The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean but the 15 small islands have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 in 2006), where there is an international airport.
Geography:
The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and American Samoa. Over 2.2 million km² of ocean there are 15 major islands spread, and divided in the Southern Cook Islands and the Northern Cook Islands of coral atolls. The climate is moderate to tropical.
The 15 islands and two reefs are grouped as follows:
Southern Cook Islands: Nga-pu-Toru ("Three Roots", the eastern islands), Atiu (Enua Manu or Island of Birds), Ma`uke(Akatokamanava), Mitiaro (Nukuroa) , Takutea
Other island : Aituaki(Araura Enua), Mangaia(Auau Enua), Rarotonga(Tumutevarovaro), Parmaston Island(pamayi) Manuae
Northern Cook Island: Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn island, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Suwarrow, Tema Reef
History:
The Cook Islands were first settled in the 6th century CE by Polynesian people who migrated from nearby Tahiti, to the southeast.
In the 16th century Spanish ships visited the islands; the first written record of contact with the Islands came with the sighting of Pukapuka by Spanish sailor Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira in 1595 who called it San Bernardo (Saint Bernard). Portuguese-Spaniard Pedro Fernández de Quirós, made the first recorded European landing in the islands when he set foot on Rakahanga in 1606, calling it Gente Hermosa (Beautiful People).
In 1813, John Williams, made the first recorded sighting of Rarotonga a missionary on the Endeavour (not the same ship as Cook's). The first recorded landing on Rarotonga by Europeans was in 1814 by the Cumberland; The islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in 1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and many islanders continue to be Christian believers today.
In 1888 the Cook Islands became a British protectorate , due largely to community fears that France might occupy the territory as it had Tahiti. In 1901, the New Zealand Government decided to annex the country despite opposition from the country's traditional chiefs.
Politics and foreign relations:
With a parliamentary system the Cook Islands is a representative democracy in an associated state relationship with New Zealand. Executive power is cancel by the government, with the Chief Minister as head of government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of the Cook Islands. There is a pluri form multi-party system. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Head of State is the Queen of New Zealand, who is represented in the Cook Islands by the Queen's Representative.
The islands are self-governing in "free association" with New Zealand. New Zealand retains primary responsibility for external affairs, with consultation with the Cook Islands government. Cook Islands nationals are citizens of New Zealand and can avail of New Zealand government services, but the reverse is not true; New Zealand citizens are not Cook Island nationals. Despite this, as of 2011, the Cook Islands had diplomatic relations in its own name with 34 other countries. The Cook Islands is not a United Nations full member, but does participate in WHO and UNESCO, and is an associate member of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
Administrative subdivisions:
Except Nassau there are island councils on all of the inhabited outer islands , which is governed by Pukapuka . Each council is headed by a mayor.There are three vaka councils of Rarotonga established in 1997 (Rarotonga Local Government Act 1997), also headed by mayors, were abolished in February 2008, despite much controversy.
Economy:
The economy is strongly affected by geography. It is isolated from foreign markets, and has inadequate infrastructure; it lacks major natural resources and suffers greatly from natural disasters. Agriculture provides the economic base and manufacturing is limited. The economy is supported by foreign aid, largely from New Zealand. The Peoples' Republic of China has also contributed foreign aid which has resulted, among other projects, in the Police Headquarters building. The Cook Islands is expanding its tourism, banking, mining and fishing sectors, with varying success.
Language:
The languages of the Cook Islands include English, Cook Islands Māori, or "Rarotongan," and Pukapukan. Dialects of Cook Islands Maor include Penrhyn;
Wildlife:
The national flower of the Cook Islands is the Tiare māori or Tiale māoli (Penrhyn, Nassau, Pukapuka). The Cook Islands are infested with Kiore toka (Ship rat) and Polynesian rat. The infestation has devastated the bird population on the islands. In April 2007, 27 Kuhl's Lorikeet were re-introduced to Atiu from Rimatara. Fossil and oral traditions indicate that the species was formerly on at least five islands of the southern group. Excessive exploitation for its red feathers is the most likely reason for the species's extinction in the Cook Islands.
