Last modified: 2024-03-16 by ian macdonald
Keywords: proposal: new zealand | leaf: fern | fern | southern cross | stars: southern cross | koru | korukouwhaiwhai | hundertwasser (friedensreich) |
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From Past Attempts to Change the New Zealand Flag [mooXX]
by John Moody, New Zealand: One of the first proposals was by Clark Titman and
appeared in 1967. It showed a red-white-blue-white-red horizontally striped
flag, in a ratio of approximately 3:1:8:1:3, with the white fimbriated red stars
of the Southern Cross on the centre of the blue stripe.
Rob Raeside, 1 August 2001
![[ 1988 version of Titman's proposal ]](../images/n/nz!88.gif)
image by António Martins, 26 April 2006
I note that this flag could be produced by cutting an existing NZ flag and
stitching plain white and red bunting to it, which is an additional advantage.
António Martins, 26 April 2006
![[ Koru flag ]](../images/n/nz!koru.gif)
image by
Hamish Low, 9 December 2004
This is the well known Koru flag, designed by Friedensreich
Hundertwasser who lives in the Far North of NZ. The Hundertwasser flag (I have
had one for about 14 years) is 1:2 height to width and, though often appear
creamy, were produced white. Technically this is not a Maori flag, as you will
note although the koru is a Maori motif, the
flag was designed by an Austrian and does not have a direct Maori cultural
significance. As far as I know the Hundertwasser flag has been around since the
1970’s — my first positive memories of it would have been in the early 1980’s
but believe I first saw it in about 1979. (I’ve had mine since about 1984.)
John Harrison, 11 September 1998
This has gained considerable popularity in the northern North Island (where
most of the Maori population is found). It also has a reasonable following among
New Zealand whites, or pakeha
as they are called in Maori, especially with alternative lifestylers. The flag
is based (roughly) on a type of
Maori pattern
known as koru, or korukouwhaiwhai, which has flowing spirals
representing young fern leaves. Because of this, the flag is green and white (to
represent the fern and sky), rather than the traditional Maori colours of white,
black and red. The flag is divided diagonally (party per bend sinister),
starting at the bottom corner by the flagpole, with white over green. However,
as it approaches the top on the fly side, the green curls over into a spiral
shape. The green is a deep yellowish leafy green, rather than the rich green
normally seen on flags. The flag also contains a black stripe at the hoist.
James Dignan
This flag is likely to be seen fluttering from the mast stays of the yacht of
an aging hippy, or from a rough stake in the ground next to a meditation retreat
in the “bush” (NZ for forest). The flag is by no means official or endorsed, and
was only one (foreign) man’s idea for a flag, but it is well recognised and
embraced by a percentage of New Zealanders who identify with it. Alternative
lifestyle has long ago passed as being the “in thing” so that percentage would
be likely to be declining.
John Harrison, 15 September 1998
The sixth and last flag of UNESCO's Six
Flags of Tolerance series is "Harmony and Evolution", also by Friedensreich
Hundertwasser. It is the same design as his 1983 Koru flag, with green changed
to blue.
António Martins, 17 June 2007
As far as I know, the Koru flag was never officially proposed as an
alternative to the NZ flag, it just gained support during the "old hippies
becoming alternative lifestyler" crowd and gathered momentum from there.
However, it's probably the most widely-known alternative NZ flag design
(excluding the sport-supporter's white fern on black) and is still easily
purchased here. I actually have one myself, though I don't fly it, mainly
because I don't like the design (the "green and white" is actually a muddy sage
green and off-cream).
James Dignan, 18 June 2007
![[ Southern Cross designs ]](../images/n/nz!and.gif)
image by Neil Anderson, 6 June 2014
This proposal emphasises New Zealand’s location as a green land at the bottom
of a blue ocean, and is the design I like the most of the four. It doesn’t use
the fern, but retains the traditional four-star Southern Cross used at present.
The flag consists of three uneven horizontal stripes, ratio (approx) 14:1:5, of
dark or mid-blue, gold and green, with the four stars of the southern cross in
white (I’ve also seen it with the white and gold reversed, i.e., stars gold,
stripe white).
James Dignan
From the flag's website (http://www.HeKaraMoANZ.net):
HE KARA MO AOTEAROA NEW ZEALANDA separate column bears the following information:
-------------------------------
A FLAG FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
The deep blue represents the sky (kio o te rangi), the sea (te ao o te moana), and the lakes and rivers. The white band is the cloud (te ao), and the snow and ice of the mountains. The forests and pastures of the land (te whenua) are represented in deep green.
He Kara incorporates four stars of the Southern Cross (Te Kaahui a Maahutonga) in a symmetric configuration as a national device. In the context of He Kara, the Southern Cross is intended to represent the four main island groups of Aotearoa New Zealand, called North, South, Stewart and the Chathams.
The stars are gold, rendered in bright yellow, to represent a national aspiration for excellence in all endeavours.
Additionally, the stars (at the point of the compass) signify both secular and spiritual elements of our heritage - the navigational skills of early Maori and Pakeha voyagers, the varied origins of more recent migrants, and the broad dimensions of our respective spiritual traditions.
