February 6, 2026 – New Zealand and Massachusetts

Today, the flags of New Zealand and Massachusetts fly in celebration of Waitangi Day and Ratification Day, Respectively.

New Zealand

The Flag of New Zealand flies to celebrate Waitangi Day, the national Day of New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840. Quoting the New Zealand Government’s Waitangi Day History page, “Every year on 6 February, New Zealand marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. For most people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, and especially for Māori, it is a time for reflecting on the Treaty and its place in modern New Zealand.”

The flag of New Zealand was adopted on March 24, 1902, but has been in use since 1869. Designed by Albert Hastings Markham, it’s described as, “A Blue Ensign with a Union Jack in the first quarter and four five-pointed red stars with white borders on the fly representing the Southern Cross.”

Massachusetts

On February 6, 1788, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the constitution.

Its flag, initially adopted on March 18, 1908 and revised in 1971, is described in Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 2, § 3, as follows, “The flag of the commonwealth shall consist of a white rectangular field, bearing on either side a representation of the arms of the commonwealth, except that the star shall be white.” This section also described the naval and maritime flag of the commonwealth as, “The naval and maritime flag of the commonwealth shall consist of a white rectangular field bearing on either side a representation of a green pine tree.”

Since 2021, there have been two major efforts to redesign the flag of the commonwealth. The current effort is being undertaken by the Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission. The Commission has narrowed down the over 1,150 submissions for a new seal, motto, and flag to three in each category. The flag designs are available on the Round Three Selections page. The Commission’s page says that next steps are that, “The Advisory Commission will share three flag, seal, and motto ideas for public review and comment during hearings this fall.”