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

Coat of arms of New Zealand used since 1956
Heraldic tradition	Gallo-British
Governing body	College of Arms (disputed)
Chief officer	Phillip 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 Sovereign of New Zealand in their 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 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.^[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, escutcheon only
• 
  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 elements from the arms of Aurthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington with elements from the national coat of arms.^[11] 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,^[12] 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.^[13]

Coats of arms are often seen as old-fashioned^[12] 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.^[14] Some local coats of arms, such as those of Hamilton^[12][15][16] and Palmerston North,^[17] 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.^[18]

The following is a non-exhaustive list of civic arms in New Zealand:

Local authority	Arms	Date	Blazon / Description	Ref.
Hamilton City Council		1946	Main article: Coat of arms of Hamilton, New Zealand Escutcheon: Barry-wavy of eight argent and azure; on a bend verte, 3 oxen heads erased, or. Crest: A mural crown. Supporters: A pūkeko, on either side, rampant proper.	[19][20][21]
Tauranga City Council	Link to file	c.1963	The Tauranga coat of arms comprises brown wool bales on a royal blue background in the top left, a gold sheaf of wheat on a red background in the top right, and a grey ship on a blue background at the bottom of the shield, with a rising sun as the crest. Motto: Advance	[22]
Rotorua Lakes Council	Link to file	1963	Escutcheon: Azure on a chevron or a rainbow trout leaping proper between in chief a pine tree and a sprig of kōwhai leaved slipped and flowered and a geyser issuing from rock in base all also proper. Crest: On a wreath of the colours a male huia bird standing in a brake of New Zealand fern proper. Supporters: On the dexter side a figure representing a farm settler of the nineteenth century, at his feet a cattle dog sejant and on the sinister side a figure representing a Māori chieftain all proper. Motto: Tātau tātau ("We together")	[23]
Gisborne District Council			The shield of the Gisborne coat of arms is silver, with a wavy blue chief representing the sea and a blue reversed pall representing the Taruheru and Waimata rivers combining into the Tūranganui River. On the chief is a depiction of HMS Endeavour, on either side of the pall are two red bulls' heads representing agriculture, and in the base there is a blue mitre. The crest depicts the sun rising out of the clouds over Mount Hikurangi. As supporters there are two lions rampant, taken from the coat of arms of William Gisborne. The lion on the left is black with white ermine spots, has two tails and is gorged with a gold dovetail collar. The lion on the right is gold and is gorged with a black dovetail collar. The arms are shown over a compartment depicting the prow and stern pieces of Horouta and Tākitimu, two of the original Māori migration canoes, separated by a depiction of the koruru from the original Tūranga wharenui. Motto: Endeavour	[24][25]
Napier City Council		1951	The shield of the Napier coat of arms is white with wavy blue bars over which is a depiction of the golden fleece, representing the wool industry, and with three red roses on a white chief, taken from the arms of Francis Napier, 6th Lord Napier. The crest depicts the inverted wing and claw of a hawk, taken from the arms of Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, holding a wahaika. The supporters are a kiwi on the right side and a lion rampant on the left, both golden. Escutcheon: Barry wavy of six azure and argent a fleece or on a chief of the second three roses gules barbed and seeded proper. Motto: Faith and Courage	[26][27][28]
Hastings District Council		1993	Escutcheon: Per pale vert and argent, in dexter a cross-crosslet fitchy or (for Havelock North Borough Council); in sinister, on a cross carved with a Māori pattern gules, a sun in splendour or (for Hawke's Bay County Council); on a chief party per pale argent and vert, a lion passant guardant, armed and langued gules within an orle of fern leaves all counterchanged (for Hastings City Council). An inescutcheon Or charged with a manche Gules (for Warren Hastings). Crest: On a wreath of the colours, clouds argent, rays or, a sunburst supporting a toothed wheel, perforated of six, centred and rimmed argent, gules. Supporters: Dexter, a ram, tail couped, horned and hoofed or, proper, supporting on a staff proper palewise flying to the dexter an ensign sable, two bars argent edged and charged with a hawk rising or (for Hawke's Bay and Lord Hawke). Sinister, a bull, armed and hoofed or, supporting a staff proper palewise flying to the sinister, edged or, a New Zealand ensign; all supported by a profusion of apples, pears, peaches, grapes and miro berries with their leaves, surmounting a Māori style carved panel representing Rongomatane and Haumia-tiketike, all proper. Motto: Urbis Et Ruris Concordia ("Town and Country in Harmony")	[29][30]
Central Hawke's Bay District Council	Link to file		The shield of the coat of arms of Central Hawke's Bay is green with a sun between a sheaf of wheat on the left and a fleece on the right in the chief and with a lymphad in the base, all gold. The chief and base are separated by a white fess with two wavy blue bars, representing the Waipawa and Tukituki rivers.	[31]
