"flags of five other independent countries (see Flags of Australia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Niue, and Tuvalu articles) retain the Union Flag in their national flags. But of these, only Fiji is a republic. The Union flag also remains on the state flag of Hawaii, a state of the USA since 1959. Some influential Fijians have called for the restoration of the full coat of arms to the flag. On 30 November 2005, Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs called for the two warrior figures, who guard the shield on the coat of arms, to be placed on the flag, along"
"in March 2016, with the public then having three months to select one. The government also said it expected to announce the new flag on 1 July 2016 or at a later date, and that it planned to raise the new flag on Constitution Day, 7 September 2017 (a new public holiday celebrating the 2013 Constitution of Fiji). However, on 17 August 2016, Bainimarama publicly announced that the government was abandoning plans to change the flag. He read out a statement saying: ""While I remain convinced personally that we need to replace some of the flag’s colonial symbols with a"
"Flag of Fiji The national flag of Fiji was adopted on 10 October 1970. The state arms have been slightly modified but the flag has remained the same as during Fiji's colonial period. It is a defaced sky-blue ""Blue Ensign"" (the actual Blue Ensign version of the flag is the Government ensign). It has remained unchanged since Fiji was declared a republic in 1987, despite calls from some politicians for changes. A plan to change the flag, announced by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama in 2013, was abandoned in August 2016. The flag's bright blue background symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, which"
"of hoisting this flag on 11 October 2015, the 45th anniversary of independence. During the competition, over 2,000 designs were submitted, before a final shortlist of 23 was selected by Fiji's National Flag Committee on 9 June 2015. It was intended to submit these designs to the Cabinet for consideration on 30 June 2015, following a brief public feedback period. However, on 30 June, Bainimarama announced that this feedback period was to be extended to 31 December 2015, saying, ""(People) want more time to consider what form the new flag should take... By extending the deadline, there is now ample"
"the Great Council of Chiefs. Prior to ceding the country to British rule in 1874, the government of Fiji adopted a national flag featuring blue and white vertical stripes, with in the centre a red shield depicting a white dove. This flag ceased to be used when the colonial era began and Fiji relinquished its independence. Fiji was a British colony from 1874 to 1970. In his New Year's Day address in 2013, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced that the flag would soon be changed so as ""to reflect a sense of national renewal, to reinforce a new Fijian identity"
"in a national rather than a racial sense. She called for the British Union Flag to be removed from the Fijian flag, and for the observance of Queen's Birthday to be discontinued as a national holiday. She also called for the removal of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from Fiji's currency. Despite having been a republic since 1987, Fiji had kept, for cultural and historical reasons, many of the trappings of its old connection to the British Monarchy. """"These are just some of the things that disturb me considering our drive to take ownership of our country and make"
"and a new confidence in being Fijian on the global stage"". The change in the flag would accompany the adoption of a new Constitution, intended by Fiji's military leader (who came to power in a coup in December 2006) to establish a ""one person, one vote"", non-racial and secular democracy under military oversight. The country, a republic, had removed Queen Elizabeth II from its currency a few weeks earlier. On 3 February 2015, Bainimarama confirmed that the flag of Fiji would be replaced. He announced that a national competition to design the new flag would be held, with the aim"
"genuinely indigenous expression of our present and our future, it has been apparent to the Government since February that the flag should not be changed for the foreseeable future"". The flag's popularity had been boosted by the country winning its first ever Olympic gold medal under its banner in the 2016 Summer Olympics. The decision to retain the current flag was welcomed by opposition parties. Flag of Fiji The national flag of Fiji was adopted on 10 October 1970. The state arms have been slightly modified but the flag has remained the same as during Fiji's colonial period. It is"
"with a miniature canoe and the national motto, ""Rerevaka na kalou ka doka na tui"" (""Fear God and honour the Queen"") — symbols that were featured on the original flag of the Kingdom of Viti, the first unified Fijian state created under the leadership of Seru Epenisa Cakobau in 1871. ""The coat of arms is very significant because it has the word of God, then it has the two warriors and the Fijian canoe also. I think that the council members prefer that the full coat of arms be included in the Fiji flag,"" said Asesela Sadole, General Secretary of"
"country to Britain. However, the coat of arms featured on the flag was modified, which involved removing the crest, supporters, and motto, thus leaving only the escutcheon untouched. This was done in order to enlarge the shield and make it more prominent. This has led to calls from several Fijian chiefs for the restoration of the full, official coat of arms to the national flag. The colours and objects on the coat of arms carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The Cross of St. George—which divides the shield quarterly—and the golden lion at the top represent the United Kingdom, the"
"a Fijian republic, with the President chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs, a formal body of mostly hereditary chiefs. Though Fiji has been a republic since 1987 and was suspended from the Commonwealth for a second time in 2009, until 2012 the Queen's effigy was still displayed on Fiji's currency and the Queen's Official Birthday remained a public holiday. In 2012, Frank Bainimarama's government abolished the official birthday holiday, and replaced the Queen's image on banknotes and coins with indigenous flora and fauna. The St Edward's Crown still forms part of the badges of the military and the police."
