<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> The Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> The Flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand . </Td> </Tr> <P> After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the British Union Flag was used, although the former United Tribes flag was still used by a number of ships from New Zealand and in many cases on land . The New Zealand Company settlement at Wellington, for example, continued to use the United Tribes flag until ordered to replace it by Governor William Hobson in May 1840 (following his declaration of British sovereignty). </P> <P> The first flag of New Zealand to be based on the British blue ensign was introduced in 1867 following the Colonial Navy Defence Act 1865, which required all ships owned by colonial governments fly the defaced Royal Navy blue ensign with a colonial badge . New Zealand did not have a colonial badge, or indeed a coat of arms of its own at this stage, and so the letters "NZ" were simply added to the blue ensign . </P>

Why is the flag of new zealand and australia so similar