Pacific Islands News Association

Business News : Real Tonga Airlines touches down in Apia [27/07/2017 - Samoa]
Business News : Huawei at Center of Pacific Cable Spat [27/07/2017 - Australia]
News : Marshall Islands President calls for better coordination between CROP agencies [27/07/2017 - New Caledonia]
News : PM O'Neill congratulates all elected MPs in PNG [27/07/2017 - Papua New Guinea]
Sports News : RWC Sevens 2018 fans urged not to miss out following strong first week of ticket sales [27/07/2017 - United States]
Sports News : Fiji 7s coach says captain's departure an "opportunity" for others [27/07/2017 - Fiji]
Sports News : St George Illawarra Dragons in move to stage landmark home NRL game in Fiji [27/07/2017 - Australia]
News Feature : Paris climate deal needs to be politically, not legally, binding [27/07/2017 - France]
News Feature : Tough backdrop to NZ immigration decision [27/07/2017 - New Zealand]
News Feature : MASI Plans for the future - call for members to register [27/07/2017 - Solomon Islands]
Business News : PACER Plus could erode social services in Pacific says CTU [27/07/2017 - New Zealand]
Business News : Cooperation to strengthen safeguarding of Fiji Maritime boundaries [27/07/2017 - Fiji]
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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