Talk:New Zealand White Ensign/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Pickersgill-Cunliffe (talk · contribs) 01:35, 6 January 2022 (UTC)

Hi, I'll take a look at this shortly. Pickersgill-Cunliffe (talk) 01:35, 6 January 2022 (UTC)

Prelim

 * No edit wars
 * Earwig reports no copyvio
 * File:Flag of New Zealand.svg needs a US PD tag
 * Wow, I'd have thought that all national flags would have been sorted long ago! Added Template:PD-US-expired, which I think is appropriate (as the flag was designed in 1869) - Dumelow (talk) 07:34, 7 January 2022 (UTC)


 * No duplicated links

History

 * Link ensign
 * Done


 * Move canton (flag) link to first mention
 * Done


 * Link Māori people
 * Done


 * Link North Island
 * Done


 * Briefly mention why the signing of the treaty resulted in a flag change?
 * Tried to explain this a little, let me know what you think


 * Link British ensigns
 * Done


 * "William Campbell Walker" who?
 * Described as "Minister of EducatioN"


 * A little confused here. You state that there had not been consideration of the White Ensign becoming the national flag in 1867 like a different flag had been chosen instead, but only speak in the article about the governmental Blue Ensign that unintentionally became the national flag. I think your meaning could be cleared up and clarified in these sentences to ensure the correct message is coming across, because I'm honestly not sure what it's meant to be!
 * Agreed, I've gone back to the source and had a go a rewriting this. I mention it because it is the earliest description of a White Ensign relating to NZ.  It appears that they considered adopting it as a national flag at some point before 1900, but rejected it because of opposition from the RN.


 * Move Royal Navy link to first mention
 * Done


 * "Unofficial New Zealand naval units" can you give a little more detail as to what these units were/where they came from?
 * Added some detail here


 * I think you could do a better job of signposting that paragraph two is turning from civilian flag use to military flags - I was a little confused as to the chronology of this before realising the change
 * Does the rewording of the first sentence help set the scene, or does it need further work?


 * "in part" you're teasing me! What was the other part of the reason?
 * Did a bit of digging. It was apparently partly to avoid embarrassment to the British government but also an Australian desire for their vessels to be more distinctive.


 * "New Zealand fleet" fleet or navy?
 * Just trimmed this bit off as I mention RNZN earlier in the sentence


 * "the development of the RNZN." what form of development? Sounds important, should be elaborated on
 * Not sure, I guess because it marked the navy stepping out from under the shadow of the RN. The source (The RNZN Museum), just says "This is seen as an important milestone in the development of Royal New Zealand Navy".  I'll see if I can find any detail in other sources
 * No luck unfortunately. Our article on the RNZN has "Until the 1960s, the RNZN had, in common with other Dominion navies, flown the White Ensign as a common ensign. After 1945, the foreign policies of the now-independent states had become more distinctive. There was a growing wish and a need for separate identities, particularly if one Dominion was engaged in hostilities where another was not. Thus, in 1968, the RNZN adopted its own ensign, which retained the Union Flag in a top quarter but replaces the St George's Cross with the Southern Cross constellation that is displayed on the national flag." which seems reasonable but has no source and I could not find similar anywhere online except Wikipedia mirrors


 * "A design based on..." suggest describing the design as well as linking to it
 * Is this in relation to the Blue Ensign? If so, think I've covered this with an earlier change.

Description

 * The infobox states that the Southern Cross is "in lieu of the St George Cross", but this is not specifically mentioned or referenced in the main text
 * Good point. I've rewritten the description to describe the flag as it is, without reference to the White Ensign.

Use

 * "ships of the New Zealand Naval Forces" does this mean units other than the RNZN? If so you should note what they are, and if not I don't see why this shouldn't just say RNZN
 * It was from the wording of the regulations, presumably a hangover from the old name but it means RNZN so changed


 * "naval establishments"
 * Changed


 * If possible I think it would be useful to note where the ensign is worn on ships
 * I couldn't find where exactly it is worn on naval vessels at sea (possibly any suitable point), but it is flown at the stern when alongside so added that. Also regulations that it must be worn in combat.


 * "flag officers of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron" what exactly are "flag officers" in this instance?
 * Now defined


 * Note that the RNZYS has another, separate, ensign as well?
 * Now mentioned


 * Link Regulation Colours
 * Done


 * "with more square proportions" considering you give the exact proportions of the White Ensign I think it would be good to do the same for the colour
 * Hmm, I know the RN Queen's Colour is 24x36 but can't find a reference for the RNZN one. I found a little more detail on the hisotry of the Queen's COlour which I have added


 * Awkward final sentence as its own paragraph. Suggest merging it with another paragraph, but also question its purpose at all; the merchant ensign is not actually related to the White Ensign in any way but visual similarity, is it?
 * Yes, I think it is more trivia than anything. Removed


 * Change merchant ensign link to Red Ensign
 * As above, removed


 * I had vaguely expected there to be mention of when the flag is not flown or is flown at half mast?
 * I had a look but couldn't find any regulations or even a picture of the flag at half mast. I know the RN and RAN white ensigns are flown at half mast so I would expect that the RNZN one is also.