HISTORY

HERALDRY

The Royal Achievement

The Government of New Zealand Achievement

The Royal Arms

The Public Seal

ARMED FORCES

TERRITORIES

History

New Zealand was discovered and settled in the 13th century by Polynesians, who developed a distinct Māori culture centred on kinship links and land. The first European explorer to discover New Zealand was Abel Janszoon Tasman on 13 December 1642. Captain James Cook, who reached New Zealand in October 1769 on the first of his three voyages, was the first European explorer to circumnavigate and map New Zealand.

From the late 18th century, the country was regularly visited by explorers and other sailors, missionaries, traders and adventurers.

In 1788 the colony of New South Wales had been founded on the Australian continent. According to Captain Phillip's amended Commission, dated 25 April 1787, the colony included all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean within the latitudes of 10°37'S and 43°39'S  which included most of New Zealand except for the southern half of the South Island. In 1825 with Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) becoming a separate colony, the southern boundary of New South Wales was altered to the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean with a southern boundary of 39°12'S which included only the northern half of the North Island. However, these boundaries had no real impact as the New South Wales administration had little interest in New Zealand.

In response to complaints about lawless white sailors and adventurers in New Zealand, the British government appointed James Busby as Official Resident in 1832. In 1834 he encouraged Māori chiefs to assert their sovereignty with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1835. This was acknowledged by King William IV. Busby was provided with neither legal authority nor military support and was thus ineffective in controlling the European population.

In 1840 the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British Crown and various Māori chiefs, bringing New Zealand into the British Empire and giving Māori equal rights with British citizens. New Zealand became a colony in its own right on 3 May 1841. It was divided into provinces that were reorganised in 1846 and in 1853, when they acquired their own legislatures, and then abolished in 1876. The country rapidly gained some measure of self-government through the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, which established central and provincial government.

New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining the proposed Federation of the Australian colonies, attending the 1891 National Australia Convention in Sydney. Interest in the proposed Australian Federation faded and New Zealand decided against joining the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, and instead changed from being a colony to a separate dominion in 1907, equal in status to Australia and Canada.

Nowadays New Zealand is a sovereign and independent Kingdom.

Heraldry

The Royal Achievement

From the time of Captain Phillips amended commission in 1787 the Royal achievement of Great Britain formally was also valid in New Zealand. This was used until, when New Zealand had received the status of a Dominion in 1907, a new achievement of its own for New Zealand was adopted in 1911. Royal British achievements from the period from 1840 until 1907 can be found in several places in New Zealand, for example in Christchurch and in Napier

A completely different  royal achievement appeared about 1825-’40. It is the royal achievement of the would-be king Charles I of New Zealand

The seal shows the achievement, probably within a (now unreadable) circular legend.

The Government of New Zealand Achievement

History of the New Zealand Coat of Arms [3]

The first recorded move to establish a Coat of Arms for New Zealand was in 1906. Designs were called for a Coat of Arms, however those being considered were destroyed when fire swept through the Old Parliament Buildings in 1907.

In 1908 the New Zealand Government ran a new competition to design a coat of arms. In total over 100 entries were submitted, mostly by ordinary New Zealanders. This New Zealand Gazette notice announces the second of the two competitions.

[New Zealand Gazette, no. 30, 16 April 1908, p.1184]

The competition was readvertised in 1908 and some 75 designs featuring everything from kiwis, sheep, cows, moas and lions, to stars, ships, British soldiers, Maori warriors and Union Jacks were received. Three entries were sent to England for final judging. The winning entry was a design by James McDonald, a draughtsman in the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts.

The three best coat of arms designs were selected from the 1908 competition entries by the Director of the Colonial Museum and forwarded to England for judging. Entry 52, shown here, was one of the two runners-up.

[Archives Reference: IA 9, 30/52 (ACGO 8341)]

Entry 53, shown here, was one of the runners-up from the second competition to design a coat of arms for New Zealand. It is different from the other runner-up in that it is composed of more uniquely New Zealand features.

[Archives Reference: IA 9, 30/53 (ACGO 8341)]

The winning entry in the competition for a coat of arms was “tidied up” before being officially accepted in 1911. Changes included replacing the Māori carvings at the bottom with “more conventional” decoration, and making the Zealandia figure “more demure” and the Māori figure “less challenging”. Further changes were made in 1956 to create the version used today.

[Archives Reference: IA 9, 30/75 (ACGO 8341)]

A Royal Warrant granting armorial ensigns and supporters was issued on 26 August 1911 and was published in the New Zealand Gazette of 11 January 1912. These arms, known as the 1911 arms, are no longer used.

