The coat of arms of the Cook Islands is the heraldic symbol representing the South Pacific island country of the Cook Islands.
History The coat of arms was designed by Mataiapo Metuakore Teremoana Ngametua Tutakiao Kora , who was also known as Papa Motu Kora. The arms were adopted on 4 August 1978.
Description The arms have a shield as its focal point. The shield is blue with fifteen white stars arranged in a circle, as found on the national flag and representing the 15 major islands, and is supported by a flying fish (maroro) and a white tern (kakaia). The helmet is an ariki head-dress (pare kura) of red feathers, symbolising the importance of the traditional rank system, and the name of the nation is on a scroll below the shield. The achievement is augmented by a cross and a Rarotongan club (momore taringavaru) used by orators during traditional discourses, respectively symbolizing Christianity and the richness of Cook Islands' tradition, placed in saltire behind the shield.
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