a flag and emblem in 2002, several unofficial designs have also been proposed. Several sources have suggested various designs, including one by Graham Bartram, the Graham Bartram design uses the flag of the United Nations as its model. A plain white map of the continent on a blue background symbolizes neutrality and this flag was actually flown on the Antarctic continent for the first time in 2002, when Ted Kaye took several full-size flags in the Bartram design on an Antarctic cruise. The bases of Brazil, Ukraine, and the UK all flew it from their flagpoles and he presented a paper which described the first flying of the Bartram design over Antarctica in Stockholm in 2003, at the 20th International Congress of Vexillology. It is perhaps the most popular flag for Antarctica, as seen by its prevalence on the Internet, the Whitney Smith design uses the high-visibility color orange as its background. The emblem consists of several components, the bottom segment of the globe represents Antarcticas position on Earth, while the two hands holding up the globe segment represent peaceful human use. However, there is no record of it ever being fabricated or used, the nations of the Antarctic Treaty use their own national flags at their respective Antarctic research bases. Some nations however have their own flags for their Antarctic possessions, the flag of the British Antarctic Territory is a plain White Ensign defaced by the Coat of Arms of the Territory. Other British territories in the Antarctic region are the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the flag of the Administrator of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories, which includes Adélie Land, has the French tricolor in the canton together with the Commissioners arms. The coat of arms consists of five stars and the letters TAAF in a monogram, the flag was adopted in 2007. The Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego includes Argentine Antarctica, the flag was adopted in 1999 as the result of a competition. It is a bicolor of sky blue and orange with an albatross in the center. The Antártica Chilena Province in the Magallanes Region includes the Chilean claim on the continent, puerto Williams is the capital of this province, which also includes the islands south of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. The Magallanes Regions flag also has the Southern Cross appearing over a mountain range, currently, only the New Zealand national flag serves in an official capacity in the Ross Dependency. The only other official flag seen in photographs was the New Zealand Post flag to denote Scott Bases post office, Ross Dependency uses the New Zealand flag, but vexillologist James Dignans design concept was seen flying there at one time. The New Zealand flag is the basis for his design, though with an Ice Blue background representing the Ross Sea, and the white horizontal bar at the bottom of the flag representing the Ross Ice Shelf
4.
Flag of the City of Nelson
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The flag of the City of Nelson represents Nelson City, New Zealand. The flag is flown from public buildings and other landmarks in Nelson including Christ Church Cathedral. It is also intended for use and is often seen flying from private residences in the city. The flag was designed and commissioned by the City of Nelson Civic Trust and was adopted as the civic flag by the Nelson City Council in 1987. The flag is based on the City of Nelsons coat of arms, the top third of the flag is blue, a colour strongly associated with Nelson including use by many sports teams. The bottom two thirds consist of alternating blue and white horizontal stripes, which represent Nelsons relationship to the sea. Emblazoned upon the section is a black cross flory, taken from the arms of Lord Nelson. Above the cross, upon the section is a mitre with fringed lappets flowing from either side
5.
New Zealand Civil Air Ensign
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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 blue field. A Union Jack is placed in the first quarter and the Southern Cross, the ensign is based on the British Civil Air Ensign and the national flag of New Zealand. The original design for the ensign was submitted to King George VI by the Governor-General of New Zealand, on 16 November 1938, by an exercise of the Royal prerogative, the New Zealand Civil Air Ensign was instituted. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand may fly the ensign from its buildings or aircraft, the New Zealand Flag - The New Zealand Civil Air Ensign Civil Aviation Rules Part 19 Specifications of the flag
6.
