Flag of New Zealand

On the top left-hand corner there is the flag of the United Kingdom (Union flag) because New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth.

The other four stars symbolize the ›Southern Cross‹ one of the most popular constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand uses the four brightest stars of the ›Southern Cross‹, that mark North, East, South and West on the compass. There have been debates to include the fifth star (which is used in the Australian flag) but it was decided not to do so.

The stars of the New Zealand flag have five points and are red, bordered in white. These colours were chosen to complement the colours of the UK.