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  • The Governor-General
    • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
    • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
    • Media statements
    • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
    • The Governor-General's blog
  • Office of the Governor-General
    • Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort
      • About the Coronation service
      • The King of New Zealand
      • Get involved
      • Coronation events
    • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
      • Constitutional role
        • New Zealand’s Constitution
        • Credentials ceremonies
        • The Executive Council
        • The Reserve Powers
        • The Royal prerogative of mercy
      • Ceremonial role
        • Investiture ceremonies
        • New Zealand Royal Honours
      • Community role
      • International Role
    • Conditions of Appointment
      • Administrator of the Government
      • The Governor-General Act
      • The Governor-General's Flag
    • History
      • New Zealand's Governor-General - an historical perspective
      • Former Governors-General
    • Invitations, patronage and cards
      • Invitations for the Governor-General
        • Dress code for Government House events
      • Hosting the Governor-General
      • Order of precedence in New Zealand
      • Applying for vice-regal patronage
      • Current Vice-regal patronages
      • Congratulatory messages
    • Contacting the Governor-General
      • Guidance for writing to the Governor-General
    • Official portraits
    • Royal Commission Reports
  • Government House
    • Government House Wellington
      • Government House tours
        • Accessibility Information
        • Group tours
        • School tours
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        • Bledisloe Conservatory
        • Blundell and Porritt Rooms
        • Fitzroy Room
        • Galway and guest suites
        • Liverpool Room
        • Main Hallway
        • Maota Ariki
        • The Ballroom
        • The Council Room
        • The Landing
        • The Norrie State Dining Room
        • The Taupaepae
      • Artwork and artifacts
        • Carved coats of arms
      • Government House centenary
      • Government House conservation
        • Conservation rationale
        • The project in detail
    • Government House Auckland
      • Visiting Government House Auckland
      • The gardens at Government House Auckland
    • Other Government Houses
    • Staff at Government House
      • Management of Government House
  1. Home
  2. Office of the Governor-General
  3. Conditions of Appointment
  4. The Governor-General's Flag

The Governor-General's Flag

The Governor-General’s flag
The Governor-General's flag

The Governor-General’s flag was officially flown for the first time at ceremonies at Government House Auckland on 5 June 2008 and at Government House Wellington on 17 June 2008.

The dark blue flag features the Shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by a Royal Crown in the centre. In heraldic terms the official description is: “A flag of a blue field thereon the Arms of New Zealand ensigned by the Royal Crown all proper.”

The flag is flown the top of either Government House Wellington or Government House Auckland whenever the Governor-General is in residence. It also flies from the Governor-General’s car when  she is travelling and from a flagpole outside Parliament Buildings when the Governor-General is attending Executive Council.

The flag replaced the previous flag, approved by King George V in 1931, and adopted by New Zealand in 1937. That flag was of a standard pattern designed for use by Governors-General of the then Dominions of the British Empire, and was dark blue, with the Royal Crest surmounted by crowned lion in the centre, and the words “New Zealand” in a scroll beneath.

The current flag, which was approved by Queen Elizabeth II, was announced on Monday 2 June 2008.

The design for the flag followed a review of the Governor-General’s flag and emblems, requested by Government House in 2005, and undertaken by the New Zealand Herald of Arms, Phillip O’Shea. The old flag lacked distinctive New Zealand elements and reflected an era before New Zealand became an independent nation.

Several flags have been used by New Zealand’s Governors or Governors-General over the years. The first flag, from 1869 to 1874, was the Union Jack, with four five pointed white stars on the red ground of the St George's Cross.

That design was based on a misinterpretation of the Order in Council and was corrected in 1874 to feature the Union Jack with the Governor’s Badge in the centre. The Badge was composed of the letters “NZ” in the centre of four red, five-pointed stars within a wreath of green laurel leaves. In 1907, the laurel was replaced with a wreath of green fern fronds.

While King George V approved a new Governor-General’s flag in 1931, the then Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, was reluctant to use it. The next Governor-General’s flag was adopted and used by Governor-General Lord Galway from 1 October 1937.

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In this section
  • Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort
  • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
  • Conditions of Appointment
    • Administrator of the Government
    • The Governor-General Act
    • The Governor-General's Flag
  • History
  • Invitations, patronage and cards
  • Contacting the Governor-General
  • Official portraits
  • Royal Commission Reports

New Zealand Royal Honours and Investitures

Image of the insignia of the New Zealand Royal Honours system

 

The Governor-General holds investiture ceremonies for New Zealand Royal Honours on behalf of The King.

Information for recipients

Find out more about the honours system

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The Governor-General
  • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
  • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
  • Media statements
  • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
  • The Governor-General's blog
Office of the Governor-General
  • Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort
  • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
  • Conditions of Appointment
  • History
  • Invitations, patronage and cards
  • Contacting the Governor-General
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