Oceania · NF / NFK
Flag of Norfolk Island
The Norfolk Island flag is a vertical triband of green, white and green with a green Norfolk Island pine in the center of the white band. The pine is native to the island and is its official tree. The flag has been the flag of the territory since 6 June 1979.
What the flag of Norfolk Island looks like
The flag has three vertical stripes: green, white and green. The white stripe in the middle holds a green Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), drawn with its layered, symmetrical branches. The flag is twice as wide as it is tall, with a ratio of 1:2.
The green and white triband resembles the flag of Nigeria, but the pine sets it apart. The image on the Norfolk Island flag emoji keeps the three stripes and the tree.
Norfolk Island flag colors
Color codes measured from the official design. Use HEX for the web and CMYK for print.
HEX
#007934RGB
0, 121, 52CMYK
100, 0, 57, 53HEX
#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0Norfolk Island flag meaning and symbolism
The Norfolk Island pine is native to the island and is the territory's official tree. Captain James Cook, who sighted the island in 1774, thought the tree could be used for ships' masts, although this did not come to anything.
The green bands symbolize the island's plentiful vegetation and fertile land. The flag also resembles the Pine Tree Flag used during the American Revolution.
History of the Norfolk Island flag
Norfolk Island, 1,400 kilometers off the east coast of Australia, was settled in 1788 and claimed by the colony of New South Wales, and it was used as a penal colony until 1814 and again from 1825 until 1855. In 1856 the descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions moved from Pitcairn Island to Norfolk, and many islanders today trace their descent from them.
The island became a territory of Australia in 1914. In 1979 it was granted its own legislative assembly, and the Norfolk Island flag has been the territory's flag since 6 June of that year. Its design is set out in the Norfolk Island Flag and Public Seal Act 1979, which came into force on 17 January 1980. The Legislative Assembly was abolished in 2015, and a Regional Council took office in 2016. The flag remains a symbol of the islanders' separate identity.
Which flag is official on Norfolk Island?
Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia, so the flag of Australia is the official national flag. The island flag is used locally and is shown on this page because it is the flag specific to the territory.
Norfolk Island flag facts
| Country | Territory of Norfolk Island |
|---|---|
| Flag adopted | June 6, 1979 |
| Proportions | 1:2 |
| Colors | #007934, #FFFFFF |
| Symbols | Araucaria heterophylla |
| Flag emoji | 🇳🇫 |
| Country code | NF, NFK (ISO 3166) |
| Capital | Kingston |
| Continent | Oceania |
| Population | 2,188 |
| Area | 35 km² |
| Currency | Australian dollar |
| National anthem | God Save the King |
Norfolk Island flag: frequently asked questions
Why does Norfolk Island have its own flag?
Norfolk Island has a distinct history and identity, and the flag has been used since 1979, when the island gained its own limited self-government.
Is Norfolk Island part of Australia?
Yes, as an external territory. Australia is responsible for its defense and foreign affairs. The island has a regional council, and most residents are Australian citizens.
What country owns Norfolk Island?
Australia. It has been an Australian territory since 1914, after earlier periods as a penal colony and as a settlement of the Pitcairn islanders.
What is the tree on the Norfolk Island flag?
It is a Norfolk Island pine, a conifer native to the island. It is the official tree of the territory.
Are Norfolk Islanders Australian citizens?
Most are. Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia, and since 1 July 2016 mainland Australian immigration rules have applied on the island.
What does the green on the Norfolk Island flag mean?
Green symbolises the island's plentiful vegetation and fertile land. The tree in the center is a Norfolk Island pine, the territory's official tree, and the green is specified as Pantone 356 in the 1979 Flag and Public Seal Act.
Is the Norfolk Island flag similar to Nigeria's flag?
Yes, both use green and white bands in a similar way, but Nigeria has a plain green-white-green triband while Norfolk Island has a pine tree on the white band.
