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Half-masting the New Zealand Flag

Flags are flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.

The flag is half-masted by raising it to the top of the mast, then slowly lowering it to the half-mast position, which will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole.

The flag must be lowered to a position more than its own depth from the top of the flagpole to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen from the top of the flagpole. When the New Zealand Flag is flown at half-mast, other flags should not be flown above it.  The Flag should be raised again to the peak before lowering it for the day.

Flags on government buildings should be flown at half-mast when directed by the Chief Executive of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

For government and public buildings, flags should be flown at half-mast during times of mourning for the following people and according to the following procedures.

Flag half-masting occasions

The Sovereign

From the announcement of death up to and including the day of the funeral (except on Proclamation Day when the new sovereign is officially announced and flags are flown from the top of the mast).

The Governor-General, former Governors-General, the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers

On the announcement of death and the day of the funeral.

Members of the Royal Family

On the day of the funeral subject to special command from The Sovereign or the Governor-General.

Commonwealth Governors-General, Commonwealth Prime Ministers in office, foreign and Commonwealth Heads of State

On the day of the funeral only.

Local authorities and private companies

When local authorities fly their local flag at half-mast following the death of a prominent local citizen, it is appropriate to do so on the day or part of the day of the funeral. The same etiquette applies to the house flag of a company or organisation. In these cases the New Zealand Flag should remain at full mast.

Notifications

The Ministry provides email notifications to individuals and organisations when the New Zealand Flag is to be half-masted. If you would like to be added to the list, please contact:

[email protected]

List of recent half-masting occasions

List of occasions when the New Zealand Flag has been directed to fly at half-mast since 2005.

The flying of the NZ Flag at half-mast is covered by section 10 of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981 and the New Zealand Flag Notice 1986. The directive to lower the flags at half-mast on Government buildings is generally issued on the direction of the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Year

Name and title of person

Date half-masted

Reason

2022

Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand

Friday 09 September, Saturday 10 September and from Monday 12 September to Monday 26 September, the day of the NZ Memorial Service To mark the death and funeral
2021 Hon Dame Catherine Tizard Monday 01 November To mark the death
2021 HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 

Saturday 10 April, Tuesday 13 April, Saturday 17 April, the day of the funeral and Wednesday 21 April, the day of the NZ Memorial Service

To mark the death and funeral
2021 HE Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of Tanzania Friday 26 March To mark the death
2021 Canterbury earthquake Monday 22 February To mark the 10th anniversary
2020 Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption Wednesday 9 December To mark the 1st anniversary
2020

Pike River Mine

Thursday 19 November  To mark the 10th anniversary
2020

Sir Toke Talagi KNZM, former Niue Premier

Tuesday 28 July  To mark the State Funeral
2020 Constable Matthew Hunt, New Zealand Police Thursday 9 July To mark the funeral of police officer killed in line of duty
2020   Weekend of Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 March To mark the first anniversary of the March 15 Christchurch mosque attacks
2020

Former Prime Minister Rt Hon Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ AO PC

Monday 3 February and on the day of his funeral, Friday 14 February To mark the death and funeral
2020

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, Sultan of Oman 

Monday 13 January To mark the death
2019  

Monday 10 December to  Monday 16 December

As a mark of mourning and respect for the victims of the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption
2019 Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga

Thursday 19 September

 

To mark the funeral

 

2019  

Friday 15 March to Friday 29 March

 

As a mark of mourning and respect for the victims of the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre terror attacks

 

2018

HE Mr Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

 

Thursday 27 September To mark the funeral
2017

HE Womtelo Reverend Baldwin Lonsdale, the Head of State of the Republic of Vanuatu

 

Wednesday 21 June To mark the funeral
2016

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Head of State of the Kingdom of Thailand

Friday 14 October To mark the funeral

2015


 

Tuesday 17 November

As a mark of a respect following the terrorist attacks in Paris, France

2015


Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister

Sunday 29 March

To mark the death

2015

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, King of Saudi Arabia

Monday 26 January

To mark the death

2014

President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata

Tuesday 11 November

To mark the funeral

2014

 

