Marquesas Islands
Flag of Marquesas Islands, 2017–present
Proportion2:3
Adopted30 November 1998 (last updated in 2017)
DesignA flag divided in to a top yellow half and a bottom red half with a white triangle in the hoist charged with the design of Maitiki.
Designed byMotu Haka Association and Teiki Huukena

The flag of the Marquesas Islands is the flag chosen by the regional government to represent the islands. However, it is not formally recognized by France, the administrative government of the region.

Description

The flag is divided into two horizontal stripes with yellow on top and red on bottom, with a white equilateral triangle emerging from the hoist. The yellow represents youth and joy, while the red and white are tapu, or sacred, to the chiefs and priests respectively.[1]

In the white triangle, a black design of Matatiki ("the gaze of Tiki") represents the first man in Polynesian mythology, and the inventor of sculpture and tattooing. The tattoo design on Tiki's cheeks are tapu symbols.[1]

History

The flag of the Marquesas Islands with an earlier version of the Matatiki, used until 2017.
The flag of the Marquesas Islands with an earlier version of the Matatiki, used until 2017.

The first version of the flag was revealed December 30, 1978 by the Motu Haka Association. The flag was formally adopted by the local government on November 30, 1998. The flag was used informally for many years, having been first raised on December 14, 1980, at the opening of the airport on Nuku Hiva.[2]

The design of Matatiki has appeared in several versions throughout the years. The design was most recently updated in 2017 by Teiki Huukena, a Marquesas Island tattoo artist.[3]

Other flags of the Marquesas Islands

Flag of France

The flag of France is the only ensign officially recognized by the French government to represent the Marquesas Islands.

Flag of French Polynesia

The overseas country which Marquesas Islands are a part of also has its own flag. It was adopted by the regional government in 1984.[4]

Kingdom of Nuku Hiva Flag

On June 1, 1835, French nobleman Baron de Thierry declared himself king of Nuku Hiva, the largest island of the Marquesas. The so-called kingdom was never formalized in any way and Thierry left the island shortly after.[5] A design associated with this Thierry's claim has appeared in publications and throughout the internet,[6] but its origin and connection to the historical incident remain unverified.

References

  1. 1 2 "Le drapeau marquisien redessiné – CODIM". www.codim.pf. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  2. ↑ PURUTAA, René DOUDARD (6 March 2009). "6 mars 2009". Les Îles Marquises (in French). Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  3. ↑ Buquet, Benoit (2019-03-19). "Le matatiki du drapeau des Marquises redessiné - Radio1 Tahiti" (in French). Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  4. ↑ "Délibération n° 84-1030 AT du 23 novembre 1984 portant approbation du drapeau et des armes de la Polynésie française". lexpol.pf.
  5. ↑ McLintock, Alexander Hare; Ruth Miriam Ross, School Teacher and Authoress; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "THIERRY, Charles Philip Hippolytus, Baron de". An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  6. ↑ "Vexventures". www.flagsaustralia.com.au. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
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