Whanganui District Council		1955	Escutcheon: Gules on a Bend wavy argent cotised wavy or between two escallops of the second three lymphads each fesswise that in the centre sable the others of the first all with sails furled and pennons flying on a chief also of the second a ram's head caboshed proper between two open books proper bound gules edged gold. Crest: On a wreath of the colours on a mount vert a representation of the Rutland Blockhouse proper. Supporters: On the dexter side a lion guardant azure charged on the shoulder with four mullets one two and one gules fimbriated argent and on the sinister side a tuatara lizard upon a rock proper. Motto: Sans Dieu Rien ("Without God Nothing") The shells are taken from the arms of William Petre, 11th Baron Petre, the lymphads are taken from the arms of William Hogg Watt, while the bend is intended to represent the Whanganui River.	[32][33][34]
Manawatū District Council	Link to file		The shield of the coat of arms of Manawatū District is green with three huia feathers in the base, taken from the badge of the Feilding Agricultural High School and in the chief a ram's head on the left and cogwheels on the right. On a fess there are two silver bars, representing the Pohangina and Oroua rivers, separated by five golden lozenges, representing Feilding, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Oroua and Pohangina and inspired by the arms of the Earl of Denbigh and the Duke of Manchester. The crest is a tūī with a small flowering flax branch.	[35]
Palmerston North City Council	Link to file	1989	The arms of Palmerston North contain several visual puns on the name of the city. The shield of the coat of arms of Palmerston North is gold on the left and blue on the right and having a bordure which is blue on the left and gold on the right. On the left side of the shield is a blue eagle with its wings displayed, having a red tongue and claws, and wearing a gold crown. On the right side of the shield is a gold tower. On top of a mural crown, the crest is a red lion passant with blue tongue and claws holding a scallop shell (taken from the badge of a palmer) in its right paw, framed by palm fronds. For supporters, on the left side is a Māori chief (modelled on Te Peeti Te Aweawe)[36] representing the tangata whenua and on the right is a European woman in early to mid-19th Century domestic working dress representing the European settlers.[37] Motto: Palmam qui meruit ferat ("Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm") (the motto of Lord Nelson)	[38][39]
Upper Hutt City Council	Link to file	1978	The shield of the coat of arms of Upper Hutt is white with two kererū facing each other in the chief and a tōtara in the base, separated by a wavy blue fess which represents the Hutt River. The crest comprises a New Zealand falcon standing in front of a rock. Motto: Nihil altius pulchriusue ("Nothing higher nor more beautiful")	[40]
Hutt City Council		1955	Escutcheon: Argent on water in base barry wavy a barquentine in full sail proper, flying at the fore-mast a flag azure, thereon a representation of the constellation of the southern cross or; on a chief vert a cog wheel between two garbs gold, over all a canton argent charged with a chevron between three fleurs de lys sable. Crest: A tūī bird holding in the beak a spring of kōwhai flowered proper. Supporters: On the dexter side the figure of a farmer supporting with the interior hand a long-handled shovel resting his exterior hand on a sheep dog sejant, and on the sinister side the figure of a Māori warrior vested proper, supporting with the interior hand a long spear also proper.	[41][42][43][44]
Porirua City Council		1965	Escutcheon: Vert two piles barry wavy of ten argent and azure. Crest: On a wreath of the colours in front of a lymphad proper sail set pennon flying gules flags flying azure a whale proper. Supporters: On the dexter side a private soldier of the 58th Regiment of Foot in the uniform of the early nineteenth century and on the sinister side a Māori warrior both proper. Motto: Mo Te Katoa Nga Mahi ("All That is Done is For the Benefit of All")	[45]
Wellington City Council		1878-1951	Escutcheon: Quarterly: 1st azure, out of a ducal crown or a demi-lion rampant gules holding in the paws a forked pennon flowing to the sinister, charged with the cross of St. George the ends gules (crest of the Duke of Wellington); 2nd argent, a galley with sails furled and oars and pennons sable; 3rd gules, a garb (a wheat or wheat sheaf) proper; 4th azure, a golden fleece proper cinctured gules. Crest: Mural crown or surmounted by a dolphin embowed azure (supremacy by naval position). Mantle, azure and gules. Supporters: Dexter, the British lion. Sinister, a moa but proper. Motto: Suprema a Situ ("Supreme by position"). Under the motto "1840" (date of the foundation of the City and Colony).	[46][47]
		1951	Escutcheon: Quarterly gules and azure, a cross or between; in the first quarter a fleece or; in the second quarter on water barry wavy proper in base a lymphad sail furled pennon and flags flying argent; in the third quarter a garb or; in the fourth quarter five plates in saltire argent. Crest: On a mural crown argent a dolphin naiant azure, mantled gules. Supporters: On the dexter side a lion gorged with a collar and chain reflexed over the back or, and on the sinister side a moa proper. Motto: Suprema a Situ ("Supreme by position")	[48][49][50][46]
