The Flags Of New Zealand

By: Nikil Kumar 10CU

New Zealand Flag Design

I really like the design of this flag because it embodies tradition and it is in a way a reference to the current flag due to the southern cross. Overall a good design.

This flag is an alright choice because it acknowledges the history of New Zealand due to the coat of arms. Overall a alright design.

New Zealand Flag Designs 2

I like this flag because it encapsulates New Zealand and its people and incorporates New Zealand's iconic colours and emblems. Overall one of my favourites.

This Flag Design I like a lot because it Is very simple but straight forward and I like the colours. Overall one of the ones in my top 3.

New Zealand Flag Designs 3

I like this flag because it symbolises Captain Cooks Landing in New Zealand and the stars could represent cites maybe. Overall an alright design.

This flag because it incorporates Maori designs and it includes the national colours. Overall it is in my top 3.

NZ FLAG HISTORYOver our relatively short history of only 169

years New Zealand has had three official flags

1834 - 1840 1840 - 1902 1902- present

The United Tribes FlagNew Zealand's first flag was designed by a senior

missionary of the Church Missionary Society, sewn up by an Australian and voted on by 25 Maori Chiefs from the Far North.

It came to be known as the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand in recognition of the title used by the same chiefs when they met again at Waitangi to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1835.

To Maori, the United Tribes flag was significant in that Britain had recognised New Zealand as an independent nation with its own flag.

The Union JackFollowing the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6

February 1840, the Union Jack replaced the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand as the official flag of New Zealand.

The new Lieutenant -Governor, William Hobson, forcibly removed the United Tribes flag from the Bay of Islands.

However, some Maori, including Hone Heke, believed that Maori should have the right to fly the United Tribes flag alongside the Union Jack, in recognition of their equal status with the government. Heke's repeated felling of the flagstaff at Kororareka between 1844 and 1846 was a vivid rejection of the Union Jack.

The Current FlagAt the end of the nineteenth century the blue ensign

with the Southern Cross was a flag for maritime purposes only but it had gradually come to be used on land, even though the Union Jack remained the legal flag of New Zealand.

With the outbreak of the South African War in 1899 and its associated patriotism and flag-waving, the confusion surrounding the correct flag was an embarrassment to Premier Seddon.

In 1902 Seddon instituted the Blue Ensign with the stars of the Southern Cross the legal flag of New Zealand.