New Zealand emblem. Coat of arms, anthem and flag of New Zealand. Silver fern - symbol of New Zealand
New Zealand's coat of arms appeared relatively recently. For a long time, this English colony used the coat of arms of Great Britain. However, having gained independence, and with it the right to their own state symbol, New Zealanders created a bright, memorable and deeply symbolic coat of arms.
Description and symbolism
At the center of the New Zealand coat of arms is a shield which is divided into four parts, with a wide white stripe running vertically down the middle. The upper left part of the shield with four red stars represents the constellation of the Southern Cross, which serves in the sky of the southern hemisphere for navigation like the North Star in the north. The second upper part depicts a golden fleece, indicating developed local cattle breeding. At the bottom left is a sheaf of wheat, which represents agriculture, and two crossed hammers at the bottom right, representing the mining industry. On the central stripe you can see three galleys, symbolizing the remoteness of the country’s territory from the mainland and the first European settlements on this land, as well as the importance of maritime trade routes for the state.
To the left of the shield is a blonde-haired woman of European descent wearing a white robe. She supports the shield with one hand and holds the country's national flag with the other. To the left of the shield is a Maori warrior (the indigenous population of this territory) in a national costume and with a spear in his hand. These two shield holders speak to the historical development of New Zealand as a country of two cultures, European settlers and indigenous people.
The shield is surmounted by the crown of St. Edward, which is used during the coronation of English monarchs. The crown on the coat of arms symbolizes the country's government - a constitutional monarchy. Along the bottom of the coat of arms, under the shield and figures of people, there are two stylized branches of a fern, on top of which there is a scroll with the inscription “New Zealand”. The fern represents the natural uniqueness and diversity of this island nation. The distance from the continents and some isolation made it possible to preserve the nature and wildlife in this corner of the globe untouched and unique.
History of the coat of arms
New Zealand used the British coat of arms from 1840 to 1911. In 1905, Great Britain pointed out to its colony the lack of appropriate state symbols, and in 1906 the New Zealand government announced a competition to create the country's coat of arms.
In fact, two competitions were held in 1905 and 1908, but the first time the winner was not determined. The 1905 sketches are said to have been destroyed that year in a fire at the Houses of Parliament. But this is not entirely true: those applications are still stored in the state archives of the country. It is quite possible that the intentions to create a national emblem were “forgotten” until New Zealand received the status of a dominion of the British Empire in 1907.
Any New Zealander could take part in the development of their country's coat of arms. 75 applications for participation in the competition were submitted by 1908.
The three best works were sent to London to determine the winner. The main prize - £20 - went to draftsman James MacDonald, who worked for the Ministry of Tourism. He also drew, photographed and promoted indigenous Maori art and crafts in every possible way.
The English King George V approved MacDonald's design by order in 1911, and New Zealand received its own coat of arms. However, she used it for only 45 years until the country’s emblem was redrawn in 1956. The female shield holder turned from red-haired to blonde, and became more reserved in both her posture and clothing. The Maroi warrior also changed his outfit and pose. Now both figures look not directly at the viewer, but at each other, which makes them less provocative. Also, the lion holding the British flag in its paws and the inscription Onward (“Forward!”) were removed from the coat of arms. The inscription changed the name of the country, and the lion - the crown of St. Edward. This updated version of the coat of arms was introduced by Elizabeth II, Queen of England, and is still the official emblem of the state.
The coat of arms of New Zealand symbolizes the sovereignty of the state, which it received in 1907, and represents it internationally. The privilege of using the coat of arms is granted to the government of the country, but it is widely used in everyday life. This state emblem appears on the uniforms of local police officers and on the covers of New Zealand citizens' passports.
It is clear that without European intervention, the coat of arms of New Zealand might not have appeared for a very long time. Thanks to the great geographical discoveries of the Middle Ages, the white man set foot on this blessed land of distant islands. Having fallen under the protectorate of Great Britain, New Zealanders followed the path of development imposed by guests from the other hemisphere. The official symbol speaks directly about this, since in its elements one can guess the influence of Europe and at a lesser level of national flavor.
Behind the scenes of history
Until 1911, the coats of arms of the British Empire and New Zealand were identical. With the receipt of dominion status in 1907, the question arose about developing a new symbol, and even a corresponding competition was held. But the main symbol was the version that was provided by George V, King of Great Britain. Later, minor changes were made, and since 1956 the version approved by Queen Elizabeth II has been used.
