As a mark of New Zealand’s deepest mourning and respect, the New Zealand Flag is to be flown at half-mast on all Government and public buildings with immediate effect to mark the death of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand.

The New Zealand Flag should continue to be flown at half-mast up to and including the day of Her Majesty’s State Memorial Service in New Zealand, except on Proclamation Day (being the day when the new Sovereign is announced officially) when the New Zealand Flag is to be flown from the top of the mast.

This instruction applies to all Government departments, buildings and naval vessels which have flag poles and normally fly the New Zealand Flag.

The flag is half-masted by first raising it to the top of the mast and then immediately lowering it slowly to the half-mast position.  The half-mast position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole.  The flag must be lowered to a position recognisably “half-mast” to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen away from the top of the flagpole.  As a guide, the flag should be more than its own depth from the top of the flagpole.  

If you have any questions, please contact the Ministry for Culture and Heritage at [email protected]. 

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