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Official Name - Cook Islands
Land Area - 240 sq km
Population - 13000 (2008 estimate)
Religion - Christian: the majority of the population are members of the Cook Islands Christian Church
Capital City - Avarua, Rarotonga
Official Languages - Cook Islands Maori and English (official)
Currency - New Zealand Dollar
EEZ - 1,830,000 sq km
Political System - Parliamentary democracy
National government - The Democratic Party is in Government
Last election - 26 September 2006
Next election - 2010
Head of State - The Queen in Right of New Zealand is the Head of State of the Cook Islands. There is a resident Queen's Representative, HE Sir Fredrick Goodwin.
Head of Government - Prime Minister Hon Jim Marurai
Key Ministers
Hon Jim Marurai
Prime Minister, Minister of Information and Technology, Education, National Human Resources and Police
Hon Sir Terepai Maoate
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Finance and Economic Development, Financial Intelligence Unit, Office of the Ombudsman, Public Expenditure, Business Trade and Investment Board, Attorney General, National Superannuation, Commerce Commission, House of Ariki and Koutu Nui, Broadcasting and Cook Islands Pearl Authority
Hon Ngamau Munokoa
Minister of Internal Affairs, National Environment Services, Youth and Sports and NGOs
Hon Tangata Vavia
Minister of Tourism, Infrastructure and Planning, Transport, Cook Islands Investment Cooporation and Energy
Hon Robert Wigmore
Minister of Agriculture, Cook Islands Investment Corporation Marine Resources and Cultural Development
Hon Kete Ioane
Minister of Health, Parliamentary Services and Justice
Main political parties - Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party
Nominal GDP - NZ$306m (2008/09)
Real GDP growth (%) - -0.2% (Calendar year 2008, estimated)
Exports (fob) -
NZ$5.9million (Dec 2008)
Main exports -
Pearls: NZ$2 million; Fish $1.9 million,(2008)
Imports (cif) -
NZ$178.4million (2008/09)
Consumer Price Inflation -
8.8 % (March 2009)
Gross External Debt - NZ$61.0million FY2008/2009
NZ Exports (fob) - NZ$94 million (year to June 2008)
Main Exports - Petroleum oils, food preparations, timber, meat products, beverages, tubes and hoses, and motor vehicles.
NZ Imports (cif) -
NZ$738,000 (12 months to Dec 2008)
Main Imports -
Fish products, pearls, Scrap metal, fruit juice
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 by New Zealand. In 1965, following an act of self-determination under United Nations auspices, the people of the Cook Islands adopted a Constitution for full self-government in free association with New Zealand. Free association is a status distinct from that of full independence as it allows the Cook Islands to maintain New Zealand citizenship. In 2005, the Cook Islands celebrated its 40th year of successful self-government, a celebration attended by the New Zealand Governor-General, Dame Silvia Cartwright.
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. With the conversion of a number of important ariki (traditional leaders) support for Christianity spread rapidly 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 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 UN auspices, the Cook Islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand.The Cook Islands has a unicameral parliament with 24 elected members and a parliamentary term of 4 years. There is also a 15-member House of Ariki (Chiefs), established in 1966, composed of six Ariki from Rarotonga and nine from the outer islands. The Ariki advise the Government on land use and customary issues. There is full adult suffrage and although registration is compulsory, voting is not.
On 24 July 2006, after a period of political instability with a number of MPs breaking away from their parties, the Cook Islands’ Queens Representative dissolved the Cook Islands Parliament. A snap election was called for 26 September 2006. The Democratic Party retained power with an increased and substantial majority. The Cook Islands Party, led by Tom Marsters forms the opposition, and one independent MP.
The Prime Minister, Hon Jim Marurai, has indicated his intention to spearhead political reform during the remainder of his term, including placing limitations on the terms of office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, reducing the number of MPs and introducing a parliamentary code of conduct. But there has been no enthusiasm for change at present and consequently no movement on reform.Population loss is of concern in the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is the most populated island comprising almost 70% of the population. The 2006 census indicated that the total population of the Cook Islands (22,000) and the resident population is (13,000). The remote outer islands continue to experience a steady decline. Migration from the outer islands to Rarotonga and from there to New Zealand and Australia is the most likely cause of the decreasing resident population. Emigrants are being replaced by foreign workers from Fiji and the Philippines, helping to fuel economic growth. The difference between total and resident populations is due to the presence of tourists, as well as expatriate and short-term residents.
The Cook Islands is among the best performing Pacific economies. However, its narrow economic base (underpinned by tourism and marine resources) makes it vulnerable to external shocks, including the global economic crisis. Fiscal sustainability remains fragile and threats to the Cook Islands’ economic growth include environmental damage; infrastructure constraints; weak policy, 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 hitting the islands in 2005.
GDP 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 50% of GDP. Visitor numbers in 2008 were down on the record levels of 2007 (97,316), but have held up reasonably well in 2009 in defiance of international tourism trends. Visitor arrival figures were up 1.3 per cent for June 2009. New Zealanders make up the largest proportion of visitors (65 %). The introduction of low-cost airfares from New Zealand grew the industry significantly over the last two years. The Cook Islands government recently launched a new tourism branding and marketing exercise, aimed at increasing levels of tourism from Australia and the Northern Hemisphere. Events in the second half of 2009, including the Pacific Mini-Games and the world youth netball championships, should temporarily increase visitor numbers, and there has been strong growth from New Zealand tourist numbers.
The marine resources sector is a significant export earner for the Cook Islands. The pearl industry is important to the economic development of the remote Northern islands. Improvements in farming techniques are expected to boost export earnings from pearl farming. Fishing earnings recovered in the last year. There are two separate fishing fleets in the Cook Islands. The northern fleet, of 20 vessels, lands its catch at the nearby canneries in
Pago Pago, American Samoa. The southern fleet, consisting of 7 boats, offloads in Rarotonga and provides fish for domestic consumption (including by the tourism industry) and export.
