New Zealand heraldry

New Zealand heraldry is the term for the style of armorial achievements, sometimes known as coats of arms, and other heraldic bearings and insignia used in New Zealand. It largely follows the Gallo-British tradition of heraldry also followed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and Australia.

New Zealand heraldry
Old coat of arms of New Zealand that was used from 1911 to 1956
 
Heraldic traditionGallo-British
Governing bodyCollege of Arms (disputed)
Chief officerPhillip O'Shea, New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary

Most grants of heraldic arms to New Zealand residents or institutions have been made by the English College of Arms or the Scottish Court of the Lord Lyon, though a small number have also been granted by the Chief Herald of Ireland and the State Herald of South Africa.[1]

Heraldic authority

New Zealand does not presently have its own independent heraldic authority which grants or records arms,[1] though the College of Arms in London claims to be "the official heraldic authority for...New Zealand".[2] According to the guidelines of the Cabinet Manual, the College has been delegated these responsibilities by the Queen of New Zealand in her capacity as the "Fount of all Honour".[3] However, the legal basis for this "official" status for the College of Arms is disputed.[4][5]

On 6 February 1978 the Queen 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.[6] The current New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary is Phillip Patrick O’Shea.[7][8]

Coats of arms

The heraldry of New Zealand has added indigenous animals (mostly birds) to the existing heraldic bestiary,[9] along with native flora and traditional Māori motifs.

National arms
Main article: Coat of arms of New Zealand
  • Coat of Arms of New Zealand (1956-Present)
  • Coat of arms of New Zealand (1911–1956)

Civic arms

Some, but not all, local authorities in New Zealand use heraldic arms.[10] The arms of the capital, Wellington, combines the arms of Aurthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington with the national coat of arms.[11] The coat of arms of the City of Christchurch also have charges from the national arms.

The unauthorised use of a coat of arms of a local authority can be an offense.[12]

Personal arms

Corporate/Institutional arms

Some New Zealand corporations and institutions have their own coats-of-arms, including several New Zealand universities such as University of Auckland,[13] Massey University,[14] the University of Waikato,[15] and the University of Otago.[16]

Ecclesiastical arms

Badges and crests

Heraldry of the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau

The other countries of the Realm of New Zealand, the associated states of the Cook Islands and Niue and the dependent territory of Tokelau, have their own heraldic emblems. The Cook Islands has their own armorial bearings (coat of arms) using unique local elements, Niue has a seal based on the New Zealand coat of arms, while Tokelau has a badge based on a traditional Tokelauan tuluma.

Heraldists
The Coat of Arms of the Heraldry Society of New Zealand

Heraldry is also discussed and studied by The Heraldry Society of New Zealand, a learned society under the patronage of the governor-general. The society publishes The New Zealand Armorist. Its homepage is called Onward.[17]

References
  1. "Grants of Arms". Onward - Heraldry Society of New Zealand Inc. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. "The College of Arms". College of Arms. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. "Cabinet Manual 2017 - Heraldry". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  4. Macaulay, Gregor (2001). "The Law of Arms in New Zealand: A Response" (PDF). Otago Law Review. 10 (1): 113–118. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  5. Macaulay, G A (1994). "Honours and Arms: Legal and Constitutional Aspects of Practice Concerning Heraldry and Royal Honours in New Zealand". Canterbury Law Review. 5 (3): 381–390. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  6. Friar, Stephen, ed. (1987). A New Dictionary of Heraldry. London: Alphabooks/A&C Black. pp. 254–5. ISBN 0 906670 44 6.
  7. "New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  8. "The Officers of Arms - Heralds Extraordinary". College of Arms. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  9. Bedingfeld, Henry; Gwynn-Jones, Peter (1993). Heraldry. Leicester: Magna Books. pp. 73 and 102. ISBN 1-85422-433-6.
  10. "New Zealand". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  11. "Wellington (New Zealand)". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  12. "Local Government Act 2002, section 234". Parliamentary Council Office - New Zealand Legislation. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  13. "Key developments 1883-2000s, University Motto". University of Auckland. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  14. "History of the coat of arms". Massey University. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  15. "History of the University of Waikato, Coat of Arms". University of Waikato. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  16. "Coat of Arms". University of Otago. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  17. "Onward". The Heraldry Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
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