New Zealand Flag Institute

New Zealand Flag Institute The New Zealand Flag Institute aims to further knowledge of the New Zealand national flag; promote flying of the flag; and conduct research

What is now known as the New Zealand flag was designed in 1869 for use as an ensign on Government vessels. Although the flag was not at that time adopted as a national flag – the colony used the Union Flag for official purposes - it was soon widely seen flown on merchant ships, and, increasingly, on shore as well. The blue ensign with the Southern Cross came to be recognised as the colony’s distin

ctive flag. Many illustrations and photographs from the 1870’s onwards show the New Zealand flag. After the commencement of the Boer War in 1899 there was a feeling that New Zealand troops serving overseas ought to fight under their own flag. This attitude was not born of hostility to the Empire - of which New Zealand was a proud member. Instead it was motivated by a desire to give the emerging nation a separate identity within the Empire. Several flag designs were proposed. Ultimately, after much debate in Parliament, it was realised that the de facto national flag of 1869 was the only possible choice. It was distinctive, vexillologically correct, a fine design, and already widely recognised as the country’s flag. The flag was officially adopted for use on land and sea in 1901, with the passage by the House of Representatives on 5 November 1901of the New Zealand Ensign Bill. The Bill was reserved for the King’s assent, and King Edward V approved the new Act on 24 March 1902. The Governor’s proclamation of the royal assent was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 12 June 1902. A description of the flag appeared on 27 June 1902, detailing the size and position of the stars. The flag has remained essentially unchanged ever since. The New Zealand Ensign Act was subsequently superseded by the Shipping and Seamen's Acts of 1903 and 1908. The provisions regarding the New Zealand flag remained largely unchanged until 1981. In that year the Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act brought together a number of legislative provisions relating to flags and emblems. The New Zealand flag is one of the 15 oldest national flags in the world.

22/04/2020

Happy St George's Day.

25/12/2017

We regret to announce the passing of John Cox, the founder of the New Zealand Flag Institute on 6 December 2017. We hope to continue his work.

05/10/2017

October 23rd is the 148th anniversary of the adoption of the New Zealand flag. On that day in 1869 Governor Sir George Bowen proclaimed what is now the New Zealand Flag as the official ensign for use on Government vessels. We are privileged to have a national flag that is older than most. Only 14 countries have flags that have been in continuous use for longer.
The New Zealand Flag Institute calls upon all New Zealanders to mark the anniversary by flying our national flag with pride on Monday 23rd October.

20/10/2016

October 23rd is the 147th anniversary of the New Zealand flag. Governor Sir George Bowen proclaimed what is now the New Zealand Flag as the official ensign for use on Government vessels in 1869. We are privileged to have a national flag that is older than most. Only 14 countries have flags that have been in continuous use for longer.

11/04/2016

It was on 12 April 1606 that the Union Flag was first adopted by royal proclamation as the flag for use on all English and Scottish ships.

"By the King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle and Kingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe the Red Crosse, commonly called St George's Crosse, and the White Crosse, commonly called St Andrew’s Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed"

25/03/2016

It is unfortunate that the vote was so close. The vote for the Lockwood flag was far higher than any opinion poll had suggested. I cannot help but wonder to what extent vote rigging contributed to that result. Anecdotally evidence suggests that at least some thousands of votes were taken from registered voters and completed by supporters of a new flag.

24/03/2016

The preliminary results are out. The current flag received 56.6 percent of the vote, and the alternative design 43.2 percent. Over 1.2 million votes were in favour of the current flag.

Total votes received were 2,124,507, which included 4,942 informal votes (0.23 percent) and 4,554 invalid votes (0.21 percent). Voter turnout was 67.3 percent.

20/03/2016

Today is the last day for posting back ballot papers in the flag referendum. Votes posted after today may not reach the returning officers by the close of voting on Thursday.

15/03/2016

New Zealand Flag Institute Press Release

New Zealand’s Flag Since 1869

The New Zealand Gazette of 23 October 1869 published a proclamation by Governor Bowen authorizing the use, by Government ships, of the Blue Ensign with "four five-pointed red stars in the fly” (the Southern Cross). This is what is now known as the New Zealand flag.

It has been claimed by the Flag Consideration Panel that the New Zealand flag was not adopted until 1902. This is incorrect. Although the flag was approved in 1869 only for Government use at sea, the proclamation described the flag as the badge of the colony, and it was increasingly flown on shore and by the public, and was accepted as the national flag.

In 1902 the flag was officially adopted by parliament as the national flag for all purposes. This was little more than a formality, as is clear from the preamble to the New Zealand Ensign Act 1901:

“WHEREAS by Proclamation under the hand of His Excellency the Governor, dated the twenty-third day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, it was declared, in accordance with the Queen's Regulations made under the provisions of an Act of the Imperial Parliament intituled "The Colonial Defence Act, 1865," that the flag hereinafter described should have the distinctive seal or badge of the Colony of New Zealand for all vessels belonging to or permanently employed in the service of the colony: And whereas the said flag has since been in general use for the purpose aforesaid, and also as the recognised ensign of the colony: And whereas it is desirable that the same flag should be by law established as the ensign of the colony for the purposes hereinafter mentioned; BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the General Assembly…”

The Act clearly states that the 1869 flag was already the recognised ensign of the colony, and the purpose of the Act was simply to establish the flag by law “as the ensign of the colony”.

There is however no requirement for a national flag to be established by law (Act of Parliament) rather than custom and usage.

The Union Jack (or Flag) has no statutory basis. It has no official status on land in the United Kingdom. It too was adopted for Government use at sea, but has since acquired customary status as a national flag. It remains in the same legal position in the UK as the New Zealand Ensign (flag) had in New Zealand between 1869 and 1902. Despite frequent claims to the contrary, it never had any legal status on land in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Ensign Act 1901 was given royal assent on 24 March 1902. The last day of voting in the second flag referendum is coincidentally 24 March 2016.

The New Zealand Ensign Act 1901 therefore confirmed that the current flag has been our recognised flag or ensign since 1869, not 1902.

The public has been misled about the history of our national flag.

15/03/2016

The last day of voting in the flag referendum is 24 March. It was on 24 March 1902 that royal assent was given to the New Zealand Ensign Act 1901.

The Kyle Lockwood design is apparently bad feng shui, and likely to bring the country bad luck.http://www.nzherald.co.nz...
14/03/2016

The Kyle Lockwood design is apparently bad feng shui, and likely to bring the country bad luck.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11605003

The alternative to the New Zealand flag is bad feng shui and could bring bad luck, instability and even a stock market crash, a New Zealand feng shui consultant says. - New Zealand Herald

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