Pacific Islands News Association

News : Turnbull confirms Solomon Islands subsea cable will go live at the end of 2019 [19/04/2018 - Australia]
Sports News : Fiji, Samoa one win away from Netball World Cup [19/04/2018 - New Zealand]
Sports News : Vanuatu Sport Minister on the dissolution of VASANOC committee [19/04/2018 - Vanuatu]
News Feature : Environment dominates agenda at Commonwealth Youth Council [19/04/2018 - United Kingdom]
Business News : Vanuatu Finance minister expelled from party [19/04/2018 - Vanuatu]
Business News : Sheng Lee appointed ANZCountry Head, Vanuatu [19/04/2018 - Vanuatu]
News : Queen tips Prince Charles to follow her as Commonwealth head [19/04/2018 - United Kingdom]
News : PM O’Neill begins CHOGM meetings with courtesy call to the Duke of York [19/04/2018 - Papua New Guinea]
News Feature : Mosquito-packed drones ready to join fight against Zika and other deadly diseases – UN agency [19/04/2018 - United States]
Business News : Billions sitting in trust accounts in banks: PNG Finance Minister [19/04/2018 - Papua New Guinea]
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News : CHOGM opens at Buckingham Palace, leaders discuss success and challenges ahead [19/04/2018 - United Kingdom]
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Country profile - Cook Islands

Cook Islands flag

The 15 volcanic islands and coral atolls of the Cook Islands are scattered over 770,000 square miles of the South Pacific, between American Samoa to the west and French Polynesia to the east.

A former British protectorate, the territory is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand.

Its economy centres on tourism; the territory's natural assets include fine beaches and volcanic mountains.

More than twice as many native Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than live in the islands themselves. Most of them have left in search of a brighter economic future. As New Zealand citizens they can also live in Australia.

The government has encouraged islanders to return. Businesses have been involved in the drive. But the population level has continued to fall.

Black pearls are the chief export. Agriculture, the sale of fishing licences to foreign fleets and offshore finance are also key revenue earners.

The Cook Islands are prone to tropical storms; Hurricane Martin devastated the northern islands in 1997 causing substantial losses for the black pearl industry.

Named after Captain Cook, who explored them in 1773, the islands were once autonomous, home to tribes of mixed Polynesian ancestry. Governments still seek advice on matters of culture, custom and land ownership from a council of hereditary leaders known as the House of Ariki.

Additional information