Flag of New Zealand Flag of New Zealand The flag of New Zealand, also known as the New Zealand Ensign, is a defaced Blue Ensign: a blue field 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 Australis, the Southern Cross. New Zealand's first flag, the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, was adopted in 1834, six years before New Zealand became a British colony following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Chosen by an assembly of Māori chiefs at
Flag of New Zealand to a position recognisably at half-mast to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the flagpole. The flag should be at least its own height from the top of the flagpole. The need for a flag of New Zealand first became clear when the trading ship "Sir George Murray", built in the Hokianga, was seized by Customs officials in the port of Sydney. 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