Asia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacificAmerican SamoaCook IslandsFijiFrench PolynesiaGuamKiribatiMarshall IslandsMicronesiaNauruNew CaledoniaNiuePalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTokelauTongaTuvaluVanuatuWallis and Futuna
Enter the country or territory for the information paper you want. (We do not have information papers on all countries.)
Official Name - Cook Islands
Land Area - 240 sq km
Population - 14,200 residents (2008)
Religion - Various Christian denominations
Capital City - Avarua, Rarotonga
Official Languages - Cook Islands Maori and English
Currency - New Zealand Dollar
EEZ - 1,830,000 sq km
Political system - Parliamentary democracy
National government - The Democratic Party is in Government
National legislature - Unicameral Parliament, comprising 24 MPs, which sits for a four year term. Ten MPs are elected from Rarotonga and the other 14 represent outer islands. The current cabinet comprises six Ministers.
Last election - 17 November 2010
Next election - 2014
Head of State - Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin is the resident Queen’s Representative.
Head of Government - Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna
Key Ministers
Deputy Prime Minister Tom Marsters
Mark Brown
Teina Bishop
Teariki Heather
Nandi Glassie
Key Opposition MPs
Leader of the Opposition:Robert Wigmore
Jim Marurai
Wilkie Rasmussen
William ‘Smiley’ Heather
Ngamau Munukoa
Main political parties
Democratic Party
Cook Islands Party
GDP - NZ$289.6 million (2010)
Real GDP growth (%) - - 0.1 percent (Nov 2010)
Exports (fob) -
$4.9 million (2010)
Main exports - Pearls, fish
Imports (cif) - $290 million (2009 provisional)
Inflation 2008-10 - 12.1 percent (2010)
Gross External Debt - $114.8 million (est to end 2010-11 FY)
NZ Exports (fob) -
NZ$96 million (June 2010)
Main Exports
Petroleum oils, food preparations, timber, meat products, beverages, tubes and hoses, motor vehicles.
NZ Imports (cif)
NZ$5 (June 2010)
Main Imports
Scrap metal, fruit juice, pearls.
New Zealand and the Cook Islands have a special relationship founded on close historical ties, unique constitutional arrangements and a common citizenship and currency. The Cook Islands became a dependent territory of New Zealand in 1901 when it was annexed. In 1965 the Cook Islands adopted a Constitution enabling self-government in free association with New Zealand. Free association is a status distinct from that of full independence in that it allows the Cook Islands to maintain New Zealand citizenship, while administering its own affairs.
The bilateral relationship is cemented through strong people to people ties, with an estimated 50,000 Cook Islanders now living in New Zealand. The two governments agreed to establish regular ministerial-level consultations to underline the special constitutional ties and progress matters of mutual interest, such as economic development. The first Joint Ministerial Forum will be held in May 2011.
The Cook Islands was settled in the 13th century by people from nearby islands, now part of French Polynesia, and from Samoa. The first recorded European to land on and survey the Cook Islands, between 1773 and 1777, was Captain James Cook. Continuous European contact with the islands came with the introduction of Christianity and the arrival of representatives of the London Missionary Society. Following the conversion of a number of important ariki (traditional leaders), support for Christianity spread throughout the Southern Group.
In 1888, acting on a petition from the principal ariki, a Protectorate was declared over the Southern Group – then known as the Hervey Islands – by Britain. Protectorates were declared over several islands in the Northern Group in the early 1890s and the remaining islands were subsequently annexed.
On 27 September 1900, the New Zealand Parliament approved the annexation of the islands to New Zealand. From 11 June 1901 the boundaries of New Zealand were extended to include the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands was administered by New Zealand as a dependent territory from 1901 to 1965 when, following an act of self-determination under United Nations auspices, the Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand.
The general election held in November 2010 saw a change of government with a decisive swing to the Cook Islands Party, which won 16 of the 24 seats. CIP leader Henry Puna was sworn in as Prime Minister by Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin on 30 November, and the new Cabinet was sworn in over the following week.
The Cook Islands had experienced a period of political uncertainty, after former Prime Minister Jim Marurai dismissed his Deputy and Finance Minister Sir Terepai Maoate in December 2009, prompting two other Ministers to resign. Marurai named a new cabinet, but Parliament was not recalled until late July 2010.
The Cook Islands has a unicameral parliament with 24 elected members, and a parliamentary term of four years. There is full adult suffrage and while registration on the electoral roll for elections is compulsory, voting is not. There is also a 15-member House of Ariki (chiefs) which was established in 1966. It comprises six ariki from Rarotonga and nine from the outer islands. The House of Ariki advises Government on customary and land use issues.
The Cook Islands is among the best performing Pacific economies, but faces increasing pressure over the sustainability of government debt levels. Its narrow economic base (underpinned by tourism and marine resources) makes it vulnerable to external shocks, including the global economic crisis. Threats to economic growth include environmental damage, infrastructure constraints, weak policy, limited planning and project preparation capacity, and an emerging labour shortage. The economy is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, as demonstrated by the substantial damage caused by a series of cyclones in 2005. Aitutaki was hit by Tropical Cyclone Pat in February 2010, causing significant damage to housing and public infrastructure. New Zealand provided a $6.4 million reconstruction package to assist the Cook Islands government to implement its recovery and reconstruction plan for the island.
Gross Domestic Product per capita is high compared to other economies in the region. Tourism is vital to the Cook Islands economy and is estimated to account for around 65% of GDP.
In August 2009, Standard and Poor’s downgraded its outlook for Cook Islands from stable to negative, due to uncertainty about projected tourism numbers and a deteriorating debt position. The Cook Islands 2010-11 budget decreased government expenditure from $215.5 million to $186.4 million, reducing planned uptake of foreign loans. Tourism is anticipated to grow modestly in the 2010/11 financial year. The government’s economic focus will be on improving tourism links, expanding the black pearl industry and improving infrastructure.
