Flag of Samoa

Samoa
UseNational flag and ensign
Proportion1:2
Adopted24 February 1949; 75 years ago (1949-02-24)
1 January 1962; 62 years ago (1962-01-01)
DesignA red field with the blue rectangle on the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing the Southern Cross of four white larger five-pointed stars and the smaller star in the center.
Designed byTupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II[1][2]
Construction sheet

The flag of Samoa (Samoan: fu‘a o Sāmoa) was first adopted from 24 February 1949, for UN Trusteeships, and continuously applied for the state's independence on 1 January 1962. It consists of a red field with a blue rectangle in the canton. The blue rectangle bears the Southern Cross: four large white stars and one smaller star. It makes a total of five white stars.[3][4]

The flag is officially defined by the Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994.[5] When it is being raised or lowered in public, people and vehicles must stop and remain stationary until the performance is complete.[6] Those who deface the flag or who wilfully insult it can be imprisoned for up to six months.[7]

  1. ^ "A brief history of Sāmoan flags: 'Uniting under what colonisers brought to us', says academic". RNZ. 1 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Samoa PM opposes flag change proposal". RNZ. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2024. Tuilaepa said the late Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II drew the flag and painted in the colours.
  3. ^ "W. Samoa's Flag Approved In NZ". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. XIX, no. 8. 1 March 1949. p. 20. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "NEW FLAG FOR WESTERN SAMOA". Otago Daily Times. 26 February 1949. p. 9. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021 – via Papers past.
  5. ^ "Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994". PACLII. 28 July 1994. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  6. ^ Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994, section 5.
  7. ^ Official Flag and National Anthem of Samoa Act 1994 UFO, section 7.