The coat of arms turned out to be somewhat pompous (due to the use of symbols of the English monarchy) and lush, using different colors, among which one or two cannot be named dominant. On the one hand, you can see gold, yellow, brown, which are associated with the local population, on the other hand, the main colors of the English flag are represented - blue, red, white.
Elements of the coat of arms of New Zealand
The central shield is the most saturated; it is divided into five unequal fields, each of which presents its own symbols and signs: the constellation Southern Cross; The Golden Fleece; wheat sheaf; two hammers.
On the field of the shield, the central part stands out in the form of a vertical white stripe, on which sailboats are located one above the other. The ships symbolize New Zealand's remoteness from the whole world (it can only be reached by sea), as the first settlers from Europe did in their time. In addition, sailboats are symbols of maritime trade, one of the important sectors of the country’s economy.
Other economically important symbols are found in the remaining parts of the shield. They symbolize: fleece - cattle breeding, wheat - agriculture, hammers - mining.
The coat of arms is interesting from the point of view of the selected shield holders. They are not presented in the form of animals, real or fabulous. These are people, on the left there is a white woman with a national flag, in appearance a typical Englishwoman of the late 19th - early. 20th century, on the right is an aborigine, dressed in national clothes and armed with a spear. The coat of arms is crowned with a golden crown decorated with precious stones.
New Zealand is a country that is located on two large and about seven hundred small islands located in the Pacific Ocean. The population here is almost 4.5 million inhabitants. Like others, the country has its own official symbols.
Modern flag
The flag of New Zealand, the photo of which is located below, is a blue rectangular canvas. It bears the image of the British symbol and four regular red stars. It is believed that the blue color symbolizes the sky and sea surrounding the state, and the stars symbolize its geographical location and the constellation of the Southern Cross. The New Zealand flag officially became a national symbol on 24 March 1902 during the Boer War.
First acceptance
The state symbol was first adopted in 1867. It was based on the British Blue Ensign. This was spelled out in the “Act for the Protection of the Colonial Fleet,” which provided that all ships owned by the colonial government were required to sail under the banner of the Royal Navy, which bore the emblem of the respective colony. At that time, the country did not have any symbols of its own, so the designation “NZ” was applied to the canvas. The current flag of New Zealand was adopted two years later, but until its official approval it was used only by ships.
State emblem
New Zealand's first national coat of arms was introduced in 1911. It was used in the country for 45 years, after which the symbol was replaced. This version is still valid today. It represents a shield held by a blond woman on one side and a Maori warrior on the other. Above it is the crown of St. Edward, and below are two sprigs of fern. The coat of arms, like the flag of New Zealand, is highly revered in this country. Here it symbolizes the residents’ commitment to the monarchy, as well as the harmony that has developed between local peoples.
National anthem
New Zealand, whose flag and coat of arms are described above, has another integral state attribute - the national anthem. At the same time, it should be noted that here two options can simultaneously boast of national status. Of these, unspoken priority goes to the anthem called "God Bless New Zealand." Its lyrics were written by Thomas Bracken in 1870. As for the music, the author announced a competition for it, which was won by John Joseph Woods in 1876. The song became so popular in the state that the government recognized it as the national anthem after buying the rights.
National flag of New Zealand was developed in 1869 and officially approved on March 24, 1902. The flag is a rectangular panel in a 1:2 ratio. The blue background of the flag is associated with the blue color of the sky and sea surrounding the country. The four five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation communicate the country's location in the South Pacific Ocean. The British flag in the upper left corner of the flag speaks of historical heritage and is generally accepted for many countries - former British colonies.
New Zealand coat of arms- the official symbol of the country. The coat of arms was originally granted by the British King George V on August 26, 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.
The coat of arms is a shield held on one side by a blonde woman holding the New Zealand flag and on the other side by a Maori warrior. In the upper left corner of the shield there are four stars symbolizing the constellation of the Southern Cross (the same stars are used in the national flag); in the upper right corner there is a golden fleece, symbolizing cattle breeding; in the lower left there is a sheaf of wheat, symbolizing agriculture; in the lower right are two hammers, symbolizing mining and industry. Between the sides of the shield is a vertical stripe depicting three ships, symbolizing the importance of maritime trade to New Zealand and the immigrant origins of New Zealanders. Above the shield is the crown of St. Edward. Under the shield there are two branches of fern with the inscription in English: “New Zealand”. The coat of arms is associated with the unity of all cultures and peoples inhabiting the country, and with commitment to the New Zealand monarchy.
Other characters
New Zealand two national anthems: "God Protect New Zealand" And "God save the queen". Although both have equal status, "God Protect New Zealand" is more commonly used.