Nelson City Council		1958	Escutcheon: Barry wavy argent and azure a cross flory sable on a chief also azure a mitre proper. Crest: On a wreath of the colours issuant from a mural crown proper a lion rampant gules holding between the fore paws a sun in splendour or. Supporters: The supporters on the dexter side a huia bird and on the sinister side a kōtuku both proper. Motto: Palmam qui meruit ferat ("Let him, who has earned it, bear the palm")	[51][52]
Christchurch City Council		1922-1949	The shield of the 1922 Christchurch coat of arms depicts a chevron surrounded by symbols for agriculture (a sheep to the left, a sheaf of wheat above, a cow to the right, and a plough beneath) with a mining train coming out of a tunnel in the chief. For the crest it has a kiwi. For supporters it has two gryphons facing outwards and holding shields bearing the city's then motto across them. These were based on the stone figures which stood above the Oxford Terrace entrance of the Christchurch municipal chambers. They stand on a scroll which reads "CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH 1850". Motto: Britons hold your own[53]	[54][55][56]
		1949	Main article: Coat of arms of the City of Christchurch Escutcheon: Or on a chevron gules a mitre between a fleece and a garb of the first in base two bars wavy azure on a chief of the last four lymphads sails furled also of the first. Crest: On a wreath or and azure a kiwi proper. Supporters: On either side a pūkeko proper. Motto: Fide Condita, Fructu Beata, Spe Fortis ("Founded in faith, rich in the fulfilment thereof, strong in hope for the future")	[57][48][49][58]
Ashburton District Council	Link to file	1966	The shield of the coat of arms of Ashburton is white with a wavy blue fess representing Ashburton River / Hakatere charge with a golden waka. In the chief is a red mural crown in the centre, with a green trefoil on either side (taken from the arms of the Turton family), and in the base is the head of a bear wearing a blue muzzle (taken from the arms of Lord Ashburton). For the crest it has a ram's head in front of a sheaf of grain which is quartered in green and gold. The supporters on both sides are pied stilts. Motto: Fides Probata Coronat ("Faith Confirms What Has Been Proved Good and True")	[59][60]
Timaru District Council	Link to file	1977	The shield of the coats of arms of Timaru is blue charged with a golden fleece on both the right and left sides, and having a gold wavy chief charged with two red lymphads. Beneath a chevron division on a white background (representing Aoraki / Mount Cook), the base is charged with a blue plough. For the crest, standing on a mural crown and in front of a rising sun is a kiwi. The supporters are two white hippocamps with blue "T"s hanging from chains around their necks, on top of a compartment of blue and white wavy bars representing the sea. Motto: Palma non sine pulvere ("No Reward Without Effort", lit. 'palms not without dust')	[61][62][63]
Queenstown-Lakes District Council	Link to file		The shield of the coat of arms of Queenstown-Lakes is divided into three parts per reverse pall. The top left section depicts a fleece (representing sheep farming and the wool industry), the top right depicts a pick and shovel (representing the history of gold-mining in the district), and the bottom section depicts the mountains of the area. Motto: Montium ex Umero Longius Videmus ("We see very far from the shoulder of the mountain")	[64]
Dunedin City Council		1947	Escutcheon: Argent above a fess dancette vert, a castle triple-towered sable on a rock issuing from the fess, masoned argent, with windows, vanes and portcullis gules. In the base a three-masted lymphad with sail furled azure, flagged of Scotland, a ram's head affrontee horned or between two garbs of the last. Crest: A mural crown. Supporters: On the dexter a Scotsman habited with philabeg and plaid of the Clan Cameron, supporting in his exterior hand a cromach; on the sinister a Māori chief attired in korowai (waist mat), two huia feathers in his hair, an aurei (greenstone ear pendant) and a hei matau (greenstone neck pendant) and in his exterior hand a taiaha. Motto: Maiorum Institutis Utendo ("By following in the steps of our forefathers")	[65][48][49][66]
Invercargill City Council		1958	Escutcheon: Or, on three bars wavy gules a ram's head horned affrontee proper, on a chief wavy azure a lymphad argent, flagged gules between two garbs or. Crest: A mural crown argent. Supporters: On either side a takahē proper. Motto: Pro Communi Utilitate ("For the Use of the Community")	[67][68][49]
Southland Regional Council	Link to file	1958	Escutcheon: Quarterly, first, or, on a reedy mount vert a notornis bird proper, beaked and membered gules (for Southland); second, gules, a dexter arm vambraced, the hand brandishing a sword proper (for Wallace); third, azure, three piles wavy issuant from the dexter bendways argent (for Fiordland); fourth, or, an island vert surmounted of a fess chequy azure and argent (for Stewart Island). Supporters: Dexter a merino ram and sinister a merino ewe proper. Motto: Above the shield in an escrol murrey in letters or is placed this motto "SOUTHLAND", and on a compartment vert below the shield, along with an escrol Argent bearing in letters Sable this Motto "IN UNITY WE PROGRESS".	[69]

