Cook Islands

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The Cook Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand, located in Polynesia, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand. It is an archipelago that consists of 15 islands spread out over 2.2 million sq. km of ocean.

The Cook Islands are located in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, between French Polynesia (Society Islands) to the east and Tonga to the west.

• http://www.cook-islands.com/ -- Official Web site of Cook Islands Tourism

	cook islands Travel Guide : 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 People 4.4 Holidays 5 Get in 5.1 On arrival 5.2 By plane 5.3 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 By plane 6.2 By boat 6.3 By car 6.4 By bus 7 Talk 8 Buy 8.1 Economy 8.2 Costs 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact

Regions

• Southern Cook Islands
  • Aitutaki
  • Atiu
  • Mangaia
  • Manuae
  • Mauke
  • Mitiaro
  • Palmerston Island
  • Rarotonga (capital)
  • Takutea

• Northern Cook Islands
  • Manihiki
  • Nassau
  • Penrhyn Island (Tongareva or Mangarongaro)
  • Pukapuka
  • Rakahanga
  • Suwarrow (also called Suvorov or Suvarov)

Cities

• Avarua - Capital
• Avatiu a port

Other destinations

Understand

Geographic coordinates 

21 14 S, 159 46 W

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. In effect, New Zealand handles defense, foreign affairs (including passports), and currency; otherwise the islands are self-governing. This includes immigration, which is strictly controlled--even for New Zealanders. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Coastline 

120 km

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Natural hazards 

Tropical cyclones (Southern hemisphere equivalent of hurricanes or typhoons) (November to March - During the Southern Hemishere Summer)

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

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

People

Population 

20,811 (July 2002 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups 

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

Religions 

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

Holidays

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

Get in

On arrival

You must have a reservation for accommodations pre-arranged, or risk being sent back on the next flight out. Though immigration and customs may be a little less strict about this than in the past and let you reserve at the airport by phone, if nothing is available you will be sent back. Camping on the beach is not allowed.

By plane

Air service is available from Auckland & Christchurch (New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti and Los Angeles (via Tahiti). The only international airlines at present are Air New Zealand and twice-weekly Pacific Blue. Air New Zealand has code share arraignments with all other Star Alliance members including United Airlines and Rarotonga features as a stopover with several Round The World fares.

By boat

Rarotonga and Aitutaki are regular stops for cruises operating from Tahiti. Other cruise companies also stop by occassionaly.

Get around

By plane

Domestic inter-island service is provided by Air Rarotonga 1 (http://www.airraro.com). Although you can book flights through Air Zealand, it is usually cheaper to do so directly with Air Rarotonga. This has become much easier in the past few years, now that they offer online booking through their web site http://www.airraro.com. Unless you're a member of Air New Zealand's "Airpoints Dollars" program, you won't receive any airline miles for Air Rarotonga -- and then only if you book with Air New Zealand directly. Star Alliance mileage (outside of Air New Zealand) is not available.

Airports 

9 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)

By boat

The Intrepid travleller can visit all inhabited islands by Interisland Freighters. Due to lack of accommodation and political issues one needs to depart with the same boat.

The uninhabited islands of Takutea and Suwarrow and also Palmerston can be visited with a research vessel stationed at Rarotonga

By car

Highways 

total: 320 km (1992)

By bus

Talk

Languages 

English (official), Cook Islands Maori

Buy

Economy

Currency 

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code 

NZD

Industries 

fruit processing, tourism, fishing

Exports - non edible commodities 

copra, pearls and pearl shells; clothing

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.

Costs

Eat

Agriculture - products 

citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry, (Exports): papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish;

Drink

Sleep

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Legal system 

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Stay healthy

Respect

Contact

Telephones - main lines in use 

5,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

3000-5000 (2005)

Telephone system 

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)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios 

14,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

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

Televisions 

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.ck

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

1 (2005)

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