TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019
New Zealand Flag half-masting directive - Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption
At the request of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand Flag is to be flown at
half-mast on all Government and public buildings with immediate effect as a mark of mourning and respect for the victims
of the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption. The New Zealand Flag is to continue to be flown at half-mast until
further notice.
This instruction applies to all Government Departments, buildings and naval vessels which have flag poles and normally
fly the New Zealand Flag.
The flag is half-masted by first raising it to the top of the mast and then immediately lowering it slowly to the
half-mast position. The half-mast position will depend on the size of the flag and the length of the flagpole. The flag
must be lowered to a position recognisably “half-mast” to avoid the appearance of a flag which has accidentally fallen
away from the top of the flagpole. As a guide, the flag should be more than its own depth from the top of the flagpole.
At the end of the day, the flag should be raised again to the top of the flagpole before being fully lowered. For more
information about half-masting the flag, visit http://www.mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/flags/half-masting-new-zealand-flag.
ends