Flag of Niue
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The flag of Niue was adopted on 15 October 1975. It consists of the Union Jack in the left corner with a star in the middle of the Union Jack. It is very unusual for a flag based on a British ensign design, in having not only a yellow background, the symbolism represented by the flag is described in the Act. The Union Jack symbolises the protection granted by the United Kingdom in 1900 after petitioning by the Kings, the golden yellow is inspired by the bright sunshine of Niue and also said to symbolise the warm feelings of the Niuean people towards New Zealand and his people. The association with New Zealand, which took responsibility and administration of Niue in 1901, is also represented by the four small stars that depict the Southern Cross. Finally the blue disc containing a star represents the deep blue sea surrounding the self-governing island of Niue. Seal of Niue List of New Zealand flags Flags of the World - Niue Niue Flag Act 1975
7.
Flag of Otago
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Otago is one of the few regions of New Zealand to have officially adopted a flag. Otago has long associated with several symbols and colours. The St. Andrews Cross is one symbol, in recognition of the former provinces Scottish settlement. Another, used on the arms of the province, is the eight-pointed star. The blue also again harks back to the flag of Scotland, for many years, these colours were seen in a wide variety of different designs intended to represent Otago. Popular designs included flags quartered in blue and gold, or in blue with a gold saltire, a vertically divided design in blue and gold with the word Otago in white fimbriated in black was also popular and can still be seen in use in the province. In 2004, a campaign was started by prominent local author, the design was designed by Gregor Macaulay. It is blazoned Per fess dancetty azure and or, two mullets of eight points in pale counterchanged, the design represents the blue skies over the hills of Otago separated by a zigzag dividing line, similar to that found on the flag of the provinces main centre, Dunedin. The two eight-pointed stars were taken from the former Otago Provincial Councils seal, and also represent the sun shining over the lakes and the hills of Central Otago
8.
Silver fern flag
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A silver fern flag is any flag design that incorporates a silver fern, and is usually a white silver fern on a black background. The silver fern motif is associated with New Zealand, and a silver fern flag may be used as a flag of New Zealand. The silver fern is endemic to New Zealand, the silver fern itself is a quasi-national emblem, being used for various official symbols, including the coat of arms of New Zealand and the New Zealand one dollar coin. A number of New Zealand sports teams, such as the team, the Silver Ferns. The All Whites association football team use a background and a black version of the fern. New Zealand officially boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics as part of the US-led boycott of the games, however, four New Zealand athletes competed under the flag of New Zealands Olympic committee, which was a black flag with a white silver fern imposed over the Olympic Rings. The first suggestion that a silver fern flag be adopted as New Zealands official flag came in 1998 from Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler of the National Party, haslers proposal was backed by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. Along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, Shipley backed a silver fern on a black background as a possible alternative flag. In 2003, New Zealands Americas Cup team, Team New Zealand, launched the Loyal campaign, using a silver fern flag and this gallery presents the service flags proposed by Kyle Lockwood for New Zealand following the Silver Fern Design. List of New Zealand flags New Zealand flag debate Silver Fern flag - Kyle Lockwoods design
9.
Flag of Tokelau
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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 this flag has not yet been widely used for official purposes, but an official launch of the new flag was planned for October 2009. The Governor-General presented the flag to the Ulu-o-Tokelau as Tokelaus first official flag on 7 September 2009, a referendum on self-determination in 2006 failed to carry, and another one in October 2007 fell 16 votes short. An alternative and unofficial flag has been reported, the three stars in this flag represent the three atolls which make up the islands of Tokelau. In June 2007 the regional parliament decided over the flag, anthem. The proposed flag depicted a stylized Polynesian canoe and four stars, the stars represent the three main islands and also Swains Island, administered by the United States but claimed by Tokelau. As the required supermajority was not reached in the 2007 self-determination referendum, in May 2008, the General Fono approved the final versions of the national symbols of Tokelau. A national emblem was approved at this time. The flag was approved by the Genral Fono in February 2009, governor General presented the new flag to the Ulu as Tokelaus first official flag on 7 September 2009. An official launch of the new flag was planned for October 2009, badge of Tokelau Tokelau at Flags of the World Tokelau Flag and National Symbol Government of Tokelau College of Arms December 2009 Newsletter newsletter
