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Cook Islands

by zeljko heimer 12-DEC-1995

Description

British Blue Ensign with fifteen white five-pointed stars in a circle in the fly. The ratio is 1:2. The stars represent the 15 islands in the Cook Islands group. The use of the Blue Ensign refers to the British links of the Cooks, formerly as part of, and now as an independent state in free association with, New Zealand.
Stuart Park 8-DEC-1995

The "Green Ensign""

by Jaume Oll� 17-JUL-1996

On 4 August 1965 the Cook Islands (located in the Pacific Ocean) acquired autonomy, in an address by Premier Sir Albert Henry. In 1973 a national flag was announced, being green in color (as the color of life and everlasting growth) with fifteen stars (in the culture of the Cook Islands the stars represent faith in God) in yellow (yellow represents the people, their friendliness, their hope, faith, dedication, love, and happiness) in a circle symbolizing the unity of the fifteen islands and the union between the land and the people. The design was considered equally powerful in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. In 1975 Premier Sir A. Henry had the generously sent me various details on the flag, including some photos with the national flag flying in the backgorund and some stickers of the flag made in New Zealand. The proportion is 1:2.
Jaume Oll� 17-JUL-1996

I understand that this design was not quite official. Or was it? W. Smith showes it in his 'Flags and Arms Across the World', dating it 1973, and claiming that Cook Islands used several other flags as an independent country and protectorate before, but doesn't describe them. In Smith's book all the stars are pointing up (as on the European Union flag), and not outwards (as on current Cook Islands flag). BTW, Smith lists this flag as CSW/***, i.e. used for all purposes on land. Does that mean that Cook Islands had/has an army?
Zeljko Heimer 20-JUL-1996

In "The Flags" by Eric Inglefield, the stars are pointing up too. However, in the photos and flag stickers sent me by Sir A. Henry the stars are pointing outwards.
Jaume Oll� 17-JUL-1996