New Zealand heraldry
New Zealand heraldry refers to the cultural tradition of the use of coats of arms and other heraldic devices within the country. New Zealand largely follows the Gallo-British tradition, a result of the colonisation of the country by the British. Māori cultural elements and native New Zealand flora and fauna are commonly used in New Zealand heraldry.
New Zealand does not have its own heraldic authority, and instead primarily uses the extant British heraldic authorities, namely the English College of Arms and Scottish Lord Lyon King of Arms. A New Zealand-based officer of arms affiliated with the College of Arms does exist, titled the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary. Phillip O'Shea has been said officer since the creation of the title in 1978.
Heraldic authority
New Zealand does not presently have its own independent heraldic authority which grants or records arms, though the College of Arms in London claims to be "the official heraldic authority for...New Zealand". According to the guidelines of the Cabinet Manual, the College has been delegated these responsibilities by the Sovereign of New Zealand in their capacity as the "Fount of all Honour". However, the legal basis for this "official" status for the College of Arms is disputed.On 6 February 1978 Queen Elizabeth II established the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary as the officer of arms responsible for advising the Crown, New Zealand government and New Zealand Defence Force on heraldic matters, and for liaising between New Zealand and the English College of Arms. Although affiliated with the College of Arms, the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary lives and works in New Zealand, and is not a member of the College Chapter. The current New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary is Phillip Patrick O’Shea.
Coats of arms
The heraldry of New Zealand has added indigenous animals to the existing heraldic bestiary, along with native flora and traditional Māori motifs.National arms
New Zealand was first granted arms by King George V via royal warrant on 26 August 1911, following a design competition in 1908 which had been won by James McDonald, a draughtsman in the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. The warrant was published in the New Zealand Gazette of 11 January 1912.The official blazon for the 1911 arms was:
In 1956, a revised version of the arms was approved by Queen Elizabeth II. The new arms depicted the supporters facing each other rather than facing the viewer, replaced the crest with St Edward's Crown, replaced the scrolls in the compartment with fern branches, and replaced the motto "Onward" with the words "New Zealand". However, the central shield remained unaltered from the 1911 arms.
Civic arms
Some, but not all, local authorities in New Zealand use heraldic arms. The arms of the capital, Wellington, combines elements from the arms of Aurthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington with elements from the national coat of arms. The coat of arms of the City of Christchurch also has charges from the national arms.Some councils have been granted arms by the College of Arms or the Court of the Lord Lyon, while others have adopted their own arms. While several councils had used similar devices earlier, Auckland City Council was the first council in New Zealand to be granted an "official" coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1911.
Coats of arms are often seen as old-fashioned and are rarely used by councils, who prefer to use brand logos. Auckland Council, representing the largest city in New Zealand, does not currently use any arms. Some local coats of arms, such as those of Hamilton and Palmerston North, have been accused of not accurately or inappropriately reflecting their areas' history and diversity, with suggestions that they should be changed.
The unauthorised use of the coat of arms of a local authority can be an offense.
Former
| Local authority | Image | Date adopted | Heraldic authority | Blazon / Description | |
| Auckland City Council | 1911-2010 | Escutcheon: Argent, upon waves of the sea a two-masted ship in full sail proper flagged gules, on a chief per pale azure and gules to the dexter a cornucopia or, to the sinister a shovel surmounted by a pick, in saltire proper. Crest: Issuant out of a mural crown or a representation of the Phormium tenax flowered proper. Supporters: On either side an Apteryx proper. Motto: Advance. | |||
| Waitakere City Council | 1973-2010 | Originally the arms of the Waitemata County Council. Escutcheon: Per pall reversed azure and argent on a chevron engrailed or and sable between in chief a bunch of grapes slipped and leaved argent, and a tower gules and in base a bulls head caboshed sable, armed and ringed of five ermine spots counterchanged. Crest: On a mural crown or masoned vert, an arm couped bendwise habited in a maunch sable bezanty each bezant charged with an ermine spot sable, cuffed ermine lined gules, the hand proper supporting an orb vert banded and ensigned with a cross crosslet or, mantled sable doubled or. Motto: Te Pai Me Te Whairawa | |||
| Manukau City Council | 1968-2010 | Escutcheon: Azure on a chevron or between in chief two seagulls volant and respectant proper in base a lymphad sail set pennon and flags flying or a bull's head caboshed sable armed proper between two cogwheels sable. Crest: On a wreath or and gules perched on battlements of a tower proper in front of an aeroplane propeller or a seagull wings elevated proper. Motto: Ante Alios Prosili | |||
| Howick Borough Council | 1955-1989 | The shield of the coat of arms of Howick is blue with a white "medieval ship" and white and blue bands representing the sea in the base. In the chief on a white background is a depiction of a well on the left, and a cannon on the right. The symbols were intended to represent the Fencibles and their families, as the first European settlers in the area, and Howick's establishment as a military settlement. For the crest it had a golden scallop shell. Motto: To Serve With Good Will | |||
| New Plymouth City Council | Link to file | 1941-1989 | The shield of the coat of arms of New Plymouth is divided into quarters, separated by a blue cross bordered with white and surmounted with five stars also arranged in a cross. The top left quarter depicts a Jersey cow in a field. The top right quarter depicts a berthed merchant vessel. The bottom left quarter depicts a green hei-tiki on a brown background. The bottom right quarter depicts New Plymouth Airport, Mount Taranaki and the Southern Cross monoplane. Behind the shield are depictions of four traditional Māori weapons: a taiaha in the top left, a hoe in the lower left, a ko-a in the top right, and a tewhatewha in the lower right. Motto: Mauri Mahi Mauri Ora | ||
| Hastings City Council | 1956-1989 | The coat of arms for the city of Hastings was inspired by the coat of arms of Hastings, England. Escutcheon: Per pale argent and vert a lion passant guardant dimidiated with the hulk of a ship between two lions passant guardant in pale within an orle of fern all counterchanged. Crest: On a wreath of the colours a kiwi proper beaked or between two branches of yellow kōwhai flowered also proper. Supporters: On the dexter side a ram and on the sinister side a Māori holding in the exterior hand a taiaha proper. Motto: Urbis Et Ruris Concordia | |||
| Havelock North Borough Council | 1952-1989 | Escutcheon: Per chevron or and vert in chief an open book proper bound gules between two lymphads sails furled oars in saltire before the mast sable pennon and flags flying gules in base a cross crosslet fitchy or. Crest: On a wreath of the colours is a sea horse sejant or holding between the fins a cross crosslet fitchy or. Motto: Serviamus |