New New Zealand

Designed by: Peter Malcouronne from Auckland

This is a strong, bold design that incorporates the black beloved of all New Zealanders - with the red that's so striking in our current flag. But the centrepiece of this flag is the three-pointed star. Inverting the colours of the stars in our current ensign, this star draws the eye up - to the North. This is an acknowledgement that New Zealand is - literally - at the bottom of the world. To me, it takes us up to the edge - to Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua. For Maori, this is the 'leaping off place of the spirits' as they make their way to Hawaiiki. For this Pakeha New Zealander it is no less an emotional place - this is the front of our ship, our little safe haven in the Pacific... the world stretched out in front of us.