Flag of the Cook Islands
Use | Civil and state flag |
---|---|
Proportion | 1:2 |
Adopted | 4 August 1979 |
Design | A Blue ensign with a ring of fifteen white stars in the fly. |
The flag of the ). The blue represents the ocean and the peaceful nature of the inhabitants.
History
A Federal Flag Bill was proposed in the Cook Islands Parliament in 1892, but was not assented to. The proposed flag had consisted of three horizontal stripes (red, white, red), with a Union Flag in the top left corner, overlaid by a black coconut palm tree on a white circle.[1] When the islands were annexed by New Zealand in 1901, the New Zealand flag was used instead.[1]
In 1973 a contest was held to design a new flag, with 120 entries. The winner was chosen at a meeting of the cabinet, judging panel and the flag design committee, a
In 1979 it was replaced by the current flag.[3]
In December 2023, Prime Minister Mark Brown suggested that the national flag should be changed back to the 1973–1979 version, claiming that it would be better reflective of the Cook Islands' national colours and sovereignty.[4] In January 2024, Brown further suggested that the decision on the flag could be put to a referendum.[5]
Historical flags
National flags
-
Flag of the Kingdom of Rarotonga between 1858 and 1888
-
Flag of the Cook Islands Federation from 1893 to June 11, 1901
Proposed flags
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Gold stars over Cooks Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1973, p13
- ^ Star-spangled banner Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1974, p23
- ^ Cook Islands Flags of the World
- ^ Losirene Lacanivalu (14 December 2023). "PM suggests flag rethink". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ^ Khalia Strong (16 January 2024). "Cook Islands' name and flag may be "put to people's choice"". Pacific Media Network. Retrieved 12 February 2024.