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New Zealand Flag Institute |
The
embarrassed government promptly devised an emblem for placement on the flag,
in compliance with the Act. Ideas for a design included the seal of New
Zealand combined with the words 'New Zealand'. This was however found to be
too difficult to work into the design of the Blue Ensign. In any event the Colonial Naval Defence Act only required a
badge, not both badge and motto. The four stars of the Southern Cross were
also proposed, but this idea was rejected as not being exclusively
representative of New Zealand, and as it was not the colony’s badge. In 1867,
the colonial government chose the abbreviation “NZ” in red lettering with a
white border to represent New Zealand on the Blue Ensign. This design was
however short-lived, for on 23 October 1869 it was replaced by the Southern
Cross, despite its earlier rejection. The Southern Cross as represented on
the Blue Ensign was comprised of four red stars with white borders.
Officially
the Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross was a maritime flag only, the Union Flag being used for all purposes on
land. However it gradually came to be used on land, even though the Union
Jack remained the flag for New Zealand.
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