List of New Zealand flags


This is a list of flags of New Zealand. It includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by institutions, local authorities, or the government of New Zealand. Some flags have historical or cultural significance.

National flags

Royal and Viceregal

FlagDateUseDescription
1962–presentPersonal Flag of Queen Elizabeth II in New ZealandA banner of the Coat of Arms of New Zealand, defaced with a blue disc bearing the crowned letter 'E' in gold
2008–presentFlag of the Governor-General of New ZealandThe shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by the Royal Crown.
1953–2008Flag of the Governor-General of New ZealandA lion standing atop a crown, over a scroll inscribed "New Zealand"
1936–1953Flag of the Governor-General of New ZealandA lion standing atop a crown, over a scroll inscribed "Dominion of New Zealand"
1908–1936Flag of the Governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with a white circle, with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' at the center, surrounded by a wreath of ferns.
1874–1908Flag of the Governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with a white circle, with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' at the center, surrounded by a green wreath.
1869–1874Governor of New ZealandA Union Flag defaced with four five-pointed stars. This design was due to a misinterpretation of design instructions.
?Flag of the Queen's Representative in the Cook IslandsFlag of the Cook Islands with a crown in the centre of the ring of stars

Ensigns

FlagDateUseDescription
1901–New Zealand Red EnsignA red ensign with four white stars representing Crux, the Southern Cross
1968–Ensign of the Royal New Zealand NavyA white ensign with four red stars
1939-Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Air ForceA light blue field with the roundel of the Royal Air Force defaced with the letters, "NZ".
16 November 1938–New Zealand Civil Air EnsignA blue cross with a wide border on a light blue field. The Union Flag is in the canton, with the Southern Cross in the fly.
New Zealand Police EnsignA blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the NZP emblem in the fly.
New Zealand Fire Service EnsignA blue flag with the New Zealand Flag in the canton, with the Fire Service emblem in the fly.
1996–New Zealand Customs FlagA New Zealand Blue Ensign, with the letters "HMC" (for "Her Majesty's Customs" in the lower hoist was in use from 1966 to 1996. This flag superseded it in 1996.
1968–1998New Zealand Ministry of Transport EnsignA sky blue flag with the New Zealand Ensign in the canton, with the NZMOT coat of arms within a blue disc in the fly.
Ensign of the Royal New Zealand Yacht SquadronA white cross on a blue field, with the New Zealand Flag in the canton.

Associated states and territories

Regions and cities

Māori flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1834-Original design of the United Tribes of New Zealand flag, widely used by Maori groupsSimilar to the amended design used as the de facto national flag 1835–1840, but with eight-pointed stars and black fimbriation in the canton
1990–Flag of Tino rangatiratanga – Official National Māori Flag, approved by the NZ Cabinet in 2010A white curling stripe on a red and black field
Kotahitanga flag – unofficial Māori flag, widely used by Māori groupsThree horizontal stripes of red, white and black, defaced with a circular emblem featuring a mere crossed with a scroll representing the Treaty of Waitangi within a border of koru containing the word "Kotahitanga"
Example of a Maori FlagSome Maori tribes use the Red Ensign defaced with their tribal name
1864Hung as part of the memorial in the Auckland War Memorial Museum for those who died, both European and Māori, in the New Zealand Wars.A white Greek cross on its left upper canton, a four pointed white star on its right lower canton, and downward white crescent in the centre on a field of red.

Sporting flags

FlagDateUseDescription
1908–1912Flag of the Australasian team at the 1908 and 1912 Olympic GamesA Blue Ensign defaced by a white circle containing the British Crown plus a shield containing the Southern Cross
1994–Flag of the New Zealand Olympic CommitteeA white flag with a depiction of the silver fern superimposed on the five ringed emblem of the International Olympic Committee
1979–1994Flag of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games AssociationA black flag with a depiction of a silver fern on the Olympic rings.
1987Flag of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby team.A black flag with a white silver fern.
Burgee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht SquadronA blue triangular flag with a white cross, with the Southern Cross in the canton and a crown in the centre.

Other New Zealand flags

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the New Zealand Navy BoardA fouled anchor with a red-blue background
1987–New Zealand Post flagAn orange-red flag with the NZ Post logo in white. Vertical white and blue strip in the fly.
Flag of the Grand Orange Lodge of New ZealandAn orange ensign with the Saint George's Cross in the canton, and in the fly an open book surmounted by a Saint Edward's Crown and surrounded by the four stars of the New Zealand Southern Cross.

Proposed alternative flags