The Australian National Flag has the Union Jack in the upper left-hand quarter nearest the flagpole (the 'canton') to acknowledge the history of British settlement in Australia.
Why are the flags so similar? When Capt. James Cook landed in Australia and (against orders of the Crown) declared the land a British colony, Australia and New Zealand shared a flag based on the blue ensign — a flag used by the British Navy.
There is a union flag in the upper left corner of the Australian flag because Australia was a British colony for many years. It is still part of the Commonwealth today as a former colony, and the British monarch is still Australia's head of state.
The stars on the Flag represent the Southern Cross constellation, emphasising New Zealand's location in the South Pacific Ocean. The Union Jack in the top left-hand corner of the Flag recognises New Zealand's historical foundations as a former British colony and dominion.
The Australian National Flag Association (ANFA) believes that the existing design is an integral part of the Australian heritage and an appropriate expression of our national identity. The existing design of stars and crosses should therefore be retained and not altered in any manner whatsoever.
Australia's flag will never change, Malcolm Turnbull has said, dismissing a new design that drops the Union Jack. The not-for-profit group Ausflag released a new design on Friday, telling Australia it was time to “grow up” and shed symbols of British dominance.
The Australian Government's policy in relation to the flying of other nations' flags is to fly only the official flags of nations recognised by Australia.
The New Zealand flag is 50 years older than Australia's and was adopted in 1902, replacing the union jack. The Australian flag was adopted in 1954, after going through three previous iterations since 1901.
The financial cost of a country changing its national flag outweighs any advantages. The national flag has not been changed for many years (it has "stood the test of time").
No. There's no specific law that makes the burning of the Australian flag illegal, but it is typically punished as 'disorderly conduct' or destruction of property instead. While it's legal to burn the Australian flag, it must be done safely.
Use of the Australian Red Ensign
The Australian Red Ensign is generally only flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships or on land by organisations and individuals for ceremonial purposes such as Merchant Navy Day.
Is it Unlawful to Burn or Destroy an Australian Flag? The short answer to that question is 'no'. There is no Federal or state legislation in Australia which prohibits the destruction of the national flag. Many politicians, lawyers and academics claim, in fact, that it is a legitimate act of political protest.
The 3 flags of Australia include the Australian National Flag, the Australian Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag.
New Zealand as an Australian state
One of the reasons that New Zealand chose not to join Australia was due to perceptions that the indigenous Māori population would suffer as a result.
New Zealand is a country full of wonder and magic, however many are surprised to find that we do have a few creatures that you'll need to keep an eye out for. Unlike our neighbour, Australia, New Zealand isn't known for its deadly creatures. You won't find any crocodiles or poisonous land snakes here… thank goodness!
The Flag of Denmark also holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously used national flag. According to legend, the flag came into Danish possession during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219.
Before 1953, it was technically illegal for non-Commonwealth agencies and individuals to even fly the blue ensign on land! This is why, in paintings of the opening of Old Parliament House in 1927, you can see red flags being flown instead of blue ones.
The final report stated, "at present we do not consider that a legal name change, or a referendum on the same change, is needed". In September 2021 the Māori Party started a petition to change the name of New Zealand to Aotearoa. The petition reached 50,000 signatures in two days.
Five flags other than the New Zealand flag are flown for official purposes in New Zealand. They are the Governor-General's Flag, the New Zealand Red Ensign, the New Zealand White Ensign, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Ensign, and the New Zealand Civil Air Ensign.
The flag is (somewhat) different
Yes, both flags feature the Southern Cross star on the right-hand side. BUT the Australian flag has two extra stars – a small one near the cross and a big one under the Union Jack. Meanwhile, New Zealand's flag has just four stars but they are red with a white outline.
New Zealand's acting Prime Minister Winston Peters has accused Australia of copying his country's flag, telling its neighbor to get its own design. “We had a flag that we've had for a long time, copied by Australia,” Peters told local network TVNZ on Tuesday.
Flag flying guidelines
raised no earlier than first light and lowered no later than dusk. raised briskly and lowered with dignity. flown aloft and free, as close to the top of the flag mast as possible and with the rope tightly secured; and. illuminated if flown at night.
It is not however officially recommended to drape it around yourself to ensure it does not touch the ground. Mr Pidgeon welcomed most respectful displays of the national flag, but was not a fan of some. "Obviously it's probably not right to have the flag draped over your body," he said.
When using the stand provided, the Australian National Flag flies from the central pole as this is the highest pole. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags are equal in status and can be flown on either side of the national flag.