Four.
The flag of New Zealand features four red stars with white borders, representing the constellation Crux, also known as the Southern Cross. This distinctive constellation is visible in the Southern Hemisphere and holds symbolic significance for many countries in the region, including New Zealand. The stars on the New Zealand flag are arranged in a specific pattern that reflects their appearance in the night sky.
Each of the four stars is a five-pointed star, and they are all colored red with white borders. The stars represent the four brightest stars in the Southern Cross constellation: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta Crucis. Their inclusion on the flag emphasizes New Zealand’s geographical location in the South Pacific Ocean and its connection to the wider Southern Hemisphere.
The background of the flag is blue, symbolizing the sky and the sea. In the upper left corner (the canton), the Union Jack is prominently displayed, reflecting New Zealand’s historical ties to the United Kingdom and its former status as a British colony. This design links New Zealand to other nations that also include the Union Jack in their flags, such as Australia and Fiji.
It’s worth noting that New Zealand held a national referendum in 2015–2016 to consider changing the flag to a design that would better reflect the country’s independent identity, but the proposal to adopt a new flag was ultimately rejected by voters. As a result, the current flag with its four stars remains an enduring national symbol of New Zealand’s heritage, geography, and identity.
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