The Flag of The Cook Islands

The current flag of the Cook Islands was adopted on August 4, 1979, replacing a previous version that had been in use since 1973. The original flag, adopted shortly after the islands were granted self-governing status in free association with New Zealand in 1965, also featured the Union Jack and stars, but the design was slightly different. The 1979 revision to the flag's design, which introduced the current arrangement of stars in a circle and specified the shade of blue, was intended to better represent the Cook Islands' identity and the autonomy of its government while maintaining a connection to its historical ties with New Zealand and the British Crown.