New Zealand Flag

The New Zealand flag, often known as the New Zealand Ensign, is modeled after the British nautical Blue Ensign, which has a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton or top hoist corner. The Southern Cross constellation is represented on the New Zealand flag by four red stars centered among four white stars.

The flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, New Zealand's first internationally recognized national flag, was established in 1834, six years before the country's secession from New South Wales and establishment as a separate colony following the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. An assembly of Mori leaders chose this flag, which had a St George's Cross with another cross in the canton with four stars on a blue field. British ensigns were used once the colony was established in 1840.

The current flag was designed and accepted in 1869 for use on the colony's ships, and it swiftly became New Zealand's national flag. In 1902, it received formal recognition.
For decades, there has been discussion about changing the flag, and in 2016, a two-part binding referendum on a flag change was held, with voting on the final stage closed on March 24. The country voted 57% to 43% to preserve the current flag in this referendum.