Quick answer
The New Zealand Red Ensign has a red field, the Union Jack in the upper hoist quarter and four white, five-pointed Southern Cross stars in the fly. It is an official maritime flag, distinct from the national flag. See the Ministry’s official flag guidance.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Field | Red |
| Canton | Union Jack in the first quarter |
| Fly device | Southern Cross represented by four five-pointed white stars |
| Numerical geometry | Exact star centres, diameters and overall proportions are not established here |
| Colour values | No Red Ensign-specific physical colour standard or digital colour values are asserted |
Current use
Ministry guidance permits non-government New Zealand ships to fly the national flag, the Red Ensign or another authorized flag. It also recognizes Red Ensign use ashore at places or occasions of Māori significance. The ensign should not be mistaken for New Zealand’s national flag. Official guidance.
Construction and evidence limits
The verified specification here is descriptive, not a dimensioned manufacturing drawing. No common manufacturing dimensions have been independently established for this record. Screen colours would be approximations; tracing an illustration would be an editorial reconstruction, not proof of official geometry.
The Ministry separately publishes a 1:2 ratio and detailed construction information for the blue national flag. This record does not automatically transfer those measurements or colour standards to the Red Ensign. See national flag technical details.
The available national-flag artwork is not used as an illustration of this ensign.
Historical development
The government-hosted 1966 Encyclopaedia records an Admiralty warrant dated 7 February 1899 authorizing a colonial Red Ensign for New Zealand-registered merchant ships. It distinguishes that authorization from the Shipping and Seamen’s Act 1903, which specified the Southern Cross as four five-pointed white stars. These dates identify different stages, rather than a single interchangeable adoption date. Historical account.
NZ History reports that the earlier disc device had been removed from the merchant Red Ensign by 1903. New Zealand flag confirmed.