Source: Ministry for Culture and Heritage
As a mark of mourning and respect, the New Zealand Flag is to be flown at half-mast on all Government and public buildings on Thursday 16 October 2025 to mark the death of former Prime Minister the Right Honourable Jim Bolger.
This instruction applies to all Government Departments, buildings and naval vessels which have flag poles and normally fly the New Zealand Flag. The Flag should be returned to full mast at the close of business hours on 16 October 2025.
The New Zealand Flag is again to be flown at half mast to mark the funeral of the Rt Hon Jim Bolger on the day of his funeral. Further advice as to the date of the funeral will be provided once it is available.
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 the Manatū Taonga website: Display rules for the New Zealand flag
