Friday 11 March 2016

By Albert Gregory


Positioned at the very centre of Polynesia, the Cook Islands stretch out in a scattering of 2 million square kilometres. Each island has its special place within the group. But their origins are owed to the Polynesians who arrived in Rarotonga around 800 AD. These ancient voyagers had set sail from Tupua, now French Polynesia.

Captain James Cook, the great explorer who, on the orders of his country, was voyaging the South Pacific for possible land acquisition, In 1773 he sighted Manuae, then subsequently Palmerston, Takutea, Mangaia and Atiu in 1777. Today the country is essentially independent or self-governing in free association with New Zealand which oversees the defence.

The earliest flag identified with the Cook Islands was in use on the island of Rarotonga in the 1850s. It had three horizontal stripes of red, white, and red, with three blue stars in the central white stripe.

A Union Jack canton was included 1888 after Britain built up a protectorate over the islands. In 1893 the stars vanished, an identification was put on the Union Jack, and alternate islands additionally started showing the banner. The Cook Islands turned into a protectorate under New Zealand in 1901.

On January 24, 1974, the Cook Islands acquired local autonomy and its own flag, which featured a ring of 15 yellow stars in the fly of a green field. Green stood for the islands' lush vegetation and the vitality of the people; yellow indicated their friendliness, hope, faith, and dedication; and the ring of stars represented unity for the 15 islands.

The banner was along these lines adjusted. The new outline, made an authority on August 4, 1979, all the more nearly takes after the New Zealand Flag. The Union Jack in the canton of a blue field symbolizes a quiet sea country and reviews the islands' connection with the Commonwealth. The white stars symbolize faith in God and the fairness of the 15 islands. The Flag Company Inc worked in banner outlines offered an extraordinary release of decals and banners to retain the historical backdrop of Cook Islands Flag for the future generations.




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