Australia Flag vs New Zealand Flag
Compare the Australia flag and New Zealand flag side by side. Discover the key differences and why they look similar.
Australia
National FlagBlue ensign with Union Jack in the upper hoist, Commonwealth Star (7 points) below it, and the Southern Cross constellation (white stars).
New Zealand
National FlagBlue ensign with Union Jack in the upper hoist and the Southern Cross constellation (red stars with white borders).
Key Differences
| Aspect | Australia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Flag Type | National flag | National flag |
| Star Color | All white stars | Red stars with white borders |
| Commonwealth Star | Large 7-pointed star below Union Jack | Not present |
| Southern Cross | 5 white stars (various sizes) | 4 red stars |
| Country | Australia | New Zealand |
| Adoption Year | 1901 | 1902 |
Why Do the Australia and New Zealand Flags Look Similar?
Both flags are British Blue Ensigns featuring the Union Jack in the upper hoist corner and the Southern Cross constellation. They look especially similar from a distance. The key differences are: Australia has an additional large 7-pointed Commonwealth Star and all stars are white, while New Zealand has only 4 stars and they are red with white borders. Both countries have periodically debated changing their flags.
