Buying a flag in New Zealand: price, size and quality

A flag can look the same in two online shops and still differ a lot in price. The differences usually come from size, fabric, manufacture and finish. This guide does not list prices, as they vary between makers and retailers and change over time. Instead it explains what affects the price of a flag in New Zealand, what to look for in the details and which consumer rights apply.

What affects the price of a flag?

Flag price and size

Size is usually the biggest single factor. According to Manatū Taonga – Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH), New Zealand flags are made commercially in five sizes from one to three yards, and the two-yard size, 1800 × 900 mm, is the most common. A larger flag takes more material and a stronger finish, and it wears the halyard and pole harder in the wind. Which size suits a pole is explained in the guide to flag sizes and worked out by the flag size calculator.

Fabric and manufacture

According to MCH, sewn or printed flags are made in durable polyester bunting, while cheaper printed flags are made in a polyester knit fabric. The Flag & Banner Company describes two printing methods:

• Screen printing lays down more dye and gives equal colour on both sides, but a screen is made for each colour, so it suits larger quantities and national flags.
• Digital printing gives finer detail and quicker delivery, but for full colour on both sides both sides are printed, which has cost implications.

Finish and fittings

Traditionally, flags are hemmed all round, with a heavy-duty heading at the end next to the flagpole into which a cord is sewn for the fittings, according to the Flag & Banner Company. The most common fittings are rope and toggle and sister clips; other methods include eyelets, a closed sleeve and soft loops. A reinforced fly edge makes a flag more resistant to fraying. The halyard system of the flagpole decides which fitting is needed, as explained in the guide to how a flagpole works.

The official design

The New Zealand flag’s design is set out in Schedule 1 of the Flags, Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981, and MCH gives its colours as PANTONE 186C red and PANTONE 280C blue on white. Under section 11 of the Act, altering the flag by placing a letter, emblem or representation on it without lawful authority is an offence. MCH lists New Zealand flag manufacturers on its website and does not supply flags itself. More in the guide to the New Zealand flag.

Sizes and tolerances

With flags, sizing is nominal, according to the Flag & Banner Company: a two-yard flag at 1800 × 900 mm plus or minus 5 to 10 percent is normal and acceptable. When comparing offers, the exact size in millimetres is more useful than the name of the size.

Consumer rights when buying

• Consumer guarantees: under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, products sold by businesses are of acceptable quality, fit for a particular purpose, match their description and are delivered on time and in good condition, according to Consumer Protection at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
• Remedies: the business can repair, replace or refund. Where the failure is of a substantial character, the buyer can return the product or keep it with compensation for the drop in value.
• Not covered: a change of mind, faults the buyer was told about before buying, damage caused by misuse, and goods bought privately, including through Trade Me or Marketplace from someone who is not in trade.
• Fair trading: under the Fair Trading Act 1986, businesses must not mislead about prices, discounts or products, and claims have to be backed up.
• Overseas sellers: the Fair Trading Act still applies to goods bought online from an overseas seller, but it can be difficult to enforce, according to Consumer Protection.

Comparing offers

Offers are easier to compare when the details are clear: the exact size in millimetres, the fabric, printed or sewn, the fittings, and the colours of an official flag. The halyard and flagpole are covered in the guide to buying a flagpole.