<Tr> <Th> Designed by </Th> <Td> Albert Hastings Markham </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> <P> For several decades there has been debate about changing the flag . In 2016, a two - stage binding referendum on a flag change took place with voting on the second final stage closing on 24 March . In this referendum, the country voted to keep the existing flag by 57% to 43% . </P>

When was the new zealand flag first used