"of the aircraft. The two helicopters were: Helicopter AS-365 N2 Dauphin crashed off the coast of the main island in July 1994; a smaller AS-355F-2 continued in service until mid-1997 and in 1999 was sold to France. The Air Wing did not have its own roundel or ensign and its only marking was the national flag used as a fin flash. Rank designation based on the British tradition. Fiji's military has a history of political intervention. In 1987, soldiers were responsible for two military coups, and in 2000, the military organised a countercoup to quash George Speight's civilian coup. Since"
"Coat of arms of Fiji The coat of arms of Fiji is the heraldic device consisting of a shield divided quarterly by Cross of St. George and charged with a gold lion at the top, supported by two Fijian warriors, one on each side, and topped with a canoe as the crest. Adopted in 1908 by a Royal Warrant, it has been the coat of arms of Fiji since that year, having been retained after independence in 1970. The escutcheon from the arms is featured on the flag of Fiji. The Kingdom of Fiji became a crown colony of the"
"which he ousted in April 2009. Bainimarama displays above his office desk portraits of Elizabeth II, former Queen of Fiji, and of her consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He has said of himself: ""I'm still loyal to the Queen. Many people are in Fiji. One of the things I'd like to do is see her restored as our monarch, to be Queen of Fiji again."" However, in 2012 Bainimarama's government abolished the Queen's Official Birthday holiday in Fiji and replaced the Queen's image on Fiji's banknotes and coins with the Fijian coat of arms (themselves granted by royal warrant)."
"to legend, they are twins; the older brother is clutching a spear, while the younger one holds a totokia club. At the bottom is the country's motto: Fear God and honour the King (). Coat of arms of Fiji The coat of arms of Fiji is the heraldic device consisting of a shield divided quarterly by Cross of St. George and charged with a gold lion at the top, supported by two Fijian warriors, one on each side, and topped with a canoe as the crest. Adopted in 1908 by a Royal Warrant, it has been the coat of arms"
"flag, and a Cabinet sworn in on 4 November. Its capital was declared to be the village of Cuvu, and Gavidi was proclaimed as its President. The secessionists explained their actions by their rejection of Fiji's new Constitution in 2013 which enshrined the principle of a secular state. The proclamation of secession was, however, rejected and condemned by the province's chiefly families. The members of the secessionist ""government"" were eventually arrested in August 2015 and charged with sedition and causing unrest. By that time, Gavidi had died in hospital, in April at the age of 71, and been buried in"
"British Empire on 10 October 1874. About 34 years later, the islands were accorded with their own coat of arms through a royal warrant issued on 4 July 1908. Although its design was ""intended to be British"", the arms did incorporate symbols of Fiji – it was eventually used on the flag of the territory. When it was granted independence on 10 October 1970, Fiji decided to retain its coat of arms from the colonial era. This was partly because of its links to Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the first and last King of Fiji () who relinquished control of the"
"declared in 1987, following a series of coups d'état. In a coup in 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power. When the High Court ruled in 2009 that the military leadership was unlawful, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal Head of State, formally abrogated the Constitution and reappointed Bainimarama. Later in 2009, Iloilo was replaced as President by Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. After years of delays, a democratic election was held on 17 September 2014. Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won with 59.2% of the vote, and the election was deemed credible by international observers. Located in the"
"former colonial power that ruled over Fiji. The cacao pod held in the lion's paw, along with the sugarcane, coconut palm and bananas occupying three of the four quadrants, represent the country's natural resources, since these are key agricultural crops in Fiji. The bottom left quadrant contains a dove that symbolizes peace – this was utilized on the country's flag during the reign of King Cakobau, whose government was the last before the commencement of British rule. The crest at the top depicts a ""takia""—a traditional Fijian canoe—while the supporters grasping the shield on both sides are Fijian warriors. According"
