Flag of the Cook Islands

Cook_Islands_dancers_at_Auckland's_Pacifica_festival_2

Flag_of_the_Queen's_Representative

Proposed_flag_of_the_Cook_Islands_(1973)

== Flag of the Cook Islands ==

Flag of the Cook Islands

The Flag of the Cook Islands consists of a blue field with a Union Jack in the canton and a circle of fifteen white stars in the fly. The design reflects the historical ties of the Cook Islands with the United Kingdom and its status as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Design

The flag's blue field represents the ocean and the importance of the sea to the Cook Islands. The Union Jack in the canton signifies the Cook Islands' historical association with the United Kingdom. The circle of fifteen white stars represents the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands.

History

The current flag was adopted on 4 August 1979. Before this, the Cook Islands used a different flag that featured a green field with a yellow circle and a map of the islands in blue. The change was made to better reflect the Cook Islands' status as a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand.

Symbolism

• Blue field: Represents the Pacific Ocean and the maritime heritage of the Cook Islands.
• Union Jack: Symbolizes the historical and ongoing relationship with the United Kingdom and membership in the Commonwealth.
• Fifteen stars: Each star represents one of the fifteen islands in the Cook Islands group.

Related Flags

The flag of the Cook Islands is similar in design to other flags that incorporate the Union Jack, such as the Flag of Australia, the Flag of New Zealand, and the Flag of Fiji. These flags all reflect the historical influence of the British Empire in the Pacific region.

Related Pages

• Cook Islands
• Union Jack
• Commonwealth of Nations
• Flag of Australia
• Flag of New Zealand
• Flag of Fiji