We like simple, distinctive flags, with emblems redolent of New Zealand. We like a connection and consideration of our history, geography and topography and of our culture.
Friedensreich 'Frederick' Hundertwasser (1928-2000), born in Austria, an internationally renowned artist, architect and environmentalist, travelled to New Zealand in 1973 for an exhibition of his paintings. .... In 1983 he gifted 'The Koru Flag' to New Zealand in appreciation of becoming a New Zealand citizen.
We like the clean design, with the green koru, in a deep leafy green, lighter than the richer green often used in flags, its curling movement and strong links with New Zealand's heritage and mythology.
On 20 March 1834, 25 chiefs from the Far North and their followers gathered at Waitangi to choose a flag to represent New Zealand. The 'Flag of the United Tribes' was chosen as the flag and declared by James Busby to be the national flag of New Zealand. King William IV approved the flag, and a drawing of it was circulated through Admiralty with instructions to recognise it as New Zealand's flag. It became known as the Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand in recognition of the title used by the same chiefs when they met again at Waitangi to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1835.
The flag has the red cross of St.George on a white background, with a smaller red St.George's cross in the top left hand corner on a blue background. The smaller cross had a wide black border and a white eight-pointed star featured in each of the blue quarters. The actual gazetted flag had the eight-pointed stars replaced with five-pointed stars and the black fimbriation returned to white. A further gazetted version had six-pointed stars. A still further variant was adopted as the house flag by Shaw, Savill and Albion, the shipping company. This version omitted the white fimbriation.
Our preference is for the original Flag of the United Tribes with the eight-pointed stars and black fimbriation - as a historical flag some people argue it has more relevance and distinction than the current blue ensign. While it is a traditional flag in its design it has huge historical relevance in the uniting of the Confederation of Chiefs, first in the flag and, then the following year in the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Of the colours, red has a strong basis in Maori symbolism yet forms the St.George cross, and the black fimbriation is very unusual in heraldry.
In 1990 there was a national flag competition in New Zealand. None of the entries showed obvious recognition or inspiration of Maori heritage. As a result the Te Kawariki held their own Maori flag competition. The chosen flag by Hiraina Marsden, Jan Smith and Linda Munn is black over white over red, with a thin white stripe - at its heart the Koru unfurling. The red, black and white are all colours with strong Maori heritage. The black represents Te Korekore, the realm of potential being - it symbolises the long darkness from which the earth emerged, as well as signifying Rangi - the heavens, a male, formless, floating, passive force. The white represents Te Ao Marama, the realm of being and light. It symbolises the physical world, purity, harmony, enlightenment and balance. The red represents Te Whei Ao, the realm of coming into being. Red is Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, the sustainer of all living things.
The national flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf Flag (French: l'Unifolié "the one-leaved"), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre, featuring a red stylized 11-pointed maple leaf.
For much of its post-Confederation history, Canada had used the British Union Jack as its official national flag, with the Canadian Red Ensign (see below) as a popularly recognized specifically Canadian variant.
Although the idea of a new design for the national flag had been discussed for decades in the 1900s, it was in the 1960s that the debate intensified and became a subject of considerable controversy. The principal political proponent of the change was Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, while the main opponent was leader of the opposition and former prime minister, John Diefenbaker, who made it his personal crusade not only for sentimental reasons but also for political advantage. Eventually, a multi-party parliamentary committee was established to select a new design. Through a period of study with some political manoeuvring the committee came up with the current design, which was created by George Stanley, inspired by the flag of The Royal Military College of Canada. The committee made its final selection on October 22, 1964.
The new flag was adopted by the House of Commons on December 15, 1964 (the Senate added its approval two days later). It was officially proclaimed into law by Queen Elizabeth II on February 15, 1965. Since 1995, February 15 has been commemorated as National Flag of Canada Day.
Despite the preceding acrimony, the new flag was quickly embraced by the Canadian public, and
internationally the flag quickly became a welcome marker of Canadians around the world.
Sourced from: en.wikipedia.org
The current Japanese flag was officially established as the national flag of Japan in 1870. The disc of the sun or Hinomaru, in the centre of the flag, has been the imperial badge since the 14th century. The white field stands for purity and integrity.
We like the power and simplicity of the Japanese flag - so simple, yet easily recognisable and, clearly, inspirational for the people of Japan.
Although used as the common badge of the Swiss Confederation since 1339, the white couped cross on a red field was not officially confirmed as the Swiss flag until 1848. Apart from the Vatican's flag, the Swiss flag is the only totally square national flag.
It is clearly a flag which "punches above its weight". Switzerland is only a small country yet its simple two coloured flag is proudly flown and widely recognised internationally. It is an outstanding flag.