List of Fijian flags

This is a list of flags used in Fiji.

National flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1970–present	Flag of Fiji	A Light Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the shield from the Coat of arms of Fiji in the fly. The light blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the Union Jack the country's historical ties to the United Kingdom. The shield is derived from the country's coat of arms, which was granted by Royal Warrant in 1908. It is a white shield divided by a red St. George's Cross and with a red band at the top. The images depicted on the shield represent agricultural activities on the islands and the historical associations with the United Kingdom. At the top of the shield, a British lion holds a cocoa pod between its paws. The upper left is sugar cane, upper right is a coconut palm, the lower left a dove of peace, and the lower right a bunch of bananas.

Presidential flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	c.1987–present	Standard of the President of Fiji	A dark blue field featuring the outline of the full Coat of Arms of Fiji in golden-yellow and a traditional knot and whale's tooth beneath it.

Ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1970–present	Civil Ensign of Fiji	A Red Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the shield from the Fijian coat of arms in the fly.
	1970–present	Government Ensign of Fiji	A Blue Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the shield from the Fijian coat of arms in the fly.
	1970–present	Naval Ensign of Fiji	A White Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton and the shield from the Fijian coat of arms in the fly.
	1970–present	Civil Air Ensign of Fiji	A dark blue cross outlined in white on a light blue field with the Union Jack in the canton and the shield from the Fijian coat of arms superimposed over the right arm of the cross.
	1987–present	Customs Ensign of Fiji	A blue British ensign featuring the shield from the Fijian Coat of Arms with the word "CUSTOMS" beneath it in the fly.

Historical flags

National and colonial flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1924–1970	Flag of the Colony of Fiji	A blue British ensign with the full Fijian coat of arms in the fly.
	1908–1924	Flag of the Colony of Fiji	A blue British ensign with the full Fijian coat of arms on a white disc in the fly.
	1883–1908	Flag of the Colony of Fiji	A blue British ensign with a white disc in the fly displaying a crown surmounted by a lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
	1877–1883	Flag of the Colony of Fiji	A blue British ensign with a white disc in the fly containing a badge of foliage and crossed war-clubs with a superimposed shield bearing a mermaid looking at herself in a hand mirror. The badge is based on what was then the seal of the Supreme Court of Fiji.
	1874–1877	Flag of the Colony of Fiji	The British Union Flag, first raised on 10 October 1874 to mark Fiji's cession to the United Kingdom, and served for three years as Fiji's sole official flag.
	1871–1874	Flag of the Kingdom of Fiji	A vertical bicolour of white and light blue with a white dove holding an olive branch on a red shield surmounted by a crown.[1]
	1869–1871	Flag of the Confederation of Lau	A horizontal bicolour of white and red with a red cross in the canton. Similar to the Polish flag.
	1867–1869	Flag of the Kingdom of Bau	A horizontal tricolour of white, blue and red, with a golden sunburst in the centre and a crown in the canton.[2] Similar to the Russian flag.
	1865–1867	Flag of the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Fiji	A white eight-pointed star on a dark blue field.[3]

Royal flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1871–1874	Royal Standard of Fiji	A white field bearing a white dove on a red shield surmounted by a crown. Below the shield is a scroll bearing the country's motto; REREVAKA NA KALOU KA DOKA NA TUI (Fear God and honour the King).
	1869–1871	Personal flag of the King of Lau	A vertical bicolour of red and white with a white cross in the canton.

Viceregal flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1970–1987	Flag of the Governor-General of Fiji	A dark blue field featuring a St. Edward's Crown surmounted by a crowned lion, over the word "FIJI" on a whale's tooth.
	1908–1970	Flag of the Governor of Fiji	A Union Jack defaced with the full coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc surrounded by a laurel wreath in the centre.[4]
	1883–1908	Flag of the Governor of Fiji	A Union Jack defaced with a white disc in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath and containing a crown surmounted by a crowned lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
	1877–1883	Flag of the Governor of Fiji	A Union Jack defaced with a white disc in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath and containing a badge of foliage and crossed war-clubs with a superimposed shield bearing a mermaid looking at herself in a hand mirror.

Ensigns

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1970–1987	Customs Ensign	A blue British ensign featuring the shield from the Fijian Coat of Arms with the word "H.M. CUSTOMS" beneath it in the fly.
	pre-1970	Civil Ensign	A red British Ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Fiji on a white disc in the fly.
	1881–1966	Customs Ensign	A blue British ensign with a white lower half defaced with the letters "HMC" within. The same design was prescribed for the Solomon Islands and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
	1871–1874	Civil Ensign	The Civil Ensign of the Kingdom of Fiji. A white and blue bicolour with a red shield in the centre featuring a white dove holding an olive branch. Similar to the national flag of the time, but without the crown.

Proposed alternative flags

2005 proposal

On 30 November 2005, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs called for the restoration of the country's full Coat of Arms to the flag, including two warrior figures on either side of the shield, along with an outrigger canoe at the top and the national motto, Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na tui ("Fear God and honour the Queen") below it.

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  Proposed flag of Fiji with the full Arms in the fly.

2015 proposals

On 3 February 2015, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama confirmed that the flag of Fiji would be replaced. He announced that a national competition to design the new flag would be held, with the aim of hoisting this flag on 11 October 2015, the 45th anniversary of independence. During the competition, over 2,000 designs were submitted, before a final shortlist of 23 was selected by Fiji's National Flag Committee on 9 June 2015. However, on 17 August 2016, Bainimarama publicly announced that the government was abandoning plans to change the flag.

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References

1. "Driving of the first pile of the Waitara Bridge", Taranaki Herald (20 December 1871). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
2. "Notes from Fiji", Sydney Morning Herald (30 July 1867). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
3. "The Fiji Islands", Sydney Mail (12 August 1865). Retrieved 13 April 2020.
4. "Union Jack flag with Fijian crest", Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

External links

• Fiji at Flags of the World
• Fiji at Flags Corner
• Fiji's Flag Parade
• Fiji at hubert-herald.nl
• The Fiji Museum - Cakobau flag
• The Symbolism, History and Future of Fiji’s Flag
• 23 (First Round) "Finalists" for New Fiji Flag
• Media related to Flags based on British ensigns at Wikimedia Commons