<Tr> <Th> Adopted </Th> <Td> 24 March 1902 In use since 1869 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Design </Th> <Td> A Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross of four white - edged red five - pointed stars centered on the outer half of the flag . </Td> </Tr> <P> The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right . The stars' pattern represents the asterism within the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross . </P> <P> New Zealand's first flag, the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, was adopted in 1834, six years before New Zealand became a British colony following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 . Chosen by an assembly of Māori chiefs at Waitangi in 1834, the flag was of a St George's Cross with another cross in the canton containing four stars on a blue field . After the formation of the colony in 1840, British ensigns began to be used . The current flag was designed and adopted for use on Colonial ships in 1869, was quickly adopted as New Zealand's national flag, and given statutory recognition in 1902 . </P>

What do the stars represent on the new zealand flag