Star-spangled
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
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The green and gold Cook Islands Ensign flew on January 24, 1974, for the first time in Rarotonga and all but three of the other inhabited Cook Islands. Official flag raising ceremonies took place in all the Cooks except Pukapuka, Nassau and Palmerston, which had not then received their flags.
All government officials and em ployees in Rarotonga, except those engaged in essential public services, and a large crowd, were in front of the Administration buildings in Avarua for the ceremony. The Cook Islands Ensign is green with 15 gold stars in a circle on the fly, symbolis ing “unity and strength of purpose and the moulding of 15 islands into one united people” (PIM, Sept, 1973, p 3).
Earlier, the new ensign was flown in New Zealand, at the Common wealth Games in Queen Elizabeth Park, Christchurch. The ceremony was attended by a small team of Cook Islands' athletes—some with tears in their eyes.