Cook Islands (Maori Kūki 'Āirani) is an archipelago and
self-governing self-governing state entity in free association with
New Zealand in the South Pacific in Polynesia. It borders on the
waters of Kiribati in the north, French Polynesia in the east, Niue,
American Samoa, Tokelau in the west and neutral Pacific waters in
the south. Cook Islands are part of the Kingdom of New Zealand. The
territory includes 15 islands, 3 of which are uninhabited: 7 islands
in the Northern group and 8 in the South. Land area - 236.7 km². The
population is 14 974 people (2011). The capital is the city of
Avarua on the island of Rarotonga. In 1888, the islands became a
protectorate of the British Empire, and in 1901 were transferred to
the administration of New Zealand. In 1965, the Cook Islands became
a self-governing state entity in partnership with New Zealand. Cook
Islands is a member of the South Pacific Commission and the Pacific
Islands Forum. Most countries of the world do not recognize the Cook
Islands as a subject of international law, but 48 states and the
European Union maintain diplomatic relations with them.
The
archipelago got its modern name only in the 19th century and was
named by the Russian navigator Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern in honor
of the English traveler James Cook. Cook himself, who visited the
islands of the Southern Group in 1773-1775, named them Hervey
Islands.
According to radiocarbon analysis, the Cook Islands from the
Southern Group were originally settled by Polynesians no later than
500 AD. According to comparative linguistics, the islands of the
Southern Group were settled from the islands of the Society, which,
in turn, were settled from the Marquesas. At the same time, the
separation of the Pramarkiz and Prataitian languages occurred
around 900 AD. The islands of the Northern group (except for
Pukapuk, inhabited probably from Samoa) were settled either from the
islands of the Southern group, or directly from the islands of the
Society.
The Spanish mariners Alvaro de Mendagna and Pedro
Fernandez Quiros became the first Europeans to reach the islands in
the late XVI-XVII centuries. The first to be discovered was the
island of Pucapuca, named Mendanya in 1595 by the island of San
Bernardo. Already in the middle of the XVII century the islands were
explored by English sailors. In 1773-1774 and in 1777, the famous
English traveler James Cook discovered the islands of Manuae,
Palmerston, Mangaia and Atiu. The islands of the Southern Group
discovered by him were named the navigator of the island of Hervey.
The archipelago got its modern name only at the beginning of the
19th century, when the Russian explorer Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern
studied the islands.
In the early 1820s, the first
missionaries from the London Missionary Society landed on the Cook
Islands (John Williams became the first). Christianity spread very
quickly, and soon the church gained control of the political and
administrative life of the islands. The appearance of missionaries
contributed to the establishment of peace on the archipelago
(before, local tribes were constantly at war). However, there were
negative consequences: due to diseases brought to the Cook Islands
by Europeans, a sharp decrease in the number of local population was
noted.
In 1843, after France seized the island of Tahiti, the
Ariks (local leaders) of the Cook Islands turned to the British
Empire for patronage. However, the British protectorate over
Rarotonga (later on all the islands of the South and North groups)
was announced only in 1888. New Zealand was of great interest to the
archipelago, but the majority of the Cook Maori, who wished to
remain under the tutelage of the British Empire, opposed the idea of
a “colony colony” (at that time New Zealand was a colony of
Britain). But already in 1901, the management of the islands was
transferred to New Zealand. In 1960, as a result of the
anti-colonial movement of the Cook Islands, one of the first among
the Pacific nations acquired internal self-government. From August
4, 1965, the Cook Islands became a self-governing state entity in
partnership with New Zealand.
The following decades were
marked by improvements in the economic and social spheres, the
powers of the local government expanded, and therefore the
independence of the Cook Islands increased (for example, in the
field of foreign policy, the right to unilateral exit from free
association with New Zealand). In the mid-1990s, the country
experienced a major financial crisis. As a result, the well-being of
local residents worsened, emigration to New Zealand increased, and
there was a frequent change of governments and prime ministers.
General geography
The State of the Cook Islands consists of 15
islands and atolls located in the Pacific Ocean in Polynesia between the
equator and the Tropic of Capricorn on an area of 2.2 million km²,
between Tonga in the west and the Society Islands in the east. The total
land area is 236.7 km². The distance from the northernmost (Penrhyn or
Tongareva Atoll) to the southernmost island (Mangaia Island) is about
1,400 km.
The Cook Islands represent five types of island systems found in the
Pacific Ocean.
The islands of the Northern Group are older than
the islands of the Southern Group and are low-lying atolls without
underground caves and with no traces of karst formation. All atolls,
with the exception of Tongarewa (Penrhyn), originated on the underwater
plateau of Manihiki, located at a depth of 3000 m from the ocean
surface.
