Coat of arms of New Zealand
| Coat of arms of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
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| Versions | |
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1911–1956
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| Details | |
| Armiger | Elizabeth II in Right of New Zealand |
| Adopted | 1956 (26 August 1911) |
| Crest |
St Edward's Crown (formerly a demi-lion holding a Union Flag) |
| Escutcheon | Quarterly Azure and Gules on a Pale Argent three Lymphads Sable between in the first quarter four Mullets in cross Gules fimbriated Argent, in the second a Fleece, in the third a Garb, and in the fourth two Hammers saltirewise Or. |
| Supporters | In dexter Zealandia bearing the flag of New Zealand, and in sinister a Maori Warrior bearing a Taiaha (Fighting weapon) and wearing a Kaitaka (flax cloak) all proper |
| Compartment | Silver fern leaves |
| Motto |
New Zealand ("Onward" 1911–1956) |
The coat of arms of New Zealand is a national symbol of New Zealand. The initial coat of arms was granted by royal warrant of King George V on 26 August 1911, and the current version was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956.
Until 1911, New Zealand used the same royal coat of arms as the United Kingdom. When New Zealand became a Dominion in 1907, it was decided that a new coat of arms was required, and a design competition was held in 1908. The winning entry was a design by James McDonald, a draughtsman in the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. Some adjustments were made to the design and the arms were granted by Royal Warrant of King George V on 26 August 1911. The warrant was published in the New Zealand Gazette of 11 January 1912.
Since being granted its own arms in 1911, New Zealand's arms have remained similar to the current design, with minor changes in 1956. Since 1911, the central shield has remained unaltered: a quartered shield containing in the first quarter four stars representing the Southern Cross constellation, as depicted on the national flag, but with the stars in different proportions; in the second quarter, a golden fleece representing the farming industry; in the third, a wheat sheaf representing agriculture; and in the fourth, two hammers representing mining and industry. Over all this is a pale, a broad vertical strip, with three ships representing the importance of sea trade, and the immigrant nature of all New Zealanders.
Before 1956, the shield was identical, but the surrounding features were different. The crest was a demi-lion (the upper half of a rampant lion) holding the British Union Flag, and the scroll at the shield's base featured the then motto of the country, "Onward". Early renditions of the coat of arms are often featured with more stylised scrolling rather than fern leaves.
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