In combination, the elements of He Kara are intended to suggest the union of Rangi and Papa, ecological harmony, hope for the future, enlightenment and equity.
He Kara Mo Aotearoa New Zealand is advanced as a candidate to succeed the National Flag of New Zealand.
![[Proposal by James Dignan]](../images/n/nz!jd.gif)
image by James Dignan, contributed 17 Jul 2006
James Dignan's design of a white fern on black in the upper hoist, and the
red, fimbriated white four-star southern cross on blue in the lower fly,
separated by a white fimbriated red diagonal stripe, appeared in an
article
in The New Zealand Herald on 9 May 2002.
Jonathan Dixon, 17 July 2006
The New Zealand newspaper "Sunday Star Times" has today published an article
in which several new flag design proposals have been created by various artists
and graphic designers. The article appears at:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3179240/Flying-the-flag-for-new-look-Kiwi-ensign.
Unfortunately the actual designs are not shown on the website.
Ralph
Kelly, 20 December 2009
I accessed the article in question through Press Display. Four proposals are
shown in the article.
The first one is by Dick Frizzell: A central blue
panel bearing the white bordered red stars of the Southern Cross, the panel is
flanked by two red and two white narrow stripes on either side.
The
second proposal is by John Ansell and consists of a white fern against a black
field.
![[Proposal by Billy Apple]](../images/n/nz!09_3.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 13 January 2010
The third proposal is by Billy Apple and has a black field with a grey
canton. Black covers 86 % of the area and grey 14 %, representing the share of
the "Pakeha" and the Maori in the New Zealand population.
![[Proposal by Base Two]](../images/n/nz!09_4.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec, 13 January 2010
The fourth proposal is by the company Base Two. This is a white field with a
graphic arrangement in red and blue suggesting the letters NZ. The N is made by
setting two red triangles against the white, the Z by two blue ones. The blue
triangle closest to the fly contains the stars of the southern cross (the stars
seem to be outlined in white with the inside blue).
Jan Oskar Engene,
20 December 2009
![[Proposal by Ian Murphy]](../images/n/nz!murphy.gif)
image by Ian Murphy, 8 November 2013
I have a new design for an alternative New Zealand flag and it is attached.
It is designed by me, Ian Murphy of Hamilton, NZ. The colours and stars are
aimed to match the existing flag, although the blue would look great a slightly
darker shade. The white lines represent the Land of the Long White Cloud, being
the northern and southern main islands and narrower lines our smaller islands.
The silver fern is shown within. The design is instantly identified as being New
Zealand and I feel will appeal to all, which is what we need in a new design.
Ian Murphy, 8 November 2013
![[Proposal by Richard Aslett]](../images/n/nz!nzenz.gif)
image by Richard Aslett, 27 January 2014
I am an established New Zealand Artist/Musician/Politician (Google - Richard
Aslett - NZ) and have attached my, now well known, proposal named "eNZign" - for
a "New" New Zealand Flag.
"eNZign" came about, due to every year (on
Waitangi day, the 6th of Feb) the debate would (and still does!) arise again and
again about our National Flag. The idea was to come up with a design that would
incorporate and suit the majority of people now living in New Zealand,
introducing much needed colour (to the drab designs doing the rounds), drawing
on images from the past, yet combining them with a totally fresh approach, and
presenting them in a modern, new millennium, fashion. My original design was
painted onto canvas, and has long since been sold, yet I still have rights to
the design and produce postcards with the image, with an explanation on the
back. These are very very popular, and fly out of the door as quickly as I can
get them printed!
Please find below, a worded description of the design
and its meaning, which was displayed with the original painting, and is now
printed on the back of the postcards.
The “eNZign” Flag features three familiar insignia designs; the traditional
"Southern Cross" stars, the more recent Tino Rangatiratanga, and the ever
popular "sporting" NZ Silver Fern; yet also incorporates a rainbow of colours to
represent all genders, religious, political, and sexual orientations, plus
the new & many differing races & cultures of peoples now inhabiting this Pacific
paradise, Godzone, NZ, Aotearoa… all combined in one uniting, binding, Koru
frond.
www.freewebs.com/mangawekagallery
Richard Aslett, 27 January
2014
![[Proposal promoted by John Key]](../images/n/nz!key.gif)
image by Kyle Lockwood, 25 October 2014
From
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10619557/Two-step-flag-referendum-outlined-by-PM-John-Key:
John Key will call a referendum on changing the NZ flag in 2015.
Flag
description:
A stylised Silver Fern, a New Zealand icon for well over 100
years, has been worn proudly by many generations of New Zealanders, from sports
people, to military personnel and fire-fighters.
The silver fern is an
element of indigenous flora representing the growth of our nation. The multiple
points of the fern leaf represent Aotearoa's peaceful multicultural society, a
single fern leaf spreading upwards represents that we are all New Zealanders -
one people - growing onward into the future.
The Southern Cross, a
defining element in the present New Zealand Flag, represents our geographic
location in the antipodes. The Southern Cross is visible throughout the year in
the southern night skies. It has been used as a navigational aid for centuries
and it helped guide early settlers to our islands. Each star is also
representative of the major island groups of New Zealand - North Island, South
Island, Stewart Island, and the Chatham Islands.