"2 cents were also discontinued and withdrawn the same year. A thinner brass plated steel $1 coin was later introduced in 2010, gradually phasing out the older type. In 2013 Fiji released a whole family of new coins, with fauna themes, and without the Queen's portrait. This new series saw the introduction of a $2 coin, replacing the corresponding note just as the $1 coin had done before. This coin faced controversy due to being too easily mistaken as a $1, as it was only slightly larger of the same color. It was replaced by a larger and thicker Spanish"
"one of 258 entries. It was first hoisted one minute after midnight on 19 September 1983, the day Saint Kitts and Nevis became an independent country. The colours and symbols of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The green alludes to the country's fertile land, while the red evokes the fight for freedom against slavery and colonialism. The yellow stripes represent the sunshine the islands enjoy all year round, and the black epitomises the people's African origins. The two stars on the black band symbolise Saint Christopher and Nevis—the two islands that make up the federation—as well as"
"opportunity for Fijians of all ages and backgrounds to further contribute and consider what symbols most appropriately represent our wonderful nation."" On 24 December 2015, the Fijian government announced that it had again put off a decision on the country's new flag via delaying the next stage by another two months to the end of February 2016. In a statement, the government said that it had now received new submissions since it released 23 designs earlier in 2015, and that it was still seeking more. Furthermore, it was announced that five designs would be chosen through the Prime Minister's Office"
"Great Council of Chiefs recognised Elizabeth II as ""Tui Viti"" or the traditional Queen of Fiji, but the position is not one of a constitutional, or otherwise legal nature. The Great Council of Chiefs was disestablished in 2012 by decree. Elizabeth II does not use the title, and the Fijian government does not recognise it. In the late 1840s, the ""Vunivalu"" or ruler of Bau, Tanoa Visawaqa (died 1852) declared himself ""Tui Viti"", which translates as ""King of Fiji"" or ""paramount chief of Fiji"". It is recorded that he used the title in recognition of his political influence over other"
"Islands were the cause of a maritime boundary dispute between Vanuatu and France (New Caledonia). They had been part of the New Hebrides until 1976, when France annexed them to New Caledonia instead. Lini's government rejected French sovereignty over the islands, and, in 1993, Lini travelled illegally to Hunter Island, where he plant the ni-Vanuatu flag. A French patrol vessel prevented him from reaching Matthew Island. The dispute spilled over to Fiji when, in 1982, Fiji and New Caledonia signed an agreement on mutual recognition of their maritime boundaries, in which Fiji recognised French ownership of the Matthew and Hunter"
"three-year moratorium. The last test was on 27 January 1996. On 29 January 1996, France announced that it would accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and no longer test nuclear weapons. Fiji has suffered several coups d'état: military in 1987 and 2006 and civilian in 2000. All were ultimately due to ethnic tension between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, who originally came to the islands as indentured labour in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The 1987 coup followed the election of a multi-ethnic coalition, which Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka overthrew, claiming racial discrimination against ethnic Fijians. The coup"
"original name of Fiji Airways, with the rebranding coinciding with the delivery of the A330 aircraft in 2013. Fiji Airways' new brandmark, a ""Masi symbol that epitomises Fiji and enhances the new name of Fiji's national carrier"", was announced by Managing Director & CEO Dave Pflieger on 17 August 2012. The design was created by local Fijian Masi artist, Makereta Matemosi. The airline's new brand identity and colour scheme were fully revealed by the CEO and Prime Minister of Fiji at a formal red-carpet, black-tie event in Suva on 10 October 2012, in conjunction with Fiji Day. The rebranding to"
