New flag for the Governor-General

02 Jun 2008

The Governor-General of New Zealand has a new flag that includes distinctive New Zealand elements for the first time. 

The new dark blue flag—with the Shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by a Royal Crown in the centre—was flown for the first time at a ceremony at Government House Auckland on 5 June and at Government House Wellington on 17 June.  In heraldic terms the official description is: “A flag of a blue field thereon the Arms of New Zealand ensigned by the Royal Crown all proper.”

It replaces the flag approved by King George V in 1931 and adopted by New Zealand in 1937.  The former flag was of a standard pattern designed for use by Governors-General of the then Dominions and is dark blue with the Royal Crest surmounted by crowned lion in the centre and the words “New Zealand” in a scroll beneath.

The new flag, which has been approved by the Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, and is supported by the Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, was announced by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark on Monday 2 June 2008—the holiday that mark’s the Queen’s Birthday.

The design for the new flag follows a review of the Governor-General’s flag and emblems requested by Government House in 2005 and undertaken by the New Zealand Herald of Arms, Phillip O’Shea.

The review was called for because it was considered that the old flag lacked distinctive New Zealand elements and reflected an era before New Zealand became a sovereign and independent nation. 

As well, the Royal Crest and Lion, which feature on the old flag, are now widely used as a trademark by the Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd, a trading subsidiary of the Royal Collection Trust.  Items sold by this company are now available from commercial outlets in New Zealand.

The new flag is one of several used by New Zealand’s Governors or Governors-General.  The first flag used by the then Governor from 1869 to 1874 was the Union Jack with four five pointed white stars on the red ground of the St George's Cross. 

That design was based on a misinterpretation of the Order in Council and was corrected in 1874.  This flag design featured the Union Jack with the Governor’s  Badge in the centre.  The Badge was composed of the letters “NZ” in the centre of four five-pointed stars all in red within a wreath of green laurel leaves.  In 1907, the laurel was replaced with a wreath of green fern fronds. 

While King George V approved a new Governor-General’s flag in 1931, the then Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, was reluctant to use it.

The next Governor-General’s flag was adopted and used by Governor-General Lord Galway from 1 October 1937 onwards. It was dark blue with the Royal Crest surmounted by crowned lion in the centre and the words “New Zealand” (originally “Dominion of New Zealand”) in a scroll beneath.

Since that time, New Zealand’s constitutional status has changed from a Dominion to an independent nation or realm.  In 1947, the New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster, which meant the British Parliament could no longer pass laws for New Zealand without the request and consent of the New Zealand Parliament.  In 1986, the New Zealand Parliament adopted the Constitution Act 1986 which removed this remaining link with the British Parliament.

To view more images of the launch of the flag, click here

To view a PDF of the full flag, click here