Flag of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands

Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	August 4, 1979
Design	Blue ensign with a ring of fifteen white stars in the fly.

The flag of the Cook Islands, officially known as the Cook Islands Ensign, is based on the traditional design for former British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Union Flag in the upper left, and on the right, fifteen stars in a ring. The Union Flag is symbolic of the nation's historic ties to the United Kingdom and to the Commonwealth of Nations. The stars stand for the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands (Tongareva, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Nassau, Suwarrow, Palmerston, Aitutaki, Manuae, Takutea, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Rarotonga and Mangaia). The blue represents the ocean and the peaceful nature of the inhabitants.

From 1973 to 1979, the flag was green with the stars in yellow shifted towards the fly. The green colour represented the continuous growth and life of the islands; the yellow represented the faith, love, happiness, and commitment shown by the islanders. The circle represented the union of the islands and the union between the islanders and the land itself.^[1]

Historical flags

Flag of the Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands

Flag of the Kingdom of Rarotonga between 1858 and 1888	Flag of the Kingdom of Rarotonga between 1888 and 1893	Flag of the Cook Islands Federation from 1893 to June 11, 1901
Flag of the Cook Islands between June 11, 1901 and March 24, 1902	Flag of the Cook Islands from March 24, 1902 to July 23, 1973	Flag of the Cook Islands from July 23, 1973 to August 4, 1979

See also

• List of New Zealand flags
• Cook Islands at Flags of the World
• World Statesmen - Cook Islands

References

1. FOTW - Historical Flags 1901-1979 (Cook Islands). Accessed 19 Oct 2007.