"Atu Emberson Bain Atu Emberson Bain is a Fijian political leader. A leading figure in the Fiji Labour Party (FLP), she served from 1999 to 2006 as one of 8 Senators nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. Bain is known for her outspoken opinions. She called for the voting age (then 21) to be lowered, for the national flag bearing the British Union Jack to be changed, and for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be removed from the national currency. In 2005 she said that after 18 years as a republic, Fiji should consider whether it was"
"In the Solomon Islands, the scroll was replaced with a two-headed frigate bird motif, while in Fiji, the former Governor General's flag featured a whale's tooth. In New Zealand, the flag was replaced in 2008 with the shield of the coat of arms of New Zealand surmounted by a crown on a blue field. Governors-general are accorded the style of ""His/Her Excellency"". This style is also extended to their spouses, whether female or male. Until the 1920s, the Governors General were British, and appointed on the advice of the British Government. Following the changes to the structure of the Commonwealth"
"colonies in Oceania which are now independent countries incorporate the Union Jack as part of their national flags: Australia, New Zealand and Tuvalu, which have retained the monarchy; and Fiji, which abolished the monarchy in 1987. In former British colonies, the Union Jack was used semi-interchangeably with territorial flags for significant parts of their early history. This was the case in Canada until the introduction of the Maple Leaf Flag in 1965, but it is still used in the flags of a number of Canadian provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario. Newfoundland and Labrador uses a modified version"
"the ""Tui Viti"" title, and it is not officially recognised by the current ""de facto"" Fijian government, it remains dormant in usage. When broached on the subject of restoration by Sitiveni Rabuka during a meeting with the Queen in 1997, her response was simple: ""Let the people decide"". After another coup in 2000, further political tension led to a fourth coup in 2006. The Great Council of Chiefs was suspended in 2007, and the Constitution, which gives the Council the right to appoint the Head of State from among its members, was suspended in 2009. On 14 March 2012, the"
"Union Flag in the canton. The RAF Ensign is defaced with the red-white-blue RAF roundel, while the field of the civil air ensign is charged with a large dark blue cross fimbriated white. The flag of Tuvalu and that of Fiji are also defaced sky blue ensigns. The white ensign of the Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board is unique in that it remains the only example of a pre-1801 Union Flag in official use today. This flag is only flown from vessels with Commissioners aboard. There are two ""yellow"" ensigns in use in the South Pacific, both featuring the"
"5 to 50 Cents coins introduced in 2009. After Fiji was fully suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations in September 2009, new coins featuring native animals in place of the Queen were minted by the Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg in 2012, becoming available in 2013. A circulation commemorative 50 Cents depicting Iliesa Delana on the obverse dated 2013 has now been put into circulation. A mintage figure of 500,000 coins has been confirmed by the Reserve Bank of Fiji in a statement by Governor Barry Whiteside. Fiji has put a circulating 50 Cents into circulation to commemorate the Fijian"
"stamps of Fiji with ""NEW HEBRIDES / CONDOMINIUM"". These were followed by a joint issue with the French authorities, inscribed ""NEW HEBRIDES"" over a design including the coats of arms of both France and Britain and denominated in British currency. These were in use for several years, but as the stocks ran out in 1920, the less-popular values had to be surcharged ""1d."" and ""2d."". New stamps in different colours came in the following year, but further surcharges became necessary again, in 1924. 1925 saw another joint issue of nine values similar to the 1911 stamps, but this time both"