Coat of arms of the Cook Islands
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The Coat of Arms of the Cook Islands has a shield as its focal point The shield contains the fifteen stars found on the national flag. A flying fish (maroro) and a White Tern (kakaia) are on each side of the shield, one supporting a cross as a symbol for Christianity, the other holding a rarotongan club (momore taringavaru) as a symbol for the richness of Cook Islands tradition. Orators used to hold it during traditional discourses.
The helmet is an ariki head-dress (pare kura) of red feather, symbolising the importance of the traditional rank system.
The name of the nation is on a banner below the shield.
The coat of arms was designed by Papa Motu Kora, a mataiapo, a traditional chiefly title from the village of Matavera in Rarotonga. Papa Motu is the secretary of the House of Ariki -- the house of paramount chiefs from all over the Cook Islands. He has held this post for many years and is well known in the Cook Islands as a tumu korero or traditional orator.
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