Report on the Cook Islands

Introduction | Geography | People | Government | Economy| Communications | Transportation | Military | Transnational Issues

Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Oceania

total:  240 sq km

land:  240 sq km

water:  0 sq km

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

120 km

continental shelf:  200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM

territorial sea:  12 NM

tropical; moderated by trade winds

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

lowest point:  Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:  Te Manga 652 m

NEGL

arable land:  9%

permanent crops:  13%

permanent pastures:  0%

forests and woodland:  0%

other:  78% (1993 est.)

NA sq km

typhoons (November to March)

NA

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

signed, but not ratified:  Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives

20,611 (July 2001 est.)

0-14 years:  NA%

15-64 years:  NA%

65 years and over:  NA%

NA%

NA births/1,000 population

NA births/1,000 population

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

NA

NA deaths/1,000 live births

total population:  NA years

male:  NA years

female:  NA years

NA children born/woman

NA%

NA

NA

noun:  Cook Islander(s)

adjective:  Cook Islander

Polynesian (full blood) 81.3%, Polynesian and European 7.7%, Polynesian and non-European 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Christian (majority of populace are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church)

English (official), Maori

definition:  NA

total population:  95%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

conventional long form:  none

conventional short form:  Cook Islands

former:  Harvey Islands

self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Avarua

none

none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

4 August 1965

based on New Zealand law and English common law

NA years of age; universal adult

chief of state:  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand

head of government:  Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)

cabinet:  Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament

elections:  none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister

note:  ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister

unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:  last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)

election results:  percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1

note:  the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has no legislative powers

High Court

Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]

NA

ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

purchasing power parity - $100 million (1999 est.)

NA%

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)

agriculture:  18%

industry:  9%

services:  73% (1995)

NA%

lowest 10%:  NA%

highest 10%:  NA%

1.6% (1999 est.)

6,601 (1993)

agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) note - shortage of skilled labor

NA%

revenues:  $25 million

expenditures:  $23 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00)

fruit processing, tourism, fishing

NA%

21 million kWh (1999)

fossil fuel:  100%

hydro:  0%

nuclear:  0%

other:  0% (1999)

19.5 million kWh (1999)

0 kWh (1999)

0 kWh (1999)

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

$3 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Japan 42%, New Zealand 25%, US 9%, Australia 9% (1999)

$85 million (c.i.f., 1994)

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

NZ 70%, Australia 8% (1999)

$141 million (1996 est.)

$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

NZD

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)

1 April - 31 March

5,000 (1997)

0 (1994)

general assessment:  NA

domestic:  the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable

international:  satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

14,000 (1997)

2 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)

4,000 (1997)

.ck

3 (2000)

NA

0 km

total:  320 km (1992)

paved:  NA

unpaved:  NA

none

Avarua, Avatiu

total:  1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT

ships by type:  cargo 1 (2000 est.)

7 (2000 est.)

total:  1

1,524 to 2,437 m:  1 (2000 est.)

total:  6

1,524 to 2,437 m:  3

914 to 1,523 m:  3 (2000 est.)

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

none