Coat of arms of the Cook Islands

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.