Civil Flag of the Territory of French Polynesia (1900)

French Polynesia is an overseas territory of France, consisting of five main groups of islands and archipelagos: the Society Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, Marquesas Islands and Gambier islands.

Tahiti is the main island within French Polynesia and its main town, Papeete, is the capital of the territory.

The current French Polynesian territorial flag dates from the 29th of June 1985; it incorporates a red-white-red horizontal striped field and the territories coat of arms centrally placed. 

The Symbolic Meaning

The field of the flag consists of red-white-red horizontal stripes and recalls the flag of the 19th century former Kingdom of Tahiti. 

A similar red-white-red horizontal striped flag with the French national flag in the upper hoist was used to represent the Protectorate of Tahiti from the mid-19th century until 1880.

The coat of arms features a stylised representation of a traditional Polynesian canoe under sail. 

On the canoe are five stylised human beings; these represent the five island groups that make up French Polynesia.

Ten golden rays of the, life giving, sun and five wavy lines of blue, symbolising the sustenance providing Pacific Ocean, surround the canoe.