New Zealand Flag

The flag of New Zealand has a dark blue base with a British Union Jack in the upper left hand corner. On the right side of the flag are four, five-point red stars outlined in white. The stars are positioned to represent a southern cross.

The Union Jack symbolizes New Zealand's British Commonwealth heritage. The Blue background represents the sea and sky. The four stars represent the constellation 'the Southern Cross', which symbolize the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. The Southern Cross is a prominent constellation in the southern hemisphere, and symbolizes New Zealand's geographical position to the rest of the world. This is the meaning of the national flag of New Zealand.

Here is the history of New Zealand flag. The New Zealand flag was enacted on June 12, 1902 but the flag was actually designed and brought in 1869. New Zealand was granted independence from Britain on September 26, 1907. Until 1865, New Zealand used the British Union Jack as its flag. In 1867 a flag with similar qualities to the current one was introduced with the letters NZ on it. This flag became known as the NZ flag. The letters were then replaced by the four stars in 1869. This became the new flag for New Zealand. This is New Zealand flag history.

These are facts about New Zealand's flag. There have been several attempts to change the flags of New Zealand since 1973, however, by New Zealand law, a 65 per cent majority vote is needed to change the New Zealand flags. So far this has not happened as most people oppose changing to a new New Zealand flag. These are facts about New Zealand flag.

More than one thousand years ago Maori came to New Zealand. The first European to find New Zealand was the Dutch with Abel Tasman in 1642. In 1769, the British with James Cook landed in New Zealand. In 1840, the British built the first city at Wellington. In 1840, the treaty of Waitangi promised to still honor Maori land rights in exchange for British sovereignty. In 1841, New Zealand became a colony of Britain. Increasing capture of lands brought about the first Maori war from 1843 to 1848. Britain took more land which led to more Maori wars from 1860 to 1872. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote. In 1907, New Zealand became a self governing dominion. William Massey was prime minister from 1912 to 1925. Over sixteen thousand individuals died during World War I. Labour Party leaders Michael Savage and Peter Fraser guided the government during World War II. In 1951, New Zealand became a part of the Anzus Pact. It also joined the South East Asia Treat Organization in 1954. From 1997 to 1999 Jenny Shipley was the first woman prime minister in New Zealand.