Cook Islands

Cook Islands
Country	New Zealand (FTA)
Adopted	August 4, 1979
Proportions	1:2

The flag of the Cook Islands, is a Blue Ensign, with 15 white stars forming a ring, at the fly of the flag.

Symbolism and History

The Cook Islands ensign is described and its symbolism explained in the Government of the Cook Islands website:

The Constitution declares the Cook Islands Ensign described below to be the recognised flag of the Cook Islands (Article 76C):-

"The Cook Islands Ensign shall be a Royal blue ensign. The Union Jack shall occupy the upper staff quarter, having on the fly 15 stars in a symmetrical ring, all of equal size and equal spacing, and the colour of the stars shall be white. The flag proportion of length to breadth shall be two to one.

"And it shall mean -

• "Blue - is the colour most expressive of our Nation, it is representative of the vast area of the Pacific Ocean in which the islands of the Cook Islands are scattered. Blue also depicts the peaceful nature of the inhabitants of our islands.
• "Union Jack - indicates our historical association with and membership of the British Commonwealth.

• "The 15 white stars - represent the 15 islands of the group."

A new design for the flag was introduced on 4 August 1979. The circle of stars is now white, and is placed in the fly of a British-style Blue Ensign, thus making the flag much more like that of New Zealand. This change follows a change of leadership in the islands. The present flag is not unlike that originally submitted by Len Staples in the 1973 competition.

History

Kingdom of Rarotonga
(1888-1893)

Cook Islands Federation
(1893-1901)

Cook Islands Federation
(1901-1902)

Cook Islands Federation
(1902-1973)

Cook Islands
(1973-1979)

Cook Islands
(since 1979)