Cook Islands - New Zealand

The Cook Islands is an self-governing country in free association with New Zealand. That means New Zealand take care of foreign affairs and defense and the Cook Islands take care for itself the rest, although lately they do some foreign affairs by it self. Also every citizen of the Cook Islands is an citizen of New Zealand vice versa is that not the case. This self-governing country can be found in the South Pacific Ocean and there live around 17 thousand. The people live on 15 islands (some are uninhabitant) and all the islands are atolls, some are an combination of volcanic activity and coral growth. The islands are divided in two groups, the Northern Cook Islands and the Southern Cook Islands. The largest of the last group is Rarotonga with an population of around 14 thousands and that is almost 70% of Cook Islands population, the capital Avarua is located here. The other islands are Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Takutea (uninhabited), Aitutaki, Mangaia, Manuae (uninhabited) and Palmerstone Island. The north has the follow islands Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow (onbewoond). So let's take an look at the flag. 

This an Blue Ensign flag beside the United Kingdom it's also shown Cook Islands connection with New Zealand. But the origin of the Blue Ensign can be found in the British royal navy, used by ships which are commanded by an Royal navy officer or ships in public service. And where those ships operating at possible oversea British possessions the Blue Ensign will be used with an defaced emblem or badge, this matter an ring of stars. Whoever counts well see that there are 15 stars, those stands for the Cook Islands. The blue symbolize for the ocean and that covers the Cook Islands for 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi), merely the total land area is 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). At the end this Blue Ensign is quite simple with an usual coat of arms.