^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Invercargill (New Zealand)

Southland

image by Tomislav Šipek, 9 January 2026
based on photo located by James Dignan 9 January 2026

The flag
Coat of arms
Logo flag

See also:

The flag

The official flag is for council use only, featuring the city's coat of arms on a white square in the centre of a maroon-red background (a richer colour that the Latvian flag, but otherwise similar). It is currently at half-mast in the city after the death of its longest-serving mayor, Sir Tim Shadbolt.

The details of the two flags, from an ICC PDF file state:

"Invercargill City Flag (Coat of Arms)
"Under the Grant of Arms, only Invercargill City Council as the grantee may ever use or display this flag because it bears the full Coat of Arms for the City of Invercargill. The Invercargill City Flag (Coat of Arms) may, at the discretion of the Chief Executive, be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning following the death of prominent national or local citizens (i.e. past or current Mayors and Councillors, persons with Freedom of the City etc.). In line with Council protocol the half-masting of this flag will take place only on the day of death being notified and/or the day of the funeral.

"Invercargill City Council branded flag
"The Invercargill City Council branded flag is available for use by Council as required on a daily basis, and may also be flown at events and functions where Council is represented or at venues funded by Council. The Invercargill City Council branded flag may, at the discretion of the Chief Executive, be flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning following the death of prominent national or local citizens (i.e. past or current Mayors and Councillors, persons with Freedom of the City etc.). This is an alternative option to the Coat of Arms Flag. In line with Council protocol the half-masting of this flag will take place only on the day of death being notified and/or the day of the funeral."

James Dignan, 9 January 2026

Coat of Arms

image located by John Moody, 7 November 2021

The Council's Coat of Arms was proposed in 1956 as part of Invercargill's centennial year and was first exhibited in June 1958. Today the Coat of Arms is used only as an official seal and on special occasions. The shield is supported by a pair of takahe, once thought to be extinct but rediscovered in Fiordland in 1948. The crown is the emblem of government. The wavy bars behind the ram's head are taken from the Arms of the House of Drummond, which is associated with Invercargill's namesake, Captain William Cargill. The foliage represents Southland beech and the motto Pro Communi Utilitate translates as "For the Benefit of the Community". The design also features a ram's head and two sheaves of wheat to represent Southland's farming traditions. The ship represents export activity.
John Moody, 7 November 2021

Logo flag

image by Olivier Touzeau, 7 November 2021

The Council introduced its current logo in February 2009. It takes its theme from the blade of grass sculpture outside the Council Administration Building in Esk Street and forms the letters ICC. Guidelines for the use of the logo have been made available to printers and the media.
The Invercargill City Flag would have been adopted some time after that.
John Moody, 7 November 2021

Pictures of the flag of Invercargill City council in use (archived here):
https://icc.govt.nz/visiting-thai-students-meet-the-mayor/img_8665/
https://icc.govt.nz/your-council/meetings-agendas/
https://whatsoninvers.nz/despite-improvements-icc-fails-on-obligations-ombudsman-says/
Olivier Touzeau, 7 November 2021

Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost city, and the main regional urban area (and former Provincial capital) of Southland. Invercargill has a population of about 45,000 (40% of Southland's population), and sits close to the mouth of the Oreti River on the wide Southland Plains. The city was named for the first superintendent of Otago Province, Captain William Cargill (Southland was originally part of Otago). Industries in the area include sheep and dairy farming, fishing, and aluminium smelting. The city also has a thriving tertiary education sector and is a hub for tourism, especially given its proximity to Fiordland, New Zealand's biggest national park.
James Dignan, 7 November 2021