There are quite a few myths and legends surrounding the New Zealand Flag. Massey University Senior Research Historian Malcolm Mulholland has published an excellent book of facts about flags in New Zealand, the book is an interesting look into not only flags but also touches on New Zealand's history as a whole - download his book below, even if you're for or against a new flag for NZ, you'll be fully informed before you vote in March, it's definitely well worth the read! ![]()
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NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 51
The silver fern (Cyathea dealbata), called ponga by Māori, is endemic to New Zealand. Māori used native flora to navigate their way home through the forests at night. They would break-off several fronds of the silver fern and leave them silver side up so that the moonlight would reflect off them. This night-time trail served as a homing beacon. Over the years, deer cullers and possum hunters have also used the fern for this purpose. Māori also have a whakatuakī (proverb) that is closely associated with the silver fern: Mate atu he tetekura, Ara mai he tetekura. As one chief dies, another rises to take their place. When said in the context of the silver fern, the translation becomes: As one frond withers and dies, another rises to take its place. He tete, or frond, stands for a chief. Sir Tipene O’Regan of Ngāi Tahu once reminded author and academic Dr Danny Keenan (Ngāti Te Whiti Ahi Kā, Te Ātiawa) that ‘to Māori, the silver fern denotes strength, stubborn resistance, and enduring power, encapsulated in a natural form of native elegance. Māori have always honoured the fern, giving it a pride of place. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 52
In 1853, while the HMS Sparrow was berthed in New Plymouth, sailors with the Royal Navy challenged the local army garrison to a match involving rifle shooting. The event took place at Rewa Rewa Rifle Range, and just before it began, the New Zealand shooters spotted some silver fern, picked it, and pinned the leaves to their pockets as a good luck charm. The charm brought success, as the army garrison won the competition. Its members apparently said: ‘The silver fern has brought us luck and we will carry on using it. During the nineteenth century, the silver fern was also used in verse and paintings by famed watercolourist, Alfred Sharpe. Sharpe, regarded as one of the pioneer artists of New Zealand, prolific and successful, producing around 150 watercolours depicting the New Zealand landscape from the 1860s to the 1880s, also wrote poetry. One of his poems, titled A Night in the Forest, contained these lines: A silver fern outspreading, In mass of lace like threading, Throughout its frondings wide, Faint phosphorescence showers, On the kie kie flowers, from its silv’ry underside. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book SIR EDMUND HILLARY FLEW THE UNION JACK AT THE TOP OF MT EVEREST AND NOT THE NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN27/2/2016 NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 27
Sir Edmund Hillary flew the Union Jack when he, along with Tenzing Norgay, completed the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953 He and Norgay also raised two other flags—the United Nations and Nepalese flags. Hillary was part of the British Mount Everest Expedition led by the British colonel, John Hunt. News of Hillary and Norgay’s deed were conveyed to London in time for the world to be notified on the morning of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (2 June 1953). Eleven of the fifteen-strong mountaineering party that aided Hillary were from the United Kingdom and two were from New Zealand (Hillary and George Lowe), with Norgay and Sherpa Annullu having come from Nepal. British newspaper the Daily Express reported: ‘Everest was conquered by a New Zealander. What could be more joyfully appropriate than such a reminder that the spirit of old Britain has spread through the whole of the young Commonwealth?' Keith Holyoake, who became New Zealand’s prime minister for three months in 1957 and between 1960 and 1972, remarked that Hillary ‘has put the British race and New Zealand at the top of the world. And what a magnificent coronation present for the Queen. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 54
During the Boer (South African) War at the turn of the twentieth century, the silver fern appeared on the Glengarry (cap) and slouch hat badges of soldiers from New Zealand. The New Zealand Natives Association wanted to differentiate New Zealand troops from the soldiers of other British colonies and so produced 200 silver fern badges for the hats of the men shipped to South Africa in 1899. The association was essentially interested in forging a unique New Zealand identity rather than having men from New Zealand seen as Britons living afar. Some New Zealand soldiers in World War I referred to themselves as ‘Fernleafs’ (New Zealand having been labelled as ‘Fernland’ and New Zealanders as ‘Fernlanders’ at the start of the 1900s). In World War II, Lowndes Square in Knightsbridge, London, hosted a ‘Fernleaf Club’, a residential centre for the rehabilitation of troops, staffed