Although the Royal Warrant of 1911 gave a description of the New Zealand Coat of Arms, by the mid 1940s it was found that there were at least 20 versions of the design in use. A committee was established to arrange for the redrawing and standardisation of the Arms, and a revised version received The Queen's approval on 11 July 1957.  The principal alterations were:

In the crest (which now is St Edward's Crown to symbolise the fact that The Queen is Queen of New Zealand);

The quarterings in the shield which were redrawn;

The supporters were redrawn so that they faced inwards instead of to the front with the Maori chieftain losing his hei tiki and gaining a kapeu (a greenstone ear pendant);

The scroll was replaced by two fern leaves (Silver tree fern (Cyathea dealbata - Cyateacæa))

And the name ‘New Zealand’ was used in the place of ‘ONWARD’ so as to give a more direct New Zealand touch. These arms are still in use today.

Description of the New Zealand Coat of Arms

The first quarter of the shield depicts four stars as representative of the Southern Cross, then three ships symbolising the importance of New Zealand's sea trade; in the second quarter is a fleece representing the farming industry. The wheat sheaf in the third quarter represents the agricultural industry, whilst the crossed hammers in the fourth quarter represent the mining industry.

The supporters on either side of the shield consist of a Maori Chieftain holding a taiaha (a Maori war weapon) and a European woman holding the New Zealand Ensign.

Surmounting the Arms is the St Edward's Crown which was used in the Coronation ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The crown symbolises the fact that Her Majesty is Queen of New Zealand under the New Zealand Royal Titles Act of 1953.

Æ See illustration in the head of this essay

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

The NZSIS is a government agency, responsible for giving the Government advice about matters relating to New Zealand’s security.

Seal

Being a service of the New Zealand Government the service uses the achievement of New Zealand.

The Royal Arms

Until the adoption of the achievement of New Zealand in 1911 the royal arms for New Zealand were the royal arms of the Queen and King of the United Kingdom.

It consisted of a quarterly of England, Scotland and Ireland, crowned with the royal crown and surrounded with the strap of the Order of the Garter. In its most extended form the collar of this Order was added.

With the introduction of New Zealand coinage in 1933 new royal arms for New Zealand appeared. It is not known when these arms were actually introduced.

The Royal Arms for New Zealand are in the tradition of the Royal Arms of England and the United Kingdom but also in the (later) tradition of the Royal Arms for South Africa and Southern Rhodesia

The first royal arms consist of the royally crowned arms of New Zealand surrounded by some Maori wood-carving. The strap of the Order of the Garter was omitted because this Order is not a New Zealand Order.

These arms were continued in the first years of the reign of Elizabeth II. New arms are on a one-dollar coin of the decimal-currency introduced in 1967. The crown on the arms is changed into the crown of St. Edward and the Maori wood-carving is replaced by two leaves of fern:

The newest version of the Royal arms for New Zealand was probably introduced when the flag of the G.G. was changed by introducing the royal arms on a dark blue cloth (2008).

The present Royal Arms for New Zealand are now the former crowned royal arms, augmented with the Royal Cypher within a garland in nombril point:

No decoration of the Order of New Zealand, founded 1987 and of which Queen Elizabeth II is the sovereign, has been added until now.

The Queen's Personal Flag For New Zealand

The Queen's personal flag, 1962

The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand symbolises the fact that Queen Elizabeth II is The Queen of New Zealand. Adopted in 1962, it is flown only by Her Majesty when in New Zealand.

The Flag is the shield design of the New Zealand Coat of Arms in the form of an oblong or square. Superimposed in the centre is a dark blue roundel bearing a Roman E surmounted by a Royal Crown within a garland of roses all in gold. The Central device is from The Queen's Personal Flag which is frequently used by Her Majesty in relation to Her position as Head of Commonwealth.

The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand is flown continuously on a building when The Queen is in residence and by a ship conveying Her Majesty in New Zealand waters. If the Queen attends a State or public function, her personal flag is flown while she is present. It is not, however, hoisted at every venue attended by Her Majesty. If flown with the New Zealand Flag, The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand takes the position of honour.

The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand is usually flown above the saluting base at troop inspections or other open air gatherings when Her Majesty is present. It is also broken when the Queen sets foot on board one of Her Majesty's New Zealand ships.

The only time The Queen's Personal Flag for New Zealand is flown in her absence is at parades held on and in honour of Her Majesty's Official Birthday.

