Why do New Zealand and Australia use a similar pattern of stars on their flags? Both Australia and New Zealand chose the Southern Cross constellation for their flags. The stars on the Australian Flag are white and have more points than the New Zealand Flag to show their brightness in the sky.
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.
The Aboriginal Flag and the Torres Strait Islander Flag were appointed flags of Australia in 1995, while a version of the Australian National Flag has been in use since 1901.
The national flag most similar to and likely to be confused with that of Australia is the New Zealand flag, introduced for restricted use in 1869 and adopted as the New Zealand national flag in 1902.
The Commonwealth Star
This star has 7 points which symbolise the 6 Australian states, with the seventh point added in 1908 to recognise Australia's territories.
Australia has a national flag but also recognises other flags, including state and territory flags, the Aboriginal flag, the Torres Strait Islander flag, Defence Force Ensigns and the Australian Red Ensign (flown at sea by Australian registered merchant ships).
The British Admiralty, to increase ease of manufacture, standardised the Southern Cross by giving the four biggest stars seven points and five for the faintest Epsilon Crucis. The Commonwealth Star originally had only 6 points, representing the six federating colonies.
Long associated with Australian sporting achievements, the national colours have strong environmental connections. Gold conjures images of Australia's beaches, mineral wealth, grain harvests and the fleece of Australian wool. Green evokes the forests, eucalyptus trees and pastures of the Australian landscape.
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.
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 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.
Australian flags include the Aboriginal flag, Torres Strait Islander flag and many ensigns used in defence and civilian organisations.
The Australian Aboriginal Flag and Torres Strait Islander Flag were proclaimed flags of Australia under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 on 14 July 1995.
Why are New Zealanders called Kiwis? The name 'kiwi' comes from the curious little flightless bird that is unique to New Zealand. Māori people have always held the kiwi bird in high regard. Their feathers were used to make 'kahu kiwi', valuable cloaks worn by tribal chiefs.
New Zealander William Stevens, a ship's officer on the SS Taieri, was one of five winners of a 1901 competition to design an Australian flag.
New Zealand is more about mountains, lush rolling hills, forests, lakes and waterfalls, while over in Australia you have bushland, tropical rainforest, ancient stone escarpments and red desert. Both countries have gorgeous coastlines with remote beaches and are wonderful places to work and travel.
On 1 July 1841 the islands of New Zealand were separated from the Colony of New South Wales and made a colony in their own right. This ended more than 50 years of confusion over the relationship between the islands and the Australian colony.
As non-Australian citizens, New Zealanders cannot vote in Australian elections.
Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent with the least fertile soils. New Zealand was buried beneath the waves for much of its history after splitting off and is dominated by young mountains, volcanoes, and rolling hills.
Flying the flag
Do not fly the flag upside down, even as a signal of distress. Information on the protocols for displaying and folding the flag can be found in the Australian flags booklet, which is also available from your Federal Member of Parliament or Senator .
The Royal Australian Navy ensign
The white ensign of the British Royal Navy had been used since 1911, when the Royal Australian Navy was formed. The Australian white ensign is usually flown from the stern of a navy vessel, while the Australian National Flag is flown from the bow of the vessel.
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 Eureka flag is considered a union symbol under the federal building code. Companies that tender for federally funded construction projects cannot allow the flag to be flown on work sites.
New Zealand's features four five-pointed, red stars to represent the Southern Cross. On the Australian flag, the four stars are white and each has seven points. Six of the stars' points represent Australia's six states.
The Menzies government introduced the Flags Act to encourage the public to use the Blue Ensign instead of the Union Jack and the Red Ensign, with the latter only to be used on merchant ships. The Flags Act explains that the Blue Ensign is Australia's National Flag. It defines flag dimensions protocols around use.