New Zealand's Changing Standards

A new Vice-Regal blue flag — with the Shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by a Royal Crown in the centre — will be flown for the first time at a ceremony at Government House Auckland on 5 June and at Government House Wellington on 17 June.

The new flag, which has been approved by Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, and is supported by the Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, was announced by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark, on Monday 2 June 2008 — the Queen’s Official Birthday in New Zealand.

Governor-General (1953-2008)
In January 1931 the hitherto present flag of the Governor-General was introduced, to reflect the Balfour Declaration of 1926 whereby the Governor-General was now the representative of the monarch in the Dominion of New Zealand, rather than a representative of the British government. The New Zealand badge was replaced by the Royal Crest in full colour. The words “Dominion of New Zealand” were displayed on a gold scroll beneath the badge. The gold scroll beneath the crest formerly contained the style “Dominion of New Zealand”. This was changed to “New Zealand ” in around 1953, after the term 'Dominion' was replaced officially with the term "Realm of New Zealand".

Governor-General (1937-1953)
As neither Governor-General Lord Bledisloe nor his ministers were sympathetic to the 1931 British Commonwealth change, the old dominion flag below was retained, and the new flag was not flown until after Lord Galway's arrival in 1937.

Governor-General (1908-1937)
In 1907 New Zealand's status was officially transformed from self-governing colony to dominion. To mark the transition to independence, the New Zealand Government requested that the garland of laurels on the Governor’s flag should be replaced by one of fern leaves, the fern leaf was already recognised as one of New Zealand's national symbols. In a letter of 5 January 1908 the Governor requested that the garland around the badge on his flag be changed from the usual green laurel leaves to a garland of fern leaves, and referred to the garland of maple leaves surrounding the badge on the Flag of the Governor General of Canada as a precedent. This was approved without hesitation, since the regulations only stipulated that the device on the flags of Governors should be surrounded by a “green garland”. The type of leaves was not specified.

Governor (1874-1908)
In October 1874 Sir James Fergusson announced that, "... that the seal or badge to be worn in the Union Jack used by the Governor of New Zealand when embarked in any boat or other vessel shall be the Southern Cross as represented by four five-pointed red stars emblazoned on the white shield aforesaid, and the monogram NZ in red letters in the centre of the Southern Cross. Succeeding Governors found it convenient to use this flag on shore and it became accepted as the official vice-regal flag.

Governor (1869-1874)
In 1869 the Admiralty directed that "Governors ...administering the Governments of British Colonies and Dependencies be authorised to fly the Union Jack, with the Arms or Badge of the Colony emblazoned in the centre thereof". There was at the time no colonial badge for New Zealand. Accordingly in October 1869 the decision was made to including a Jack with the "Southern Cross, as represented in the Blue Ensign by four five-pointed red stars in the fly, with white borders to correspond to the colouring of the Jack; in the Jack by four five-pointed white stars on the red ground of the St George's Cross; and in the pendant by four stars near the staff similar to those in the Ensign".