Cook Islands

I

Introduction

Cook Islands, self-governing island group in free association with New Zealand, in the South Pacific Ocean. Hawaii lies 4,500 km (2,800 mi) to the north, and New Zealand is 2,600 km (1,600 mi) to the southwest. The Cook Islands group has its closest cultural affinities with Tahiti, located 1,000 km (600 mi) to the east. A former colony of New Zealand, the Cooks gained self-government in 1965. Avarua, the capital, is located on the island of Rarotonga.

II

Land and Resources

The 15 islands of the Cook group have a total land area of 240 sq km (90 sq mi). From north to south, the islands are spread over 1,400 km (900 mi); the east to west extent is about half that distance. The islands’ exclusive economic zone—the area in which it has jurisdiction over resources, scientific research, and environmental protection—covers an ocean area of 2,200,000 sq km (850,000 sq mi).

The islands are divided into northern and southern groups. Six thinly populated atolls (ring-shaped coral islands) make up the Northern Group. The Southern Group islands, aside from two small atolls with no permanent inhabitants, are predominantly volcanic. Rarotonga, with an area of 67 sq km (26 sq mi), is the largest island. Located on Rarotonga, Te Manga is the highest peak at 652 m (2,139 ft).

Vegetation on the Cook Islands varies greatly between the high volcanic islands and the low atolls. The coconut palm flourishes nearly everywhere. The rich soils and freshwater sources of the volcanic islands also support a variety of tree species, including casuarina, hibiscus, frangipani, poinciana, and bougainvillea. In contrast, poor soils restrict vegetation on the atolls, where the sole source of fresh water is rainfall collected in catchment systems.

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Wildlife on the Cook Islands is limited to lizards and birds. A few livestock species, such as pigs and chickens, are raised for food. Marine life is abundant in the surrounding waters.

The climate is tropical, with high humidity and a mean annual temperature of 24º C (75º F) on Rarotonga. The Cook Islands lie within the cyclone belt, and occasional storms can be destructive.

III

People

The population of the Cook Islands was 21,750 in 2007, with a population density of 90 persons per sq km (234 per sq mi). Almost 90 percent of the people live in the southern islands. The island of Rarotonga has well over half of the population. Due to limited employment opportunities on the islands, Cook Islanders living overseas outnumber those at home. The vast majority live in New Zealand, and there is considerable movement of people between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.

The people of the Cook Islands are of Polynesian descent (see Polynesians). Due to extensive intermarriage with Europeans over many years, most of the people today are of mixed ancestry. The official language is English, although most people are bilingual and literate in both English and the indigenous language of Cook Islands Maori.

About 70 percent of the people belong to the Cook Islands Christian Church, which is derived from the Congregationalist London Missionary Society. The remaining 30 percent are about evenly divided between Catholicism and several other faiths. Most Cook Islanders are devout churchgoers.

Cook Islanders are among the best educated of all Pacific Islanders. Education is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15. The University of the South Pacific has an extension center in Rarotonga, and numerous students attend schools and universities overseas.

Most inhabitants of the smaller islands live in extended families and derive much of their livelihood from subsistence activities. In contrast, life on Rarotonga is heavily influenced by Western culture. Housing and dress are largely Western, and there is a variety of stores, shops, restaurants, and other small businesses.

IV

Economy

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Cook Islands was estimated at $79 million, or about $4,000 per person, in 1994. The main economic activities are agriculture, tourism, and financial services. Commercial agricultural activity takes place on the southern islands, where papayas, coconuts, and other citrus and tropical fruits are grown for export. The main subsistence crops are cassava, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. A cultured-pearl industry, developed in the 1980s, continues to grow. Fishing is mainly for local consumption, but the Cook Islands also derive income from the sale of fishing licenses to foreign fleets.

Service industries are the most dynamic sector of the economy. Tourism, offshore banking, and other financial services are developing rapidly. Tourism is the leading growth industry and is the largest source of foreign exchange. Remittances from relatives working abroad are a major source of income. The Cook Islands remain heavily dependent on foreign aid, with New Zealand the largest donor.

Of the islands’ 6,600-person labor force, 52 percent work in services (half of which are government positions), 29 percent in agriculture, and 15 percent in industry. The remainder mixes part-time employment with subsistence agriculture.

The international airport on Rarotonga supports flights to and from New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Chile, and Hawaii. Small carriers provide service within the territory. There is frequent shipping service from Auckland, and small vessels shuttle among the islands. Rarotonga and some of the other southern islands have good roads. The islands have a large number of motor vehicles, and motor scooters are popular.

The government operates radio and television stations in the Cook Islands. There is one private radio station. The daily newspaper is the Cook Islands News, and newspapers and magazines from New Zealand and Australia are widely distributed.

The Cook Islands are heavily dependent on imports, primarily food, manufactured goods, machinery, and fuels. Imports are typically many times the value of exports. Exports include copra (dried coconut meat), citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, and bananas. New Zealand is the primary trading partner; other sources of imports include Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The currency of the Cook Islands is the New Zealand dollar ($1.40 New Zealand dollars equal U.S.$1; 2005 annual average).

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