Rule Britannia?
Few New Zealanders realise that the NZ Flag is in fact based on a generic colonial maritime flag. The United Kingdom's Blue Ensign, introduced in the early 18th century for use at sea, formed the basis of the design of a large number of generic colonial flags, including the New Zealand Ensign.
Abolished Colonial Ensigns
Clockwise from Left - Hong Kong 1960s, South Africa 1910s, Rhodesia 1920s, Mauritius 1960s, Malta 1960s, Imperial India 1940s.
A huge number of now superseded territories in the British Empire used what are officially described as defaced versions of the Blue Ensign. Above are some examples of little known and now abolished Blue Ensigns which, like the NZ Ensign, were adapted for local colonial use.
Colonial Ensigns Still in Use Some ensigns in use today - from top to bottom -
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Pitcairn Island, St. Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands, Cook Islands, Victoria (Australia), and Australia.
There are a small number of British colonies that use Blue Ensign based flags today, some of these places are famous for money laundering. Does New Zealand's image really need to continue to be associated with such nations flying these generic flags?
New Zealand Ensign
The NZ Ensign was designed by a British Royal Navy officer in 1869 and was officially adopted in 1902
We believe New Zealand should adopt a new national flag because as a defaced UK Blue Ensign, designed by the Royal Navy, it is an Imperial flag which signifies our subordination to Britain. There are over fifty sovereign nations in the Commonwealth, some have remained monarchies, some have become republics. Only two (Australia and New Zealand) still retain British Blue Ensigns as their national flags. All other Commonwealth countries have chosen flags which clearly identify their sovereignty, independence and nationhood. We accept that New Zealand was founded by the British, and we are forever in-debited to Britain for introducing their systems of lauguage, law, and commerce which have helped build our country to the proud nation it is today. The UK Statute of Westminster Act makes it quite plain that the British Parliament has no control over the independent nation of New Zealand. The two systems of Government are completely separate. However, the current New Zealand flag implies that New Zealand is a colony, homeland, or protectorate of Great Britain, like the Cayman or the Falkland Islands. |
Flags Flown Over New Zealand Since 18341834 - 1840
The first home grown flag of the United Tribes of NZ.
Raised in defiance by the NZ Company well into 1840, when a gunboat was dispatched by the colonial government to Wellington settlement to order its removal from the flagpole. 1840 - 1867
The Union Flag, (or Union Jack as it is also known), representative of the British Empire, was also
New Zealand’s second flag. 1867 - 1869
A direct result of Imperial Colonial Naval Defence Act of 1865 was this highly unimaginative blue ensign flag designed by the British admiralty. Designed for use at sea, it was also flown illegally on land. It was unsurprisingly short lived.
1899 - 1902
NZ Defacto Flag Officially a signal flag for use at sea, this flag was nonetheless illegally flown from land.
1902 - Present
The 1902 - present day flag, was designed by a UK Royal Navy Officer in 1869 and officially adopted 1902. this flag is still in use today.
WHEN COULD FLAG CHANGE HAPPEN?
Flag change is a separate issue to becoming a republic, and could actually occur before we become a republic. Most commonwealth nations today, with the major exceptions of NZ and Australia, have their own flags. Canada is a good example of successful flag change.
The Canadian Experience
Which flag says Canada to you? The one on the right. Prior to 1965 the flag on the left was the flag of Canada. Although the idea of a new design had been discussed for decades in the 1900s, it was in the 1960s that the debate intensified and became a subject of considerable controversy, After much debate new flag was officially proclaimed in 1965. Despite the preceding acrimony, the new flag was quickly embraced by the Canadian public, and internationally the flag quickly became a welcome marker of Canadians around the world. |
What About NZ's Other Flags?
Lesser known is that New Zealand has a number of other flags used for services such as the Airforce, Navy, Merchant Navy, Fire Service, and Police. these flags look slightly different to the New Zealand Ensign, and such flags can be updated easily when flag change occurs.
The Canadians simply removed the Union Jack and replaced it with their present flag, it would follow that NZ would do the same upon flag change.
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HOW NZ'S OTHER FLAGS COULD BE DESIGNED
This flag takes the lead from other Commonwealth countries in removing the Union Jack and replacing it with a future NZ flag. A Kiwi could also replace the 'NZ' roundel.
A future New Zealand Navy flag could include the existing navy emblem which features an anchor, and silver ferns.
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