After the formation of the colony in 1840, British ensigns began to be used. Chosen by an assembly of Māori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834, the flag was of a St George's Cross with another cross in the canton containing four stars on a blue field. New Zealand's first internationally accepted national flag, the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, was adopted in 1834, six years before New Zealand's separation from New South Wales and creation as a separate colony following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. The flag of New Zealand ( Māori: Te haki o Aotearoa ), also known as the New Zealand Ensign, is based on the British maritime Blue Ensign – a blue field with the Union Jack in the canton or upper hoist corner – augmented or defaced with four red stars centred within four white stars, representing the Southern Cross constellation. A Blue Ensign with a Union Jack in the first quarter and four five-pointed red stars with white borders on the fly representing the Southern Cross.Ī Red Ensign with a Union Jack in the first quarter and four five-pointed white stars on the fly representing the Southern Cross.Ī defaced British White Ensign with four five-pointed red stars representing the Southern Cross.Ī modified form of the RAF Ensign with the letters 'NZ' superimposed in white over the central red disc.