by the New Zealand Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. All World War II New Zealand soldiers wore the badge called ‘Onward’. This ‘universal badge of the 2 NZEF was introduced in October 1939: the letters ‘NZ’ surrounded by fern fronds and surmounted by the King’s Crown, all above a scroll bearing the word ‘Onward’. Hat and collar versions were worn on SD uniforms by all ranks …This was supposed to be the only badge worn, although this … [was] not strictly adhered to’. The official address for the New Zealand Division Headquarters in Egypt in World War II was ‘Fernleaf Cairo’, and the New Zealand War Service Medal has the silver fern on the back. The silver fern also adorns the headstones of New Zealanders in the cemeteries of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission throughout the world, thereby perpetuating the association between the military and the silver fern. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 36
The first time the Markham-designed New Zealand flag flew in New Zealand was 29 October 1869 on a ship moored at the Wellington waterfront. And the man who had hoisted it was George Austin Woods. Woods, from Victoria, Australia, was in command of the Edith, the ship bought by the New Zealand Marine Department and then towed to New Zealand by flag designer Albert Hastings Markham aboard HMS Blanche. When the Edith arrived in Wellington, the local newspaper, the Evening Post, reported: The altered New Zealand flag, as appointed by the Governor’s recent proclamation, might have been seen for the first time this morning, flying on board the surveying schooner Edith. This handsome little vessel is now ready for sea, and will proceed to Auckland as soon as the weather moderates sufficiently to admit of her departure, in charge of Lieut. Woods, Marine Surveyor. After his arrival in New Zealand, Woods worked as the country’s marine surveyor. He was also in charge of the New Zealand armed constabulary when on water. After leaving New Zealand in 1871, he went to Fiji, where he became its Premier. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 55
The silver fern has long been closely associated with New Zealand produce because of its use as a trademark for the country’s meat and dairy exports. After the success of the 1924/25 All Blacks Invincibles Tour, Tour Manager Stan Dean suggested ‘that the fern leaf be adopted as a national trade mark for New Zealand goods in the same way Canada has adopted the maple leaf.’ The National Dairy Association immediately took up Dean’s idea. Dean clearly considered that the fern should stamp all New Zealand-made products leaving the country’s shores. As he pointed out, the fern had been recognised in Britain since its use as an emblem during the rugby tours of that country by the Natives in 1888, the Originals in 1905, and the Invincibles in 1924. The silver fern was also used on New Zealand-produced tobacco products, and it gave its name to the train that travelled on the North Island main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland from 1972 to 1991 (the Silver Fern railcar). More recently, in the 1990s, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Tourism New Zealand developed the silver fern into the distinctive New Zealand FernMark. These organisations created the mark in order ‘to establish a singular visual identity for New Zealand’. Those businesses that carry the FernMark are the ambassadors of New Zealand’s efforts to promote New Zealand products and trade overseas. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book NZ FLAG FACT NUMBER 30
Fifty-three independent nations belong to the British Commonwealth. Four of these countries have never had the Union Jack on their flag, forty-four have removed the Union Jack from their flags, and Fiji is in the process of changing its flag, which will take the number to forty-five. No former British colony from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean or the Americas has the Union Jack on their flag any longer. The vast majority of British Commonwealth countries changed their flag during the 1960s when Britain attempted to join the EEC in order to secure trade benefits (France twice blocked Britain’s efforts in this regard). In 1973 the EEC finally accepted Britain as a member, after which New Zealand exports to the United Kingdom dropped dramatically. ‘There was no shadow of a doubt that the British application of 1961 [to join the EEC] presented a threat to New Zealand trade of the gravest dimensions. Prime Minister Holyoake summed it up when he said that the bid to join “raises questions probably the most serious New Zealand has had to face in times of peace”. However, despite calls from various New Zealanders to have the Union Jack erased from the New Zealand flag, this symbol has continued to feature on it. The only other independent Commonwealth Countries that still have the Union Jack on their national flags are Australia and Tuvalu, which, like New Zealand, are countries located in the Pacific Ocean. From New Zealand Flag Facts by historian Malcolm Mulholland. Read more at: http://www.silverfernflag.org/press/new-zealand-flag-facts-book |
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