The text "God Defend New Zealand" was written in 1870 by Thomas Bracken. The winner of the competition for music to the text, held in 1876, was the composer John Joseph Woods. The song gained popularity, and in 1940, the country's government acquired the copyright to it and designated it as the national anthem. But it was only in 1977 that the song was legally approved as the second national anthem along with the British royal anthem.
The official version of the anthem also has a translation into the Maori language. Traditionally, at government events, only the first verse is sung, first the Māori version, then the English version.
Generally accepted unofficial national symbols The country is, of course, unique to the kiwi bird and the Cyathea dealbata plant, known in New Zealand everyday parlance as the “silver fern”.
Along with the kiwi bird, images of the silver fern are popular and often used in New Zealand national brand graphics and logos.
National currency
New Zealand dollar (NZD)- not only the national currency of New Zealand, it is also used in Niue, Cook Islands, Tokelau and Pitcairn. The New Zealand dollar is often referred to simply as the "kiwi" (after New Zealand's national bird). One dollar is made up of one hundred cents. Since 1999, special thin plastic has been used to produce banknotes. The obverse (obverse) of New Zealand coins depicts Queen Elizabeth, and the reverse features the kiwi bird, great eastern heron, Cook's ship Endeavor and Maori carved wooden totems.
Kiwi (Apteryx) is the only genus of ratites in the family of the same name (Apterygidae G.R. GRAY, 1840) and the order of kiwiformes, or wingless birds (Apterygiformes). Includes three (according to the latest data - five) endemic New Zealand species.
All kiwi species have strong, four-toed feet and a long, narrow beak with nostrils at the very tip. The wings are not developed, the tail is missing. Kiwi feathers are more like thick wool. Kiwis are nocturnal birds that live primarily by smell; vision is very weak. The appearance and habits of kiwis are so different from other birds that zoologist William Calder gave them the nickname “honorary mammals.”
It has long been assumed that the kiwi's closest relative is another New Zealand species of flightless bird, the extinct moa. However, recent studies of the complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of kiwis and their flightless relatives have revealed that these birds are genetically closer to emus and cassowaries than to ostriches, rheas and moas.
Presumably, the ancestors of modern kiwi came to New Zealand from Australasia later than the moa - about 30 million years ago. According to molecular data, this could have happened even earlier - about 62 million years ago, but after the separation of New Zealand from Gondwana (no later than 75 million years ago) and the divergence of the Moa evolutionary branch (about 78 million years ago), which may indicate a primary settlement of moa in New Zealand and secondary - kiwi.
Kiwis, or wingless birds, are flightless ratite birds. The sizes are small, about the size of a regular chicken. Sexual dimorphism is characteristic: females are larger than males. The kiwi has a pear-shaped body, with a small head and short neck. They weigh from 1.4 to 4 kg.
Kiwi is characterized by the greatest reduction in wings among birds: they are only 5 cm in length and are almost invisible among the plumage. However, the kiwi has retained the habit of hiding its beak under its wing when resting. The bird's body is evenly covered with soft, gray or light brown feathers, more like wool. The tail is missing. The legs are four-toed, short, but very strong, with sharp claws; their weight is approximately 1/3 of body weight. The skeleton is not pneumatic, the bones are heavy.
Kiwis mainly rely not on vision - their eyes are very small, only 8 mm in diameter - but on their developed hearing and sense of smell. Among birds, only condors have a stronger sense of smell. Kiwi has a very long, flexible, thin, straight or slightly curved beak, which in males reaches a length of 95-105 mm, and in females - 110-120 mm. The kiwi's nostrils open at the end of the beak (in other birds - at its base). The language is rudimentary. At the base of the beak there are organs of touch - sensitive bristles - vibrissae.
Kiwis live primarily in damp evergreen forests; long toes help them not to get stuck in marshy soil. In the most populated areas per 1 sq. km there are 4-5 birds. They lead an exclusively twilight and nocturnal lifestyle.
During the day, the kiwi hides in a dug hole, hollow or under tree roots. The great gray kiwi's burrows are a veritable labyrinth with several exits; Other kiwis have simpler burrows, with one exit. In a kiwi's territorial area there can be up to 50 shelters, which the bird changes every day. The kiwi occupies a hole only a few weeks after it digs - during this time the grass and moss have time to grow, masking the entrance. Sometimes kiwis deliberately camouflage the nest, covering the entrance with leaves and twigs. During the day they leave their shelters only in case of danger.
