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Vanuata

All of our printed Vanuata flags are produced by a process called Dye Sublimation. The system drenches each fibre of the fabric, resulting in a flag with wonderful precise colour, and vitally the design appears perfectly on each side. This is known as ‘printed through to reverse’ and is an important consideration when choosing your flag as both sides will be seen when flying.

Trivia

There are 39 pairs of needles on the ferns on the flag.

Technical Specifications

Adopted
18th February 1980
Proportion 19:36
Design
A red-green horizontal bicolour with a yellow tusk and crossed ferns inside a black triangle with a yellow and black border becoming a horizontal stripe.
Buy Vanuatu Flag

Brief History

In 1887 a white-red horizontal bicolour with blue rectangle and a circle of five-five pointed stars was adopted as the flag of the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission. The area was declared Vanuatu neutral territory between France and Britain. When Franceville declared independence, the flag remained the same.

In 1906 a British Blue Ensign flag was adopted for the British part of New Hebrides. The Flag of British New Hebrides was a blue field with a white disc, a Tudor crown with “NEW” above and HEBRIDIES” centre right.

The Flag of the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1887 – 1906) The Flag of the Independent Commune of Franceville (1889 – 1890)

The Flag of the British New Hebrides (1906 – 1953)

When the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission became the New Hebrides Condominium in 1906 it is said a sky blue flag with crossing French tricolour and Union Jack was adopted.

During World War Two the Free France flag of the French government-in-exile would have been flown. The flag is the blue-white-red vertical tricolour of France with a red Croix de Lorraine in the centre.

The Flag of the New Hebrides Condominium (1906 – 1980)

The Flag of Free France (1940 – 1945)

In 1953 The Flag of British New Hebrides changed to feature the St Edward’s Crown on the white disc and in-between “NEW HEBRIDES”.

In 1980 Independence was granted and the country became Vanuatu. A red-green horizontal bicolour with a yellow tusk and crossed ferns inside a black triangle with a yellow and black border becoming a horizontal stripe.

The tusk represents wealth, the leaves are peace and the 39 pairs of needles represent the members of the assembly, yellow is peace and sunshine, green is the lushness of the land, red is the bloodshed, black is the people.

The Flag of the British New Hebrides (1953 – 1980)

The Flag of Vanuatu (1980 to Present Day)

The Coat of Arms of Vanuatu

The Coat of Arms of Vanuatu was adopted in 1980. The emblem depicts a Melanesian warrior protesting a boar’s tusk and a banner stating “IN GOD WE STAND, IN BISLAMA”.

The Presidential Standard of Vanuatu

The Presidential Standard of Vanuatu is a green field with a thick red border and the Coat of Arms of Vanuatu in the centre.

The Naval Ensign of Vanuatu

The Naval Ensign of Vanuatu is a plain white field with the national flag top left. It is used as the flag of the maritime police.

The Flags of the Province of Vanuatu

Each Province of Vanuatu has a specific flag. Examples of these flags are below.

The Flags Flown in the South Pacific Games

In 1963 The flag of the New Hebrides Condominium at the South Pacific Games was the French Tricolour with the Free France flag and British Union Flag in the centre. For the 1966 games the flag adopted was a sky blue flag with crossing French tricolour and Union Jack was adopted.

The Flag Flown at the South Pacific Games (1963)

The Flag Flown at the South Pacific Games (1966)

The Proposed Flag of the Republic of Vemerana

In 1980 the political movement of Nagriamel declared Vamerana an independent country from Vanuatu. While the independence was short-lived there was a Proposed Flag of the Republic of Vemerana, a sky blue field with a green five-pointed star.

The Historical Flag of the British Resident Commissionaire

From 1906 to 1953 the flag of the British Resident Commissioner was a Union Flag defaced with a white disc, ring of leaves and a Tudor Crown in-between “NEW HEBRIDES”. From 1953-1980 the Tudor Crown was replaced with St Edward’s Crown.

The Flag of the British Resident Commissioner (1906 – 1953)

The Flag of the British Resident Commissioner (1953 – 1980)

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