the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered
the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea
the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation
the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific