Papua New Guinea’s flag (adopted 1 July 1971; retained at independence in 1975) is diagonally divided from upper hoist to lower fly—black over red—with a white Southern Cross of five stars on the black and a golden Raggiana bird‑of‑paradise in silhouette on the red. Designed by school student Susan Karike (later Karike Huhume), it replaced earlier ensign proposals. The design balances Melanesian colours and symbols with astronomical identity. Specifications fix a 3:4 or 1:2 ratio (commonly 3:4), star sizes/positions, and the bird’s silhouette artwork. Guidance covers protocol, half‑masting, and dignified retirement. The distinctive diagonal split yields strong contrast for mast and textile reproduction across the country’s varied climates.
Papua New Guinea’s national flag—black over red divided diagonally from the upper hoist, bearing the Southern Cross in white and a golden Raggiana bird‑of‑paradise—was officially adopted on 1 July 1971 and raised at independence on 16 September 1975. Originating in a nationwide search for a design that would express local heritage rather than colonial motifs, it has since become an emblem of Melanesian identity and constitutional statehood.
Selection and Adoption (1971) In the lead‑up to internal self‑government, various proposals circulated, including ensigns featuring the Southern Cross with external heraldry. A public competition produced a compelling design by student Susan Karike: a stark diagonal division of black and red, five white stars for the Southern Cross, and a golden silhouette of the Raggiana bird‑of‑paradise—an endemic species central to cultural art. Authorities adopted the flag on 1 July 1971, several years before full independence, to establish a visual identity rooted in local forms.
Geometry and Construction The flag is typically produced at a 3:4 proportion (other ratios appear in practice). The diagonal descends from the upper hoist to the lower fly, creating two right triangles. The Southern Cross stars (Alpha to Epsilon Crucis) are placed on the black triangle by coordinates referenced to the flag’s edges, with diameters scaled by magnitude; the stars are white and five‑pointed. The bird‑of‑paradise in the red triangle is drawn from an approved silhouette file that captures characteristic plumage and tail feathers for legibility at distance. Official art defines minimum line weights and clearspace to preserve the silhouette against stitch and print variations.
Colour and Contrast Black and red are common in regional ornament and bilum patterns; together they provide strong visual contrast in coastal glare and highland cloud. Specifications provide dye references for deep red and rich black, and a golden yellow for the bird. Manufacturers are cautioned to avoid muted reds that reduce separation from the bird, and to maintain hard edges along the diagonal seam.
Symbolism The Southern Cross marks Papua New Guinea’s place beneath the southern skies and situates the flag within a wider Pacific constellation of designs, while remaining visually distinct through the diagonal division and colour palette. The Raggiana bird‑of‑paradise symbolises vibrancy, ceremony, and the diversity of the country’s hundreds of language communities, serving as a unifying motif across provinces.
Protocol
and Usage Government guidance sets precedence with provincial flags and foreign banners, sunrise‑to‑sunset display unless illuminated, prohibition on ground contact, and dignified retirement of worn flags. Half‑masting is ordered for national mourning. For schools and public buildings, procurement notes emphasise accurate star placement and the use of the official bird silhouette to prevent drift. The flag appears on national sports uniforms, diplomatic missions, and international events, where the bold diagonal split aids recognition on moving fabric and televised backgrounds.
Continuity Since independence the design has remained unchanged, its authority reinforced by widespread civic education on construction and etiquette. The flag’s combination of regional colours, astronomy, and endemic fauna has made it one of the Pacific’s most distinctive state symbols.