Arms of former local authorities

Local authority	Arms	Dates	Blazon / Description	Ref.
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 (or kiwi) proper. Motto: Advance.	[48][49]
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 ("The Goodness and the Wealth")	[70][71]
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 ("Be ahead of the times")	[72]
Howick Borough Council		1955-1989	The shield of the coat of arms of Howick is blue with a white "medieval ship" (representing the ship Minerva) 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 (the emblem of Saint James). Motto: To Serve With Good Will (The motto of Sir Henry George Grey, Viscount Howick)	[73][74]
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 (paddle) in the lower left, a ko-a (digging implement) in the top right, and a tewhatewha in the lower right. Motto: Mauri Mahi Mauri Ora ("The Industrious Heart Lives")	[75]
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 ("Town and Country in Harmony")	[76][77][29][30]
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 ("Let us serve")	[29][78]

Personal arms

See also: Armorial of the governors-general of New Zealand

• 
  Coat of arms of New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary Phillip O'Shea^[79][80]
• 
  Coat of arms of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy^[81]
• 
  Coat of arms of former Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae^[82]
• 
  Coat of arms of former Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys^[83]
• 
  Coat of arms of former Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard^[84]
• 
  Coat of arms of former Prime Minister and Governor-General Sir Keith Holyoake^[85]
• 
  Coat of arms of mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary^[86]
• 
  Coat of arms of physicist Ernest Lord Rutherford^[87][88]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Kīngitanga^[89][90]

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,^[91] Massey University,^[92] the University of Waikato,^[93] and the University of Otago.^[94]

• 
  Coat of arms of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand^[95][96]
• 
  Coat of arms of The New Zealand Herald newspaper
• 
  Coat of arms of the Bank of New Zealand
• 
  Coat of arms of the University of Otago
• 
  Coat of arms of Massey University
• 
  Coat of arms from the badge of the Heraldry Society of New Zealand^[97]

Ecclesiastical arms

See also: Ecclesiastical heraldry

• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Waiapu^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Nelson^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin^{[100][98][99]}
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Te Tai Tokerau^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of the Anglican Diocese of Te Manawa o Te Wheke^[98][99]
• 
  Coat of arms of Paul Martin, 7th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington^[101]
• 
  Coat of arms of Cardinal John Dew, archbishop emeritus of Wellington^[102]
• 
  Coat of arms of Cardinal Thomas Williams, archbishop emeritus of Wellington^[103]

Badges

• 
  Badge of the New Zealand Herald Extraordinary
• 
  Badge of the Order of New Zealand
• 
  Badge of the New Zealand House of Representatives
• 
  Badge of the New Zealand Air Training Corps

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,^[104] since 2021 Niue has had a seal based on traditional Niuean elements (replacing their previous one based on the New Zealand coat of arms),^[105] while Tokelau has a badge based on a traditional Tokelauan tuluma.^[106]

• 
  Coat of arms of the Cook Islands
• 
  The public seal of Niue (1974–2021)
• 
  The public seal of Niue (since 2021)
• 
  The national badge of Tokelau

Heraldry Society

Heraldry is discussed and studied by The Heraldry Society of New Zealand, a learned society under the patronage of the governor-general.^[107][108] The society publishes The New Zealand Armorist. Its homepage is called Onward.^[109]