New Zealand and Aussie Flag??

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sarch_uk

With all due respect they are different countries...why would they have the same number of stars on their flags.

This could explain why...

"The Flag of New Zealand is a defaced blue ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross, as seen from New Zealand."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_New_Zealand

So it may be that 5 stars of the Southern Cross can be seen from Australia, whilst as it says, only 4 can be seen from New Zealand.

frantic

New Zealand and Australia have similar flags but are two different countries - hence different flags.
Both have the Union Jack in the upper corner and both have a represenation of the Southern Cross.
Australia has an addition star - the Commonwealth Star. The Commonwealth Star symbolises the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901: one point for each of the six states and one representing Australia's inland and offshore territories.

Elizabeth

What a great question!
I've searched both Australian and New Zealand sites and I can't find the answer for you.

I do know you're NOT referring to the Commonwealth Star which symbolises our federation.

I'd never realised that the Southern Cross on the New Zealand flag has only 4 stars.
Here in Australia, as children, we were always taught that there are 5 stars in the Southern Cross. As represented on our flag. Also you can see all 5 in the night sky.

So I really don't have an answer.
Maybe it was done to help distinguish our flag from theirs, I don't know.
People overseas mix them up all the time, so it hasn't helped.

Princesspea

You may find this interesting, quoted off the New Zealand Governments Ministry for Culture and Heritage website

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 because it is only seen in the Southern Hemisphere. The stars on the Australian Flag are white and have more points than the New Zealand Flag to depict their brightness in the sky. The fifth smaller star used on the Australian Flag can be seen when looking at the Southern Cross and there was some debate in New Zealand as to whether the fifth star should be included in the New Zealand Flag. It was decided only to use the four stars that mark the points of the compass. The sixth, and largest star on the Australian Flag, that sits below the Union Jack, is the Federation Star which represents the federation of the colonies of Australia on 1 January 1901. There is one point for each of the six original states, and one to represent all of Australia's internal and external territories. The colours of the stars on both flags were chosen to complement the colours of the Union Jack shown in the top left-hand corner of both flags.

aflumpire

Ross, for first, Australia has SIX STATES, (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia) not 5 as well as two territories (Australian Capital Territory....AKA Canberra and the Northern Territory)

The reason of the missing star to me is unknown. Seeing that the Australian flag has the full Southern Cross, the star missing on the NZ flag does not make up teh Southern Cross. I can assure you that this has NOTHING to do with states.

The 2nd thing different thing is that Australia has the Federation star. The 7 points on the federation star represents each of the 6 states of Australia and I think Canberra as well as the political capital (and nation capital).

Im not quite sure why its called the federation star again but I think that it may be due that those were the 6 states at the time of Federation (in 1901....still the same 6 states today) and Canberra as well.

How do I know this?? I went to school and im still in school and I learnt this in Grade 4,7 and 8....everything that the teaches said was the same so its all correct unless all 3 teaches got it wrong.

Great Question!

Ross M

The original Australian flag has the southern cross with differing number of points to represent to brightness of each star, the 1908 redesign did away with this and also included the 7 point start of federation

The similarities between Australian and New Zealand flags is not surprising , the Union flag was mandated by the British government when both nations sought their own representations and the Southern cross is a very distinctive constellation in our night sky

Also I will have to correct my namesake above, Australia has 6 states not 5

crazy.boar

coz, they're a different country.. different characters.. and different country means different flags.. its about national affair... ^_________^V
silly you.... the stars that you've seen is another story..

pineappley00

Thats a good question! I guess the flag maker in New Zealand didn't have good eyesight, because the flags of Brazil, Samoa, Pupua New Guinea and Niue all have the five stars of the southern cross on their flags?!

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