Colours:
Red, is a
significant colour to the NZ Māori, and is featured in the present NZ flag. Red
also represents the sacrifice made by all New Zealanders during wartime.
White a colour featured in the present New Zealand flag, white represents
Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud, The official Māori name for New Zealand.
The colour also represents peace.
Blue a prominent colour in the present New
Zealand flag, represents the ocean, that surrounds our island nation, over which
all New Zealanders, or their ancestors, crossed to get to New Zealand.
Kyle Lockwood, 25 October 2014
![[Proposal promoted by Paul Henson]](../images/n/nz!henson.gif)
image by Paul Henson, 3 February 2015
This new flag meets the criteria for flag design: it is simple, striking,
mostly symmetrical, reversible, recognisable, unique, visible (from a distance),
understandable, balanced with matching relevant colours and in standard flag
proportions. It is a fresh design that removes any confusion with the Australian
flag. The Kiwi has been suggested before but research shows that most overseas
people think it is a lamb chop.
The design:
The fern is our national
emblem, used since the 1880's in military campaigns, currency and sporting
events.
The tricolour (3 vertical bands) is a traditional European flag
design representing the majority of New Zealanders' ancestors.
The 16 fern fronds represent the 16 regions of NZ.
The fern has similarities
to the movement of a waka, with the red stem symbolising the travels of our
ancestors to NZ.
The fern end resembles a quill as used to sign our founding
document.
Each frond is similar in shape to the overall fern design.
Colours:
The new flag includes the traditional red, white and blue of the old
flag.
The colours represent New Zealand as a pacific nation, with a multi
cultural heritage.
The three background colours (blue, white, green)
represent New Zealand's pacific location (blue sky and water, white for the land
of the long white cloud, green for earth and our traditional agriculture base).
The red and black are traditional Maori colours and represent our Maori
heritage.
The silver is the silver fern (the underside of our native plant
leaf).
The new flag can be printed in black and white and is still
distinct and recognisable.
While honouring the forces who have fought in
previous wars, this suggestion encompasses many attributes of our history, our
current situation and our aspirations for the future. The brave soldiers who
went to war were fighting for a better future - this new design symbolises all
the best characteristics of their aspirations for freedom, equality and national
pride.
Below a copy of a letter I wrote to the local paper, regarding a
reader's concerns about changing the flag:
I am a 6th generation New Zealander, my ancestors having arrived here in the 1850's. I have lived in NZ for 51 years. Both my grandfathers served in World War 1, with my father's father surviving 3 1/2 years in Egypt and northern France. His Certificate of Service as a Corporal in the NZ Expeditionary Forces has no reference to any Union Jack or NZ flag. It does however have 2 ferns (used by the military since the 1880's - 20 years before the official NZ flag was adopted) and as many Maori motifs as British. His 5 medals include the NZ War Service medal which is made with 2 ferns. Again no flags to be found among these symbols of appreciation.Paul Henson, 3 February 2015
And there is a fern on every new proposed NZ currency note.
The formal and field dress code for soldiers has changed many times over the years. "Lemon squeezers" for example have been replaced by berets or helmets, British battle dress has been replaced with jungle greens, then camouflage. The NZ flag has been used along with a Kiwi and a silver fern, and Maori motifs added at various times. These changes in no way denigrate the previous soldiers sacrifices but represent the changing times and technologies. They will not be forgotten despite the changes in uniforms - I am grateful everyday for the efforts of our ancestors.
It was my intention to honour those who have served this country in the past who fought for freedom, as well as looking to the future by representing the many other aspects of life in NZ (other than just the two symbols of our past - our British colonialism and the 4 stars) by including our heritage, ancestry, location, environment, uniqueness and multiculturalism as a basis for a better future.
As of May 2018 there are 184 alternative New Zealand national flag designs presented on the website
https://flagoptions.com, and all of them have been developed in accordance with the attitude that constraining flag designs to those that are simple can be a futile endeavour, given that more complex flag designs may often be preferable.
Anne
Onimous, 15 May 2018
As of March 2024 400 alternative New Zealand national flag designs are
presented on the website
https://flagoptions.com, all developed in accordance with the attitude that
constraining flag designs to those that are simple can be a futile endeavour,
given that more complex flag designs may often be preferable.
Anne
Onimous, 29 February 2024
Flanked by Ferns Variant
![[Proposal promoted by Anne Onimous']](../images/n/nz!ao1.gif)
image by Anne Onimous, 8 August 2017
Long live Zealandia Variant
![[Proposal promoted by Anne Onimous']](../images/n/nz!ao2.gif)
image by Anne Onimous, 8 August 2017
IllumiNation Variant
![[Proposal promoted by Anne Onimous']](../images/n/nz!ao3.gif)
image by Anne Onimous, 8 August 2017
Reach Exceeding Grasp Variant
![[Proposal promoted by Anne Onimous']](../images/n/nz!ao4.gif)
image by Anne Onimous, 8 August 2017
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