Heart's Ease

 

The NZ Ensign was positioned at half-mast at school on Friday as a sign of respect and a mark of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II. 

In accordance to custom, it will remain that way up to and including the day of the funeral.

Where did this tradition come from?

By all accounts, it started in the early 1600s, when the captain of Heart’s Ease, a British ship, died during the journey to Canada. On its return to London, the ship’s crew had lowered the flag to honour their departed captain. 

That started the tradition of flying a flag at half-mast at exactly one flag’s width lower on days of mourning to make room for an invisible flag on top that represented their loss.

Respect, right there (one of our 5 core values you'll remember).