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New Zealand
The flag of New Zealand has a dark blue field with the flag of the United Kingdom â the Union Jack â in the canton and a representation of the Southern Cross constellation, made up of four five-pointed white-edged red stars, on the fly side of the field.
Location
Quick Facts
Alpha 2
NZAlpha 3
NZLNumber
554TLD
.nzCapital
WellingtonPopulation
5,084,300Area
270,467 km²Languages
Currencies
Drives on
LeftWeek starts
MondayTimezones
UTC-11:00, UTC-10:00, UTC+12:00 +2 moreCoat of Arms
What is the Flag of New Zealand?
The flag of New Zealand is a blue ensign with the Union Jack in the canton, four red stars with white borders to the right, and four white-bordered red stars in the fly. It was adopted on 24 March 1902. The flag is the national symbol of New Zealand and is often referred to as the âSouthern Crossâ.
What does the New Zealand Flag Look Like?
The flag of New Zealand consists of a navy blue background with the Union Jack, the United Kingdom's national flag, in the upper left corner. To the right of the Union Jack are four five-pointed red stars with white borders and four five-pointed white stars with red borders, arranged in a pattern called the Southern Cross.
What is the New Zealand Flag Called?
The flag of New Zealand is officially known as the âBlue Ensignâ. It is also referred to as the âSouthern Crossâ, a reference to the pattern made by the star formation on the flag.
What does the New Zealand Flag Represent?
The blue background of the flag of New Zealand represents the blue ocean that surrounds the nation, while the Union Jack represents the nationâs historical connections to the United Kingdom. The four red stars with white borders represent the four stars of the constellation Crux, commonly known as the Southern Cross. This symbol is used to represent the nationâs geographic location in the Southern Hemisphere. The four white-bordered red stars represent the four former British colonies of New Zealand.
Who Created the New Zealander/Kiwi Flag?
The current New Zealand flag was designed by an artist named Kyle Lockwood. He was born in 1982 in Auckland, New Zealand and graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland in 2005.
Lockwood first submitted his design for the flag to the Flag Consideration Panel in July 2015. His design was chosen as one of the four finalists for the flag referendum in December 2015. Lockwoodâs design was ultimately chosen as the winner after the second referendum in March 2016.
The design of the flag incorporates the colors of blue, black and white. The blue represents the sky and the ocean, while the black and white symbolize the MÄori and PÄkehÄ ethnicities of New Zealand. The stars of the Southern Cross constellation appear in white, representing the countryâs geographic location in the South Pacific. On the left side of the flag is the Union Jack, symbolizing New Zealandâs close ties with the United Kingdom.
The design of the flag is unique as it combines elements of the countryâs history and landscape into a single symbol. Lockwood has stated that the design of the flag ârepresents the past, present and future of New Zealand, and is a symbol of unity and pride for all New Zealanders.â
Lockwoodâs design has been met with both praise and criticism. While some have praised the flagâs symbolism and simplicity, others have criticized the incorporation of the Union Jack as being too strongly associated with the British Empire.
Regardless of opinion, Lockwoodâs design was chosen by the people of New Zealand to represent the country. His flag is now a symbol of New Zealandâs identity and has been adopted by the government as the official flag of the nation.
The Colours of New Zealand
Similar Flags
Flags that share colours with New Zealand