Monday 4 August

To mark the beginning of the centenary of the First World War for New Zealand

2013

President of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías

Saturday 9 March

To mark the funeral

2012

Corporal Jacinta Baker, Corporal Luke Tamatea & Private Richard Harris

Saturday 25 August

To mark the memorial service

2012

 

Monday 20 August 

To mark the death of three soldiers of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

 

2012

Lance Corporal Pralii Durrer & Lance Corporal Rory Malone

Saturday 11 August

To mark the funerals

2012

 

Monday 6 August 

To mark the death of two soldiers of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2012

Corporal Douglas Charles Hughes

Thursday 12 April

To mark the final day of the tangi for Corporal Douglas Charles Hughes of the New Zealand Army who died in Afghanistan

2012

 

 

Wednesday 4 April

To mark the death of the New Zealand soldier serving in Afghanistan

2012

His Late Majesty King George Tupou V of Tonga

Tuesday 27 March

To mark the funeral

2012

 

Wednesday 22 February

To mark the first anniversary of the Christchurch Earthquake

2011

Lance Corporal Leon Smith

Thursday 6 October

To mark the memorial service of Lance Corporal Leon Smith of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2011

 

Wednesday 28 September

To mark the death of a soldier of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2011

Corporal Doug Grant

Monday 29 August

To mark the full military funeral of Corporal Doug Grant of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2011

 

For the remainder of today, Saturday 20 August and again on Monday 22 August

To mark the death of a soldier of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2011

Sir Paul Reeves

Monday 15 August and on the day of his funeral, Thursday 18 August

 

As a mark of respect for the former Governor-General

2011

 

Friday 18 March

 

To mark the memorial service for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake

2011

 

23 February to  12.51pm on 8 March

As a mark of respect for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake

2011

 

Wednesday 16 February

To mark the death of a soldier of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2010

 

Thursday 2 December

In recognition of the memorial service for the victims of the Pike River on mining tragedy on the day of the service

2010

 

Thursday 25 November

As a mark of respect for the victims of the Pike River mining tragedy

2010

Lieutenant Tim O’Donnell

Wednesday 11 August

 

To mark the funeral of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2010

 

4 August

To mark the death of the soldier of the New Zealand Defence Force, killed in Afghanistan

2009

 

Friday 9 October

As a mark of respect for the Samoan National Burial and Memorial Service, in remembrance of all who perished in last week’s tsunami

2008

Sir Edmund Hilary

21 January & 22 January

To mark the lying in state and funeral

2008

Sir Edmund Hillary

11 January 2008 and 12 January 2008 (until midnight), and the day of the funeral 

To mark the death

2007

The Samoan Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II

14th May 2007 and Saturday 19th May 2007 (the day of the funeral)

To mark the death

2006

Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the Maori Queen

16 August

 

 

To mark the death

2006

Rod Donald, MP.

Thursday 10 November (the day of the funeral)

 

To mark the death

2006

His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou, King of Tonga

19 September

To mark the funeral

2006

His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou, King of Tonga

11,12,13 September

To mark the death until 10am on 13 September when his coffin leaves New Zealand

2005

Former Prime Minister Rt Hon David Russell Lange

Wednesday 17 August (the day of the funeral) and Saturday 20 August 2005 (the day of the memorial service)

To mark the death

2005

His Majesty King Fahd of Saudi Arabia

Tuesday 2nd August

 

To mark the death and funeral

2005

 

Friday 8 July

 

As a mark of respect to and in remembrance of all who perished in yesterday’s terrorist bombings in London

2005

His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco

Friday, 15 April

 

To mark the funeral

2005

His Holiness Pope John Paul II

Sunday 3 April 2005, Monday 4 April and on the day of the funeral)

To mark the death and funeral

2005

 

Friday 14th January 2005 to the end of the day on Sunday 16th January 2005

To remember victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami in Southern and South-East Asia.

 


Updated on 11th May 2023