· The two rectangles – one blue and one green, represent: a fresh young country, sky above and the land/sea below. The blue also links to our British heritage, and the green to our environmental responsibilities.
· The long white cloud – the white between the rectangles – recognising the Maori discovery of New Zealand and the name they gave this country, Aotearoa.
· The white ring – represents our aspiration for unity and cohesion between cultures, races and differing views. It also speaks of the desire and need for balance in terms of peoples and environment.
Peter Haythornthwaite
February, 2005