Last modified: 2004-12-29 by santiago dotor
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![[Cook Islands (New Zealand)]](../images/c/ck.gif)
1:2 
by Zeljko Heimer, modified by António Martins
Flag adopted 4th August 1979
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The official name of the Cook Islands is the Cook Islands. It would be rather unusual to say the least to refer to this country today as the Associated State of the Cook Islands. It would also be incorrect to refer to this country by that expression if that were to infer that the Cook Islands lacked its own international personality and had less than plenary competence to engage in international affairs in its own right. Indeed, for example, the Cook Islands recently became a contracting party to the Cotonou Agreement between 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and the European Union, that Agreement being open for participation only by independent States. As well, the Cook Islands is a full member of a number of world organisations of which New Zealand is also a separate and full member (e.g. FAO, ICAO, UNESCO, WHO and WMO). While the Cook Islands is in a relationship of free association with New Zealand, that relationship does not qualify the Cook Islands' plenary competence referred to above.
The Maori translation of the Cook Islands is te Kuki Airani, not Rarotonga, the latter being the main island of this country.
James Gosselin, International Legal Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, 3 January 2001 (in an e-mail to Roger Moyer)
The following information is from the US Department of the Interior on islands of disputed sovereignty in the 20th century. The document appears to be from early 1998, so there may be some changes. In a treaty signed June 11, 1980, the United States renounced claims to four atolls in favor of Cook Island sovereignty. The treaty was effective September 8, 1983. The atolls were: Danger (Pukapuka), Manahiki, Penrhyn and Rakahanga.
Phil Nelson, 27 April 2000
The Cook Islands were declared a British protectorate in 1888, and annexed to New Zealand in 1901. In 1965, they were granted internal self-government with their own unicameral Parliament. They have an elected Legislative Assembly, and a High Commissioner who ratifies the legislation. (Those familiar with Westminster style constitutions will understand that this ratification is merely a formality with its roots founded in the fact that the ultimate head of state is the Queen of England.) The High Commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand government, but I don't know whether it is a parliamentary, cabinet, or ministerial appointment. Presumably, the "Queen's Representative" is the Governor-General of New Zealand.
Bill Anderson, 11 January 2001
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 Cook Islands, formerly as part of, and now as an independent state in free association with, New Zealand.
Stuart Park, 8 December 1995
The Cook Islands ensign is described and its symbolism explained in the Government of the Cook Islands website:
The Constitution declares the Cook Islands Ensign described below to be the recognised flag of the Cook Islands (Article 76C):-"The Cook Islands Ensign shall be a Royal blue ensign. The Union Jack shall occupy the upper staff quarter, having on the fly 15 stars in a symmetrical ring, all of equal size and equal spacing, and the colour of the stars shall be white. The flag proportion of length to breadth shall be two to one.
"And it shall mean -
(Third Schedule to the Constitution).
- "Blue - is the colour most expressive of our Nation, it is representative of the vast area of the Pacific Ocean in which the islands of the Cook Islands are scattered. Blue also depicts the peaceful nature of the inhabitants of our islands.
- "Union Jack - indicates our historical association with and membership of the British Commonwealth.
- "The 15 white stars - represent the 15 islands of the group."
Santiago Dotor, 3 February 1999
According to Barraclough and Crampton 1981, pp. 212 and 252:
New Zealand has two territories in the South Pacific which are in the same relationship to her as the Associated States are to the UK. These are the Cook Islands and Niue. (...)And according to Crampton 1989, p. 126:A new design for the flag was introduced on 4 August 1979. The circle of stars is now white, and is placed in the fly of a British-style Blue Ensign, thus making the flag much more like that of New Zealand. This change follows a change of leadership in the islands. The present flag is not unlike that originally submitted by Len Staples in the 1973 competition.
The fifteen Pacific Ocean islands that make up this group became self-governing in 1965, but still rely on New Zealand for foreign affairs and defence. The Cook Islands have had many flags, the latest having been adopted on 4 August 1979. It continues to use the ring of fifteen stars (one for each island) used on the previous flag, which was otherwise plain green. The change was made when the Cook Islands Party lost power to the Democratic Party, whose colours are blue and white.
Santiago Dotor, 4 January 2000
The Cook Islands' Constitution describes the flag as a Royal blue ensign. Perhaps they wanted to say British blue ensign (the most natural description, surely) but decided that that was politically incorrect as they were subjects of the Crown of New Zealand? Royal blue ensign seems like a compromise that would issue from that, though it is patently confusing.