Scottish Independence has implications for the New Zealand Flag

14/1/2012

New Zealand’s flag would look different without the Scottish Cross of St Andrew.

14.01.2012
Scotland is making moves to become independent of the United Kingdom, and their independence could change the flag of the UK and other nations whose flags incorporate the Union Jack.

If Scotland becomes fully independent of the UK, the Union Flag, or Union Jack, as it is commonly known, will become defunct, as the Union Jack incorporates the flags of England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, but interestingly, not Wales, which is also a part of the UK.

The Union Jack was created during the Union of the English and Scottish Crowns in 1606.

Full Scottish independence would mean removal of the Cross of St Andrew from the Union Jack.

This would have consequences for many nations, including Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, and the Republic of Fiji. These nations incorporate the Union Jack in the top left hand corner of their flags. If Scotland achieves full independence, these flags would need to change as a result, as would various state flags within Canada, Australia, and even the United States, as the State of Hawaii also has a Union Jack based flag.

This may be the time for New Zealand to consider changing its flag, to something more relevant to our 21st century South Pacific nation, before events such as Scottish independence force change on us.

Kyle Lockwood/silverfernflag.org

7 Comments

Roe link

14/1/2012 07:41:38 am

Would Britain have to change their flag. Ok yes it was formed through the union of the 3 Kingdoms but one of those Kingdoms have left yes I know Northern Ireland is still there but it isn't the Kingdom Of Ireland thou. I always thought the British Flag in our Flag was a hangover from having being part of the British Empire and the British Empire used the British Flag so would we have to remove the Scottish elements from that.

Don't get me wrong I'm all for NZ getting a new flag kinda over the fact that when I travel the world people think we are a autonomous state of Australia.

But yeah just a few Questions..?

Kyle link

14/1/2012 12:26:12 pm

If Scotland became fully independent, they would fly their cross of St Andrew flag.

If the Union of the UK breaks up The Union Jack could effectively become redundant, (if you look closely at the flag at the top of the article, it shows what the NZ flag would look like if the Scottish Cross were removed, looks odd doesn't it?!)

Each of the remaining nations in the UK, England, Wales and Northern Ireland would fly their own flags. The Northern Irish had their own flag until 1972.

Theoretically we could keep the Union Jack on our flag, but it would be a bit strange to have the prominent position of our flag devoted to a flag that would no longer exist, and an empire where the sun has well and truly set!

Been Benuane

7/6/2015 04:56:56 pm

Plenty of nations and places have references to their foundation on their flag.
Example: Mexico's flag contains a coat of arms paying homage to the Pre-Colombian Aztec civilisation.

Rob H

10/6/2012 04:43:08 pm

Firstly, the Aus and NZ flags represent their history, not their current political relationship - they are not currently ruled by or subject to the UK. Therefore any breakup of the UK now has no bearing on their flag.

Secondly, remember the current UK flag doesn't include Wales, since Wales was essentially annexed by England. Now that there is Welsh devolution, any new union flag should probably include either the Welsh white and green, or the St David's Flag, a gold cross on a black field!

10/6/2012 06:23:00 pm

If we are no longer ruled by the UK, as our colonial era flag suggests, then why keep the UK flag in a prominent position on ours? To me this is more reason for us to adopt our own flag :)

Wayne Turner

2/1/2013 04:57:38 am

"Scottish Independence has implications for the New Zealand Flag": Um, no it doesn't. The New Zealand state was established while Britain was still in union, and a great many of the British immigrants were Scots. Whether Scotland is in the Union or not shouldn't make a difference to our flag. I think the choice is to either drop the Union Flag altogether or keep it.

ric

14/9/2014 04:12:08 am

I've always been in support of keeping nzs flag but the Scottish independence issue will change my mind. Nzs flag will truly be a relic of the past. Our head of state is the Queen of the united kingdom of england, northern Ireland, wales and Scotland. If Scotland drop out then it will be a bit weird if we keep the Scottish part of the union flag(it is only called a union jack if flown at sea from a jack staff).
What about those Scottish that voted for independence? They might be offended by us still using the old union flag . I think its about time we change ours

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Scottish Independence has implications for the New Zealand Flag

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