The remote outer islands population lead a largely subsistence lifestyle and outer islands development is a key priority for the current government. Economic growth is restrained by the geographical isolation and dispersion of small population centres amongst many remote islands. The distance of markets and high transport costs confine export activity.
The Cook Islands 2009-10 budget shows an increase of 52 per cent on the previous year ($215.5 million up from $141 million) primarily due to expenditure funded through new loans. The Government plans to spend $82.5 million loaned from China and the Asian Development Bank to fund infrastructure development including improving roads and water supply.
In August 2009, Standard and Poor’s downgraded its outlook for the Cook Islands from stable to negative, due to uncertainty in projected tourism numbers and increased debt exposure.
In March 2002, the Cook Islands made a commitment under the OECD Harmful Tax Practices Initiative to improve the transparency of its tax and regulatory systems, and establish effective exchange of information for tax matters with OECD countries. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) listed the Cook Islands as a non-cooperating country in June 2000. The Cook Islands worked towards meeting the criteria for delisting and put a number of bills before the House, including legislation related to its anti-money laundering regime, amendments to its Crimes Act and new acts regulating the banking sector. In June 2003, the Financial Services Commission was established, its role being to regulate and supervise the financial service industry to acceptable international standards. In 2005, the Cook Islands was removed from the FATF blacklist for countries with ineffective systems against money laundering and terrorism financing. In 2009, an amendment to the Banking Act 2003 was proposed by the Deputy Prime Minister which would limit the operation of controversial offshore banking operations. The amendment has not yet passed into law.
The Cook Islands has good air services. Air New Zealand currently operates 16 flights a week into and out of Rarotonga, including a direct flight from Rarotonga to Los Angeles. Pacific Blue commenced twice weekly flights to the Cook Islands from New Zealand in March 2005. Other international airlines have had trouble sustaining routes into the Cook Islands.
Reef Shipping, which until recently provided the Cook Islands’ only monthly international shipping service, has this year been joined by a re-introduced monthly service from Auckland by Pacific Forum Line which pulled out in August 2008.
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.
There is a Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) administered by the New Zealand Defence Force. MAP assistance for the Cook Islands is aimed at supporting Pacific Patrol Boat operations, dive training, small arms use and their security, search and rescue and the provision of a physical training instructor and a technical adviser to the Pacific Patrol Boat project.
MAP activities in the past have included a RNZN conducted dive refresher course for the Pacific Patrol Boat crew and general police, basic investigator training, first aid training, and mechanic and engineering training. The New Zealand Defence Force undertakes surveillance flights in the Cook Islands’ Exclusive Economic Zone. New Zealand’s Defence Adviser for the Pacific (including the Cook Islands) is based in Wellington.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. Tereora College provides education up to year 13. The Teachers’ Training College, Nursing School, the Trade Training Centre and the Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre provide tertiary training. The University of the South Pacific has an extension centre providing vocational, foundation and degree courses. The Education Master Plan is a significant document providing the strategic underpinning to the sector and its further development.
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 are not allowed to work unless a work permit has been granted. Work permits are required for the employment of expatriate New Zealanders.The key development challenges facing the Cook Islands include low levels of basic social services in the isolated outer islands, a declining population and a narrow economic base. While the Cook Islands does not have poverty to the same extent as some other Pacific Island countries, strong disparities of income and opportunity exist between Rarotonga and the outer islands.
A Joint Country Strategy for the Cook Islands (2008-2017) provides a framework that guides New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID)/Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID)bilateral assistance. NZAID manages this single coordinated programme.
New Zealand has scaled up its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to Cook Islands from $31 million over 2005-08 to $45 million from 2009-12. This is $14 million for 2009-10, $15 million for 2010-11 and $16 million for 2011-12. NZAID will also administer up to $7 million on behalf of AusAID in 2009-12.
The international legal personality of the Cook Islands has developed steadily since the Cook Islands became self-governing in 1965. The Cook Islands has entered into a wide range of bilateral and multilateral treaties in its own name and has become 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), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and is an Associate Member of both the Commonwealth and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It participates actively in regional affairs through membership of bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum and its agencies, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. In June 2000, the Cook Islands signed the Cotonou Agreement (the successor arrangement to the Lome Convention).
The Cook Islands has established diplomatic relations with 20 countries and international organisations and maintains diplomatic posts in New Zealand and to the European Communities.
Germany, France and the United Kingdom are represented by Honorary Consuls in the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands has Honorary Consuls in Sydney, Honolulu and Oslo.
The Cook Islands is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. The key features of the free association relationship are set out in the Cook Islands Constitution Act 1965.
In May 1973 the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Norman Kirk, and the Premier of the Cook Islands Hon Albert Henry exchanged letters in which they clarified aspects of the relationship of free association. The exchange emphasised that there were no legal fetters on the freedom of the Cook Islands, and that the relationship was a voluntary one of partnership turning on the wish of Cook Islanders to remain New Zealand citizens. The exchange emphasised that shared citizenship created an expectation that the Cook Islands would uphold in its laws and policies adhere to a standard of values acceptable to New Zealanders.
In June 2001, to mark the Centenary of formal relations between the two countries, a new statement was signed by the Prime Ministers of the Cook Islands and New Zealand. The “Joint Centenary Declaration of the Principles of the Relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands” updates the Kirk/Henry Exchange, to take account of developments in the relationship between the two countries. A fundamental principle of the relationship remains the obligation on both governments to consult closely as partners on foreign affairs matters and other issues of shared interest.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Cook Islands [external link].
