Flags!

-Flag of Australia

Flag of New Zealand>


Do these look similar to you? Most former British Colonies had a Union Jack (what most people know to be in the British flag) in one corner of their flag. Australia and New Zealand are not alone in this. There are actually many countries in the Caribbean and the South Pacific that carry the Union Jack. Interestingly, the US state of Hawaii also has one as it was governed by the British at one time.

Anyway, when these countries became independent they kept the Union Jack in place, partly as a point of history and to show their link with Britain as a member of the Commonwealth. Other countries, such as Canada and South Africa, have revised their respective flags so that they do not feature the Union Jack any longer. This is an action that many believe both Australia and New Zealand should take with their flags.

There are differences between the New Zealand and Australian flags though. The New Zealand flag has one less star in its Southern Cross. The stars that are there are colored red. Australia has an extra star in its Southern Cross, and another star with points representing each state and the territories under the Union Jack. All the Australian stars are colored white. The Southern Cross constellation is fairly common on many countries flags in the Southern Hemisphere.