135th Anniversary of the New Zealand Flag

Saturday 23rd October will be the 135th anniversary of the New Zealand Flag.

On that day in 1869 Governor Sir George Bowen issued a proclamation establishing an ensign for use on vessels belonging to the Government of New Zealand. The Blue Ensign, with the Southern Cross represented by four red stars, was soon used on land as well as at sea, and became widely recognised as the New Zealand flag. It was given legal protection as our national flag in 1902.

Only 14 countries have national flags that have been in continuous use for a longer period of time.

Our national flag is the symbol of the country and people of New Zealand. When we fly it we demonstrate the pride that we feel in our country.

The New Zealand Flag Institute calls upon all New Zealanders to proudly fly our national flag on Saturday 23rd October to mark this historic anniversary.

New Zealand Flag Institute

23rd September 2004

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>