Cook Islands
Encyclopedia : C : CO : COO : Cook Islands
- See Cook Island for individual islands of that name.
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| Official Language | English, Cook Islands Maori |
| Capital | Avarua |
| Head of State | Queen Elizabeth II (as Queen in right of New Zealand) |
| Queen's Representative | Sir Frederick Goodwin KBE |
| Prime Minister | Jim Marurai |
| Area | 240 km² (92.7 sq. mi) |
| Population (July 2005 Estimate) | 17,954 |
| Establishment – Date | Became self-governing in free association with New Zealand August 4, 1965. |
| National anthem | Te Atua Mou E (God is Truth) |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar (NZD). Also, have local , and coins that can't be used elsewhere. |
| Time zone | UTC -10 |
| Calling Code | 682 |
| Internet TLD | .ck |
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| Map of The Cook Islands | |
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| The Matavera Christian Church in Rarotonga | |
The Cook Islands (Cook Islands Maori: Kūki 'Āirani) are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands in this South Pacific Ocean have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq. mi).
Tourism is the country's number one industry, the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports. A popular art form on the islands is tivaivai, often likened to quilting.
Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request. The Cook Islands has adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy, particularly after the adoption of an isolationist and non-aligned policy by New Zealand in the 1980s.
Politics
- More information on politics and government of the Cook Islands can be found at the Politics and government of the Cook Islands series.
Geography
Geography of the Cook Islands- High Cook Islands
- *Aitutaki
- *Atiu (Enua-Manu or Island of Birds)
- *Mangaia
- *Mauke
- *Rarotonga (capital)
- Low islands of the Southern group
- *Manuae
- *Mitiaro
- *Takutea
- Northern Cook Islands
- *Manihiki
- *Nassau
- *Palmerston Island
- *Penrhyn Island also known as Tongareva
- *Pukapuka
- *Rakahanga
- *Suwarrow also called Suvorov
History
The Cook Islands became a British protectorate at their own request in 1888, then were transferred to New Zealand in 1901. They remained a New Zealand protectorate until 1965, at which point they became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent, but are still officially placed under New Zealand sovereignty. New Zealand is tasked with overseeing the country's foreign relations and defence, but may not impose legislation on the Cook Islands without the latter's consent. The Cook Islands are one of three New Zealand dependencies, along with Tokelau and Niue.
After achieving autonomy in 1965, the Cook Islands elected Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party as their first Prime Minister. He was succeeded in 1978 by Tom Davis of the Democratic Party.
On June 11, 1980, the United States signed a treaty with New Zealand specifying the maritime border between the Cook Islands and American Samoa and also relinquishing its claim to the islands of Penrhyn, Pukapuka (Danger), Manihiki, and Rakahanga.
Culture
See also: music of the Cook Islands
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day |
| January 2 | Day after New Year's Day |
| The Friday before Easter Sunday | Good Friday |
| The Day after Easter Sunday | Easter Monday |
| April 25 | ANZAC Day |
| The First Monday in June | Queen's Birthday |
| July | Rarotonga Gospel Day |
| August 4 | Constitution Day |
| October 26 | Gospel Day |
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
See also
- Communications in the Cook Islands''
- Demographics of the Cook Islands
- Economy of the Cook Islands
- Polynesian culture
- History of the Cook Islands
- Music of the Cook Islands
- Politics of the Cook Islands
- Transport in the Cook Islands''
- Cook Islands Boy Scout Association
- Cook Islands Diplomatic Missions
External links
- [Cook Islands Government]
- [Cook Islands Tourism Corporation]
- [The only independent, non-commercial Cook Islands guide on the internet]
- [Cook Islands, the best kept secret in the Pacific Ocean]
- [Cook Islands Government (summary)]
- [Finding Cook Islands]
- [Jane's Cook Islands Home Page]
- [KiaOrana.com — Cook Islands information with images and maps]
- [Map of the Cook Islands]
- [World Factbook entry on The Cook Islands]
- [Cook Islands National Environment Service]
- [Cook Islands Biodiversity Database]
- [Various Cook Islands Photos]
- [Photographs of Rarotonga, Cook Islands]
| Realm of New Zealand |
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|---|---|
| Cook Islands | New Zealand | Niue | Ross Dependency | Tokelau | |
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