Flag of Cook Islands
These islands were named after Captain James Cook, although they were discovered almost 200 years before he visited them in the late 18 th century. They were administered by New Zealand from 1901 to 1965, when they became a self-governing dependency (note New Zealand corner flag). The basis of islands flag is the Blue Ensign, emphasizing indirectly their links with the Commonwealth through New Zealand. In the fly is a ring of 15 five-pointed stars, representing the 15 islands in the group. The choice of stars as a design feature is something which the Cook Islands have in common with other Pacific island countries.
The various elements on the flag mean the following:
- Blue is the most communicative color of the country, it symbolizes the enormous area of the Pacific Ocean in which the islands of the Cook Islands are spread. Blue also portrays the peaceful nature of the residents of the islands.
- Union Jack specifies the past relationship with, and membership of the British Commonwealth.
- The 15 white stars stand for the 15 islands of the set.
The ratio of the flag is 3:5. The current design of the flag was established on 4 August 1979.