National Flag of Papua New Guinea (1975)

Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, which it shares with the Indonesian province of West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya).

At the turn of the 20th century Papua New Guinea was divided into two separate territories, German New Guinea, administered by Germany and British New Guinea, a British protectorate, which became the Territory of Papua in 1905, when the administration of British New Guinea was handed over to Australia.

Australia officially took over the administration of the whole of modern day Papua New Guinea after the First World War, with the authority of a League of Nations mandate.

Australian administration eventually led to the merging of the two territories and over time the country became known as Papua New Guinea. 

As Papua New Guinea edged towards independence a flag competition was held to choose a national flag. 

In 1971, the Papua New Guinea territorial government approved a design submitted by local art teacher, Susan Karike. 

It became the national flag when Papua New Guinea proclaimed independence on the 16th of September 1975.

The Symbolic Meaning

Black, red and yellow are traditional colours common to Papua New Guinean art and clothing.

The yellow bird, a stylised bird of paradise, is culturally significant to Papua New Guineans and in full flight represents freedom and the country’s birth as an independent nation.

The five stars towards the hoist of the flag symbolise the constellation the Southern Cross, representing the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon, which is smaller because it doesn’t shine as brightly as the other stars in the constellation. 

It denotes Papua New Guinea's geographical position in the world and its historical link to its former administrator, Australia, which also incorporates the Southern Cross on its national flag.