Cook Islands

Background:

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.

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Area:

total: 240 sq km
land: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Land use:

arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33%
other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (November to March)

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

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

Population:

21,388 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups:

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands

Dependency status:

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

Government type:

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Avarua

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

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)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution:

4 August 1965

Legal system:

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since July 2001), representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
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 majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecided pending by-election
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch:

High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]; Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Flag description:

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) centred in the outer half of the flag

Economy - overview:

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 offset 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$105 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

$5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)

Labour force:

8,000 (1996)

Labour force - by occupation:

agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labour (1995)

Unemployment rate:

13% (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million; including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est.)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2002)

Electricity - production:

28 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:

26.04 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

400 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Exports:

$9.1 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:

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

Exports - partners:

Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2004)

Imports:

$50.7 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:

New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$141 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
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: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Internet country code:

.ck

Internet hosts:

542 (2005)

Internet users:

3,600 (2002)

Roadways:

total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Ports and harbours:

Avatiu

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,701 GRT/6,488 DWT
by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2005)

Airports:

9 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2005)

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2004)

Military - note:

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