United Tribes flag

A version of the United Tribes Ensign copied from a plate in a Book of flags, 1845.

New Zealand's first official flag was the flag of the United Tribes. It was selected on 20 March 1834 by 25 chiefs from the Far North who, with their followers, had gathered at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. A number of missionaries, settlers and the commanders of 10 British and 3 American ships were also present. The official British Resident, James Busby, spoke to those gathered and then asked each chief to come forward in turn and select a flag. The son of one of the chiefs recorded the votes. The preferred design, a flag already used by the Church Missionary Society, received 12 out of the 25 votes, with the other two designs receiving 10 and 3 votes respectively. Busby declared the chosen flag the national flag of New Zealand and had it hoisted on a central flagpole, accompanied by a 21-gun salute from HMS Alligator. The influence of the English missionaries is clear in the use of the St George's cross.