New Zealand’s current national flag was adopted in 1902.
The design itself has earlier roots. Albert Hastings Markham proposed the flag in 1869, using a British Blue Ensign with the Union Jack and four red stars outlined in white to depict the Southern Cross. It was first intended for use on New Zealand government ships and soon became widely recognized as the country’s flag.
The New Zealand Ensign Act 1901 received royal approval on 24 March 1902, giving the design statutory recognition. That legal milestone is why 1902 is normally given as the adoption year, even though the design had been in use since 1869.
The four stars differ from Australia’s star pattern: New Zealand shows four red stars with white borders, representing the Southern Cross. New Zealand held a flag-change referendum in 2016 but voted to retain the existing design.