Flag of the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands flag is a Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the corner and a ring of fifteen white stars in the fly. Each star stands for one of the islands. It was adopted on 4 August 1979, replacing a green flag.
What the flag of the Cook Islands looks like
The flag is a dark blue field with a 1:2 ratio. The Union Jack of the United Kingdom is in the upper hoist corner (next to the pole). In the fly, which is the right half, fifteen white five-pointed stars are arranged in a circle. The ring of stars is large and takes up most of the height of the flag.
The flag follows the usual pattern of a British Blue Ensign. It is unusual among such flags in that its badge is a ring of stars, not a coat of arms or seal.
Cook Islands flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#012169RGB
1, 33, 105CMYK
99, 69, 0, 59 HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0 HEX
#C8102ERGB
200, 16, 46CMYK
0, 92, 77, 22 Cook Islands flag meaning and symbolism
The fifteen stars stand for the fifteen islands of the group, which is the answer to the question of why there are 15 stars. The islands are divided into a northern and a southern group, and the circle suggests that they are united as one nation. Blue is the color of the Pacific Ocean in which the islands lie.
The Union Jack recalls the period when the islands were a British protectorate and the continuing link with New Zealand, a country that still uses the Union Jack in a flag of its own.
History of the Cook Islands flag
The islands came under British protection in 1888 and were annexed to New Zealand in 1901. The islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965, a date now celebrated as Constitution Day.
The first national flag, adopted in 1973, was green with a ring of fifteen white stars in the fly. It was changed in 1979, when the government of the time brought in the current blue ensign, which was first flown on Constitution Day 1979. The flag has stayed the same since.
The Cook Islands are not a member of the United Nations but are treated as a country in many ways. Citizens hold New Zealand citizenship; see also the flag of New Zealand, the Cook Islands flag emoji, and other flags of Oceania.
Cook Islands flag facts
| Country | Cook Islands |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | August 4, 1979 |
| Proportions | 1:2 |
| Colors | #012169, #FFFFFF, #C8102E |
| Symbols | field, five-pointed star, Union Jack |
| Flag emoji | 🇨🇰 |
| Country code | CK, COK (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Avarua |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Population | 14,222 |
| Area | 240 km² |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar, Cook Islands dollar |
| National anthem | Te Atua Mou E |
Cook Islands flag: frequently asked questions
Why are there 15 stars on the Cook Islands flag?
Each star represents one of the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands. They are arranged in a ring to show the islands as one nation.
Are the Cook Islands a country?
They are a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. They run their own affairs and make their own laws, but they are not a member of the United Nations.
Are the Cook Islands part of New Zealand?
Not exactly. They are self-governing, but New Zealand handles defense and some foreign affairs on request, and Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens.
How do you say hello in Cook Island?
The usual greeting in Cook Islands Maori is Kia orana. English is also an official language.
What is the only flag in the world that has a Bible on it?
It is not the Cook Islands flag. The flag usually named is the flag of the Dominican Republic, whose coat of arms includes an open Bible.