The marine sector, both the pearl industry and fishing, is a significant export earner although it has not performed to its potential, or to expectations. The pearl industry is important to the economic development of the remote Northern islands, and improvements in farming techniques should lead to an increase in export earnings from pearl farming.
There are two separate fishing fleets in the Cook Islands. The northern fleet of 20 vessels lands its catch in Pago Pago, American Samoa, for canning. The southern fleet, consisting of 7 boats, offloads in Rarotonga and provides fish for domestic consumption (including tourists) and export.
Population loss remains a concern to the Cook Islands and is an economic risk. The 2008 figures put the total population at 22,100 and the resident population at 14,200. (The difference between total and resident populations is attributed to the presence of tourists and short term visitors in the Cook Islands on census day). However, by early 2010 the resident population had declined to about 12,000. The remote outer islands are experiencing a steady decline: about 65% of the population now lives in Rarotonga. Cook Islanders can live in New Zealand and Australia, thanks to their New Zealand citizenship. Labour shortages, particularly in the tourism sector, are being addressed through the employment of foreign workers, particularly from Fiji and the Philippines. Foreign workers are estimated to account for around 10% of the resident population.
Over the past decade, and in response to international criticism, the Cook Islands has sought to address issues around its tax and offshore banking sectors. In 2002, the Cook Islands made a commitment to the OECD to improve the transparency of its tax and regulatory systems. In 2005, the Financial Action Task Force, a body established by the G7 and European Commission, delisted the Cook Islands as a non-cooperating body over money laundering and terrorist financing. Cook Islands signed a tax information exchange agreement with New Zealand in 2009, following this up with agreements with Australia and the Nordic countries. However these agreements have yet to enter into force. In 2009 an amendment to the Banking Act to limit controversial operations by offshore banking operations was proposed, but legislative changes have not yet been passed. The OECD Global Forum Tax Review of Cook Islands is due to take place in the final quarter of 2011.
The international legal personality of the Cook Islands has developed steadily since the Cook Islands became self-governing in 1965. The Cook Islands has diplomatic relations with almost 30 countries and maintains diplomatic posts in New Zealand and to the European Communities (non-resident). Honorary Consuls represent Germany and France in the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands has Honorary Consuls in Sydney, Oslo, Monaco and Istanbul. The Cook Islands is also a member, in its own right, of a range of international organisations. The Joint Centenary Declaration requires the Cook Islands and New Zealand to consult regularly on foreign affairs matters. .
The Cook Islands has good air services. Air New Zealand currently operates 26 flights a week into and out of Rarotonga, including a weekly direct flight from Rarotonga to Los Angeles. Pacific Blue began flights from New Zealand to the Cook Islands in March 2005, operating four return flights each week. There are three international shipping services operating in the Cook Islands (Reef Shipping, Pacific Forum Line PFL, and Pacific Direct Line PDL). In January 2010, PFL and PDL announced the formation of a joint venture company to provide shipping services.
New Zealand is responsible for the defence of the Cook Islands under the terms of the 1965 Constitution. In practice, however, this responsibility would only be acted upon at the request of the Cook Islands’ Government. A Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) is administered by the New Zealand Defence Force. MAP assistance to the Cook Islands focuses on supporting Pacific Patrol Boat operations, small arms use and security, search and rescue, and the provision of a technical adviser to the Pacific Patrol Boat project.
The Cook Islands follows the New Zealand curriculum. Education is compulsory for all children between 5 and 15 years of age. The Government provides free secular education at primary and secondary school levels. The Trade Training Centre and Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre provide tertiary training. The University of the South Pacific has an extension centre providing vocational, foundation and degree courses.
Cook Islanders have New Zealand citizenship and as such have free access into New Zealand. All visitors to the Cook Islands (including non-Cook Islands New Zealand citizens) automatically receive a 31-day permit on arrival. Beyond this period a resident permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. Holders of visitor permits, including expatriate New Zealanders, are not allowed to work unless a work permit has been granted.
New Zealand and Australia run an integrated development cooperation programme in the Cook Islands, totalling more than $17 million (NZ$15 million plus Australia $2 million) in 2010-2011. Focus areas are economic growth and infrastructure ($7.8 million), health and education ($4.8 million) and governance ($2 million). Australia will separately be providing - from a regional thematic programme - a $500,000 incentive grant for fisheries.
It makes sense for New Zealand and Cook Islands to focus their attention on a smaller number of large, multi-year strategic interventions in key areas and sectors. The Joint Commitment for Development, which will be signed in July 2011, will be the key document shaping the New Zealand Aid Programme in Cook Islands going forward.
Tourism, estimated to account for around 65% of GDP, is vital to the Cook Islands economy. Visitor numbers in 2009/10 held up despite the global economic downturn, reaching an all time annual high of more than 99,000. This number was projected to rise to over 101,000 in 2010/11, with New Zealanders making up the majority of visitors (63.4%). The introduction of low-cost airfares from New Zealand has grown the industry significantly. The Cook Islands government has also launched new tourism branding and marketing, targeting Australia and the Northern Hemisphere markets, and the Tourism Board continues to explore expanding airline services to access those markets.
The Cook Islands has entered into a wide range of bilateral and multilateral treaties in its own name and is a member of a number of regional and international organisations. The Cook Islands is a member in its own right of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It is also a member of regional organisations such as the Pacific Islands Forum and its agencies, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Cook Islands [external link].
Enquiries may be directed to Consular Division at the following numbers: Phone: +64 4 494-8500; Fax: +64 4 494 8506.
