Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand in the centre of the Southern Cross." Succeeding Governors found it convenient to use this flag on shore and it became accepted as the official viceregal flag. In 1907 New Zealand's status was officially transformed from self-governing colony to Dominion. To mark the transition to independence, the New Zealand Government recommended that the garland of laurels on the Governor’s flag should be replaced by one of fern leaves; the fern leaf was already recognised as one of New Zealand's national symbols. In a letter of 5 January 1908 the Governor requested that the garland around the badge on his flag
Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand the timing coinciding with the official observance of the Queen's birthday. It is a blue field featuring the shield of the coat of arms surmounted by a Royal Crown (depicted as St Edward's Crown) in the centre. The previous design was deemed to be too 'colonial' and lacking in New Zealand elements. The new design was flown for first time at ceremonies at Government House, Auckland on 5 June 2008 and at Government House, Wellington on 17 June 2008. The flag of the Governor-General occupies the same position in New Zealand that a Royal Standard does in the United Kingdom.