The Governor-General's Flag

Present Governor-General's Flag (2008)

The Governor-General’s flag is flown on all occasions when the Governor-General is present, and takes precedence over the New Zealand Flag. It is flown continuously over Government House when the Governor-General is in residence, and on vehicles used by the Governor-General for official occasions.

The flag - with the Shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms surmounted by a Royal Crown in the centre - was flown for the first time at a ceremony at Government House Auckland on 5 June and at Government House Wellington on 17 June 2008.  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, which has been approved by the Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, and is supported by the Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, was announced by the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Helen Clark on Monday 2 June 2008 - the holiday that mark’s the Queen’s Birthday.

The design for the flag follows 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 review was called for because it was considered that the old flag lacked distinctive New Zealand elements and reflected an era before New Zealand became a sovereign and independent nation. 

As well, the Royal Crest and Lion, which featured on the old flag, are now widely used as a trademark by the Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd, a trading subsidiary of the Royal Collection Trust.  Items sold by this company are now available from commercial outlets in New Zealand.

History

Several flag have been used by New Zealand’s Governors or Governors-General.  The first flag used by the then Governor 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.  

This flag design featured the Union Jack with the Governor’s  Badge in the centre.  The Badge was composed of the letters “NZ” in the centre of four five-pointed stars all in red 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 onwards. It was dark blue with the Royal Crest surmounted by crowned lion in the centre and the words “New Zealand” (originally “Dominion of New Zealand”) in a scroll beneath.

Since that time, New Zealand’s constitutional status has changed from a Dominion to an independent nation or realm.  In 1947, the New Zealand adopted the Statute of Westminster, which meant the British Parliament could no longer pass laws for New Zealand without the request and consent of the New Zealand Parliament.  In 1986, the New Zealand Parliament adopted the Constitution Act 1986 which removed this remaining link with the British Parliament.

The Seal

The first Public Seal probably arrived in 1840 with Captain William Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand. The seal showed Queen Victoria with crown and sceptre, and five Māori chiefs “in various garbs and postures” grouped around her. It was used until the next public seal was sent from England in about 1850.

[Archives Reference: IA 1 W2578, 158/90/1 (ACGO 8333)]

The legend reads: VICTORIA D.G. BRITANIAR REGINA F.D. / PROV. NOVÆ ULTONIÆ NOV. ZEALAND

Between 1846 and 1852, New Zealand was divided into two provinces, New Ulster and New Munster, each of which had its own seal. These seals were designed in 1848 by the English chief engraver, Benjamin Wyon. Both seals featured the Royal Arms and a New Zealand scene. On the New Ulster Seal it was a war canoe with Mount Egmont in the distance, while the New Munster Seal featured a whale boat in pursuit of whales.

[Archives Reference: IA 1 W2578, 158/90/1 (ACGO 8333)]

In 1852, the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster were abolished and regional provinces were established. Each of these provinces had its own seal. The seals shown here are those of Otago, Westland and Taranaki, which was described as “undoubtedly the most original and best of the series”.

[Archives Reference: IA 1 W2578, 158/90/1(ACGO 8333)]

The New Zealand Public Seal was not wax as often imagined, but a paper wafer seal. The second Public Seal, sent to New Zealand by Queen Victoria in about 1850, showed an English settler and a Māori chief standing opposite each other. This was designed by B. Wyon R.A.. It depicts Queen Victoria in Treaty (1840) with a group of Maori chiefs.

L.: VICTORIA D. G. BRITANIAR. REGINA F. D. SIG. NOVAE ZEALANDIAE

The seal of King Edward VII (1901-’10) shown here, differs from the seal of Queen Victoria in that it shows the royal coat of arms above a latin cross and a balance between a New Zealand Governor and an Maori Chief .

[Archives Reference: IA 1, 158/90 (ACGO 8333)]

L.: EDWARDVS VII D.G. BRITT: ET TERRARVM TRANSMAR: QVE IN DIT : SVNT BRIT : REX F: D: IND : IMP : • ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND

Although seals can be redesigned with each new king or queen, the basic design of the New Zealand Seal remained unchanged for over 100 years. It was finally changed in 1959, after Queen Elizabeth came to the throne.

[Archives Reference: IA 1 W1893, 158/90 (ACGO 8333)]

It showed the achievement of New Zealand adopted 1956. The legend reads: NEW ZEALAND • ELIZABETH THE SECOND • QUEEN •.

This seal was confirmed in 1977:

Royal Seal for New Zealand, 1959

Armed Forces