Cook Islands (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

§1. Cook Islands Introduction

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.

§2. Cook Islands Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references:
  Oceania

Area:
  total: 240 kmē
  land: 240 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

Area - comparative:
  1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  120 km

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

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

Natural resources:
  NEGL

Land use:
  arable land: 9%
  permanent crops: 13%
  permanent pastures: 0%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 78% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  NA kmē

Natural hazards:
  typhoons (November to March)

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
    signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

§3. Cook Islands People

Population:
  20,611 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: NA%
  15-64 years: NA%
  65 years and over: NA%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

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)

Languages:
  English (official), Maori

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

§4. Cook Islands Government

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, 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
    Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Jon JONESSEN
    (since NA January 1998), representative of New Zealand
  head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18 November
    1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)
  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 party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime
    minister
  note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18
    November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS;
    WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New
    Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main
    opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP
    leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
  five-year terms)
  elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12,
    DAP 12, NAP 1
  note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but has
    no legislative powers

Judicial branch:
  High Court

Political parties and leaders:
  Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Tai CARPENTER]; Democratic Alliance
  Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

International organization participation:
  ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, Intelsat
  (nonsignatory user), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

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) centered in
  the outer half of the flag

§5. Cook Islands Economy

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 made up for 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 - $100 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  NA%

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $5,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 18% industry: 9%
  services: 73% (1995)

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.6% (1999 est.)

Labor force:
  6,601 (1993)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56% (1995) note - shortage of
  skilled labor

Unemployment rate:
  NA%

Budget:
  revenues: $25 million
  expenditures: $23 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY 99/00)

Industries:
  fruit processing, tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%

Electricity - production:
  21 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  19.5 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro,
  coffee; pigs, poultry

Exports:
  $3 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and
  pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners:
  Japan 42%, New Zealand 25%, US 9%, Australia 9% (1999)

Imports:
  $85 million (c.i.f., 1994)

Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:
  NZ 70%, Australia 8% (1999)

Debt - external:
  $141 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater
  part

Currency:
  New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
  NZD

Exchange rates:
  New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000),
  1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

§6. Cook Islands Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  5,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  0 (1994)

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):
  3 (2000)

Internet users:
  NA

§7. Cook Islands Transportation

Railways:
  0 km

Highways:
  total: 320 km (1992)
  paved: NA
  unpaved: NA

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  Avarua, Avatiu

Merchant marine:
  total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,310 GRT/2,181 DWT
  ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)

Airports:
  7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2000 est.)

§8. Cook Islands Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook
  Islands and at its request

§9. Cook Islands Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none