Secretive and timid during the day, these birds become aggressive at night. Kiwis are extremely territorial birds, and the mating pair, and especially the male, fiercely defends its nesting area from competitors, which can occupy from 2 to 100 hectares (in rovi). The kiwi's strong legs and beak are dangerous weapons, and fights between the birds can result in death. However, serious fights between kiwis are rare; Usually the nesting site changes “owner” only after the natural death of the male. Birds mark the boundaries of their territory using cries that can be heard several kilometers away at night. The opinion that kiwis are slow and clumsy birds is erroneous - in nature they are mobile and cover the entire nesting area in one night.
Kiwis go hunting approximately 30 minutes after sunset. Their food consists of insects, mollusks and earthworms, as well as fallen berries and fruits. Kiwis search for prey using their sense of smell and touch - by raking the ground with their feet and plunging their beaks deep into it, they literally “sniff out” worms and insects. On occasion, kiwis do not refuse small amphibians and crustaceans.
Kiwis are monogamous birds; they form pairs for at least 2-3 mating seasons, sometimes for life. The pair meets in the nesting hole every three days and calls to each other loudly at night. The main mating season for kiwis lasts from June to March. Three weeks after fertilization, the female lays one egg (rarely two) in a hole or under the roots of a tree. Kiwi is the record holder among birds for the size of eggs laid: in an ordinary kiwi, it weighs up to 450 g, about 1/4 of the mass of the bird itself. The egg is white or greenish, measuring 120 x 80 mm - about six times the size of a chicken egg, and contains the highest percentage of yolk among bird eggs - 65% (most birds have 35-40%).
During gestation, the female eats three times more than usual; 2-3 days before laying the egg, she stops eating because the egg takes up too much space inside her body. The laid egg is incubated by the male, who leaves him only during feeding, for 2-3 hours; sometimes he is replaced by a female. Among the Stewart Island kiwi, which do not live in pairs, but in small stable groups, not only the male and female, but also other birds from the group incubate the eggs. Sometimes after 25 days the female lays a second egg.
The incubation period takes 75-85 days; It takes the chick 2-3 days to get out of the shell with the help of its legs and beak. The chicks are born feathered, not down, and resemble miniature copies of adults. Parents usually do not care for the offspring and abandon them immediately after hatching. For the first three days, the chick cannot stand on its feet and does not eat - subcutaneous reserves of yolk allow it not to starve. By the fifth day he begins to leave the nest, and by the 10-14th day he begins to look for food on his own.
For the first six weeks of life, a kiwi chick can feed during the daytime, then it switches to a nocturnal lifestyle. Young kiwis are practically defenseless - up to 90% of birds die in the first six months of life, and 70% of them become victims of predators. Young kiwis grow slowly: only at 4-5 years do they reach full size. Sexual maturity occurs in males at 18 months, and in females at 2-3 years. But females usually begin to lay eggs only at 3-5 years of age. The life expectancy of kiwi is long - up to 50-60 years.
Kiwis are found only in New Zealand. The northern kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) inhabits the North Island, the common (A. australis), great gray (A. haasti) and rowi (A. rowi) inhabit the South Island, while the small kiwi (A. oweni) is found only on the island Kapiti, from where it is dispersed to some other isolated islands.
Due to its secretive lifestyle, it is very difficult to find this bird in the wild. It is not surprising that the catastrophic decline in its numbers went unnoticed for a long time.
Scientists estimate that about 1,000 years ago, more than 12 million kiwi inhabited the forests of New Zealand; by 2004 their population had dropped to 70,000 individuals. Until recently, kiwis were dying out at a rate of up to 6% of the population per year; mainly due to the predators brought to the islands by Europeans - cats, dogs, weasels, as well as due to the reduction in forest area. Kiwis themselves are very hardy birds that are little susceptible to disease and are able to survive serious environmental changes.
Measures were taken to restore the number of this bird - in 1991, a state program for the restoration of kiwi (English: Kiwi Recovery Program) was launched. As a result of protective measures, the number of kiwis surviving to adulthood increased from 5% (1991) to 60% (1998). Efforts to recolonize the kiwi's habitat include captive breeding (the first chicks were bred in captivity only in 1989) and controlling the number of predators.
Three species of kiwi, common, great gray and small, are listed in the International Red Book with the status of Vulnerable, and the new species of northern kiwi is listed as Endangered. Rovi has Nationally Critical status.
The kiwi is the national and unofficial emblem of New Zealand. It is a favorite symbol of New Zealand culture, depicted on coins, postage stamps, etc. “Kiwi” is a comic nickname for New Zealanders themselves. The New Zealand fruit plant kiwi gets its name from the similarity of the shape of its pubescent fruit to the body of the bird of the same name.