New Zealand’s national flag shows four stars.
The four red stars with white borders represent the Southern Cross, a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere. They are placed on the blue field to the right of the Union Jack. Unlike Australia’s flag, New Zealand’s design does not include the fifth, smaller star sometimes seen in Australia’s Southern Cross.
New Zealand’s flag was officially adopted in its present form in 1902, although related blue ensign designs had been used earlier. The Union Jack reflects the country’s historical relationship with Britain and its former status within the British Empire.
The stars differ in size and represent the principal stars of the Southern Cross used in the design. New Zealand’s flag is often mistaken for Australia’s because both use a Union Jack and Southern Cross. The simplest distinction is the star count: New Zealand has four Southern Cross stars, while Australia has five, plus its separate Commonwealth Star.