Flag concepts for the South Island

New Zealand is a unitary nation rather than a federation, and as such there has been no specific flag used to represent the two main islands or most of the minor islands other than the national flag (with the notable exceptions of the Chatham Islands and Stewart Island). New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Archipelago of the Chatham Islands ( Rekohu in the Moriori language and Wharekauri in the Māori language) is a territory

There are occasional calls for some degree of autonomy for the South Island — most notably in the form of the NZ South Island Party which contested several seats at a New Zealand general election in the 1990s. The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. The NZ South Island Party was a New Zealand regionalist political party advocating greater representational say for the South Island. There is, however, little suggestion of any real move for autonomy, and no active mass movement towards separation or federalisation.

The sense of separate identity for the south has sparked the interest of many vexillologists (flag researchers) and vexillographers (flag designers) into possible designs for a South island flag. Vexillology is the scholarly study of Flags The word is a synthesis of the Latin word Vexillum and the suffix –''ology'', meaning "study Vexillology is the scholarly study of Flags The word is a synthesis of the Latin word Vexillum and the suffix –''ology'', meaning "study Several of these have gained a small degree of acceptance as designs to represent the South Island as an entity, as opposed to simply part of a larger whole (which, due to the larger population of the North Island, tends to be subsumed by that of its neighbour). Some of these designs are shown below.

1 James Dignan's concept
2 Dean Thomas' concept
3 Kym Parsons' concept
4 See also

James Dignan's concept

This flag image is from the Flags of the World website.

Vexillologist James Dignan proposed a flag including the Southern Cross stars that appear on the New Zealand national flag, with a depiction of the Southern Alps (the white peak) and the forests and fields of the south (the green inset). CRUX is a lightweight I686 -optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users 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 Southern Alps is a Mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. The Southern Alps are the South Island's most prominent geological feature, and agriculture and forestry the main primary industries, making this concept an appropriate representation. This flag has gained a small degree of acceptance, appearing at several sporting events and rallies in the South Island, and as an image on some merchandise items.

Dean Thomas' concept

Vexillologist Dean Thomas proposed a flag that reflects early Māori Flags (ensigns defaced by lettering). This article discusses the Māori people of New Zealand For their language see Māori language, and for other meanings see Māori (disambiguation. In this concept, the white background represents the snow of the Southern Alps while the red stripe represents the people (Māori and European populace). The New Zealand White Ensign is placed in the canton so as to blend in with the white background color. Te Wai Pounamu is the Māori name for the South Island.

Kym Parsons' concept

This flag was designed by Kym Parsons, a supporter of South Island Independence and is a relatively new addition to the list of proposed South Island flags. The South Island Independence movement is a term applied to a loose grouping of organisations that have called for separate nationhood for New Zealand 's South Island Due to its recent appearance, this flag has not yet been flown and is yet to gain any significant public following.

It comprises a Nordic Cross with white background representing the Southern Alps, with a green cross representing the lush bush and farmland of the South Island and blue representing the ocean. Nordic Cross Flag Nordic Cross Scandinavian Cross is a pattern of flags usually associated with the Flags of the Scandinavian countries of which it originated The Southern Alps is a Mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand.

The general impression is reminiscent of the flags of the Nordic nations. The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe called the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland,

Contents

James Dignan's concept

Dean Thomas' concept

Kym Parsons' concept

See also