French Polynesia’s official flag was adopted in 1984.
The Assembly of French Polynesia approved the flag on November 23, 1984, following the territory’s 1984 statute. Its design has two red horizontal bands surrounding a white band twice their height, with the emblem of French Polynesia at the centre.
The emblem shows a Polynesian canoe riding on stylised waves beneath rays of the sun. Five figures aboard the canoe are represented by five stars, symbolising French Polynesia’s five island groups. The red and white colours also draw on traditional Polynesian associations.
A common mix-up is to confuse the adoption date with the later regulation of how the flag is displayed. Its use alongside the French Tricolour was formally regulated by a decree issued in 1985. The flag is a distinctive symbol of French Polynesia, but it is displayed at official events alongside France’s national flag.