Flag of Niue
The Niue flag is golden yellow with the British Union Jack in the upper left corner. At the center of the Union Jack is a blue disc with a yellow star, and four smaller yellow stars sit on its arms. It was adopted on 15 October 1975.
What the flag of Niue looks like
The flag has a bright, golden-yellow field with a 1:2 ratio. The Union Jack occupies the canton, the upper corner next to the pole, in the pattern of a British ensign. On the Union Jack, a blue disc rests at the center with a yellow five-pointed star, and four smaller yellow stars are placed on the arms of the cross around it, one on each arm, in the arrangement of a diamond.
The yellow ground makes it stand out among flags based on the British ensign, most of which have a blue or red field. Niue is in free association with New Zealand, and the Niue flag is a distinct design from the New Zealand flag. To see how it appears on a screen, see the Niue flag emoji.
Niue flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#FEDD00RGB
254, 221, 0CMYK
0, 13, 100, 0 HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0 HEX
#012169RGB
1, 33, 105CMYK
99, 69, 0, 59 HEX
#C8102ERGB
200, 16, 46CMYK
0, 92, 77, 22 Niue flag meaning and symbolism
The commonly cited meanings are:
- Golden yellow: the bright sunshine of the island, and the warm feelings of the Niuean people toward New Zealand.
- Union Jack: the historic relationship with the United Kingdom, and the protection that New Zealand continued to provide.
- Blue disc: the sea, which surrounds the island.
- Large star on the disc: Niue itself, a self-governing state.
- Four small stars: the Southern Cross, the constellation that guides sailors in the South Pacific.
These readings are widely repeated but are not set out in a legal definition.
History of the Niue flag
Niue, a raised coral island in the South Pacific, was first sighted by Captain James Cook in 1774. It was made a British protectorate in 1900 and annexed by New Zealand in 1901, and for most of the following decades it flew the New Zealand or British flags. Niue became self-governing in free association with New Zealand in October 1974, and the Niue flag was adopted on 15 October 1975, a year after self-government.
The flag is based on the style of a British ensign, with a defaced Union Jack, and that is a design used by several former British territories in the Pacific.
Niue's status and which flag it uses
Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. New Zealand is responsible for its defense and, when asked, for foreign affairs, and Niueans hold New Zealand citizenship. The Niue flag is the flag of the state. The New Zealand flag is also flown on the island on some occasions. With about 1,800 residents, it is one of the least populous self-governing states in the world.
Niue flag facts
| Country | Niue |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | 1975 |
| Proportions | 1:2 |
| Colors | #FEDD00, #FFFFFF, #012169, #C8102E |
| Symbols | Crux, disk, field, five-pointed star, Union Jack |
| Flag emoji | 🇳🇺 |
| Country code | NU, NIU (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Alofi |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Population | 1,821 |
| Area | 260 km² |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar, Niue dollar |
| National anthem | Ko e Iki he Lagi |
Niue flag: frequently asked questions
What does the Niue flag represent?
The yellow stands for sunshine and for warm feelings toward New Zealand, the Union Jack for the historic link with Britain, and the blue disc for the sea. The big star represents Niue and the four small stars the Southern Cross.
Is Niue part of New Zealand?
Not exactly. Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. It runs its own affairs, while New Zealand supports it with defense, and Niueans are New Zealand citizens.
Is Niue the smallest country?
It is among the smallest self-governing states in the world by population, with fewer than 2,000 residents, and covers about 260 square kilometers. It is not a member of the United Nations.
When was the Niue flag adopted?
It was adopted on 15 October 1975, about a year after Niue became self-governing in free association with New Zealand.
What does 'Niue' mean?
A traditional explanation derives the name from Niuean words meaning roughly 'behold the coconut'. The island is also nicknamed 'The Rock' because it is a raised coral platform.
