Pacific Islands News Association

News Feature : The ocean plays an integral part in the climate system [16/12/2018 - Poland]
News : Pōhiva says he has successor in mind to take over as Democracy Party leader [16/12/2018 - Tonga]
News : Tuvalu Prime Minister calls for Commonwealth strategic support on climate [16/12/2018 - Poland]
News : EU and ACP countries conclude first round of negotiations to modernise their relations [16/12/2018 - Belgium]
Sports News : $3m package for Pacific Games from official sponsor Digicel [16/12/2018 - Samoa]
News Feature : Diplomatic dance around Japanese delicacy [16/12/2018 - United States]
News Feature : Shark fins worse than their bite at tuna talks [16/12/2018 - United States]
Business News : New minimum wage announced in Solomon Islands [16/12/2018 - Solomon Islands]
Business News : Samoa PM's son is CEO of Finance Ministry [16/12/2018 - Samoa]
Business News : PNG Watchdog keeps close eye on APEC assets [16/12/2018 - Papua New Guinea]
Business News : ADB, Marshall Islands sign agreement to boost energy security [16/12/2018 - Philippines]
News : Solomon Islands Parliament dissolves [16/12/2018 - Solomon Islands]
Sponsored : Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC)

Should Fiji return to the Pacific Islands Forum

You need to login to participate in our polls.

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