N.Z. flags hoisted to mark Anzac Day

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 10

N.Z. flags hoisted to mark Anzac Day

The New Zealand flag, at present the subject of a controversy, will flutter from many flagpoles tomorrow, Anzac Day.

The Minister of Education, Mr Wellington, wants schools to raise the flag each day — an idea which has provoked criticism from some people.

Whether or not schools fly the flag, on certain days of the year such as April 25 the New Zealand flag is hoisted on Government buildings from 8 a.m. till sunset.

Waitangi Day, February 6, and Labour Day, the fourth Monday in October are also days on which the flag flies on Government buildings, as is the anniversary day of the particular province in which the town is situated.

Birthdays of some members of the Royal Family are marked with flag raising in New Zealand, such as the Queen’s actual birthday, April 21, and her official birthday, observed on the first Monday in June.

Some people might wonder why flags fly on June 10 and August 4; those dates mark the birthdays of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen Mother respectively. Prince Charles receives a similar honour on his birthday, November 14.

Other days on which the flags are hoisted are: the second Monday in March, Commonwealth Day; June 2, Coronation Day, October 24, United Nations Day, second Sunday in November, Remembrance Day. In Wellington, Government buildings raise the

flag on the day that Parliament is opened by the Governor General, and also at the arrival and swearing in of the Governor General designate. Flags are flown at half mast to mark the death of Government leaders from both home and abroad. There are various rules regarding when the flag flies to mark a death, whether it be on the day of the death or the day of the funeral. On the death of the Crown, or a New Zealand Prime Minister, the flag flies at half mast from the day of the death until after the funeral.

The present New Zealand flag consists of the Union Jack in the top left corner, and four stars representing the Southern Cross on a blue background.

Specifications for the design of the flag appear in the New Zealand Gazette. These have to be faithfully followed by people manufacturing flags. Abel Tasman was the first person to hoist a flag in New Zealand when he flew the flag of the Dutch East India Company. Captain Cook flew the old Union Jack (the present one dates from 1801). In 1834 New Zealand got its first official flag, called “The Flag of the Independent Tribes of New Zealand.” This remained the official national flag until 1840 when it was superseded by the Union Jack.

Several flags which included the Union Jack as part of their design were then used until the adoption of the official New Zealand Ensign in 1902.

Throughout New Zea- ’ land's history, the Maori'. people have shown a great - interest in flags. Sometimes ’ the Government and other • organisations presented standards to chiefs and tribes as a reward for their; loyal services during theMaori Wars. ;

These flags would be unique, as only one of each would be made.

Some of the early Maoris believed that flags had; some kind of supernaturalpower, and they produced some very colourful and striking flags. ; The largest flag ever, flown in New Zealand was; the Standard of the Hauhau movement, measuring 6.96 metres by 3.75 metres. It. showed a life size figure of Te Matairenga — the Maori ( God of War - challengingthe enemy to fight.