The islands of the Southern Group make up about 90% of
the country's land area and are a continuation of the volcanic chain
stretching in the southern part of the Pacific Plate from the Tubuai
Islands (French Polynesia). The largest island, Rarotonga, is a volcanic
island, whose height reaches 653 m. The four islands of the Southern
Group (Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro) have a complex geological
structure and relief with traces of karst formation and branched cave
systems. Their formation took place about 10 million years ago as a
result of the surrounding of a volcanic formation by a coral reef.
Rarotonga, on the other hand, appeared only 2 million years ago as a
result of high volcanic activity in the past in this part of the Pacific
Ocean.
One of the geological features of the islands of the
Northern Group is the presence of coastal rocks, the formation of which
occurred approximately at a level of 1 m below the earth's surface. As a
result of chemical reactions between water and calcium carbonate, lime
was formed, which serves as a cementing agent between shells and corals
of coastal rocks. These geological formations are also a natural defense
of natural underground fresh water reservoirs.
Minerals, the
development of which could be carried out on an industrial scale, are
absent on the surface and in the depths of the islands of the Cook
Archipelago. However, in the late 1970s, ocean floor surveys were
carried out in the Cook Islands' Exclusive Coastal Economic Zone. As a
result, at a depth of approximately 5,000 m, one of the largest
concentrations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt
(approximately 7.5 million tons), was discovered in the Pacific Ocean.
However, no development is currently underway.
One of the geological features of the islands of the Northern Group
is the presence of coastal rocks, the formation of which occurred
approximately at a level of 1 m below the earth's surface. As a result
of chemical reactions between water and calcium carbonate, lime was
formed, which serves as a cementing agent between shells and corals of
coastal rocks. These geological formations are also a natural defense of
natural underground fresh water reservoirs.
Minerals, the
development of which could be carried out on an industrial scale, are
absent on the surface and in the depths of the islands of the Cook
Archipelago. However, in the late 1970s, ocean floor surveys were
carried out in the Cook Islands' Exclusive Coastal Economic Zone. As a
result, at a depth of approximately 5,000 m, one of the largest
concentrations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt
(approximately 7.5 million tons), was discovered in the Pacific Ocean.
However, no development is currently underway.
The soils of the islands of the Northern Group of the Cook
Archipelago have a composition typical of other atolls in Oceania: coral
fragments and a low content of organic matter that accumulate in the
upper layers. These soils are infertile, highly porous and suitable only
for coconut palms, pandanus and some other tropical plant species. In
the swampy areas, taro grown by local residents grows.
The soils
of the islands of the Southern Group of the Cook Archipelago are mainly
of volcanic origin, and therefore more fertile, and therefore more
suitable for agricultural use. With the exception of Rarotonga and
Aitutaki, most of the islands of the Southern Group are occupied by
macatea with a very rugged relief. Due to the fact that macatea is made
up of coral limestone, the soils in this place have a high pH level. The
lowlands of the islands are dominated by fertile alluvial soils. Some
hinterland areas of Atiu and Mangaia are subject to severe soil erosion
(these are the consequences of the cultivation of pineapple
plantations). Much of the island of Rarotonga is covered with eroded
soil.
On the islands of the Northern Group, due to their small
area, low altitude, and soil porosity, there are no rivers. Instead,
water percolates through the ground to form a lens of slightly brackish
water. However, this source of water is quickly depleted, so the locals
mainly rely on rainwater collected in special tanks. There are wells on
the islands of Pukapuka, Nassau, Rakahanga.
The volcanic islands
of the Southern Group have sources of good quality fresh water. For
example, the inhabitants of Rarotonga and Mangaia obtain the water they
need from springs and small streams of water flowing in the valleys of
the islands, while other islands of the group have large groundwater
reserves.
The vegetation of the Cook Islands is not much different from the
vegetation of other Pacific atolls. Only on the islands of the Southern
Group is the vegetation cover more diverse, which is largely due to the
peculiarities of the geological structure and the volcanic origin of
these islands. Several zones of certain vegetation can be distinguished
on them: macatea flora, coastal flora, marshland flora, fern
communities, forests.
The plant communities of Makatea play a
very important role in the lives of the local people. Before the
appearance of goats and pigs on the islands, the Macatea areas remained
practically untouched by man. A large number of plants still grow on
them, many of which are used for medical purposes, for housing, canoes.
The coastal flora of islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki is subject
to significant anthropogenic impact due to the development of tourism.
In addition to traditional plants, a large number of plants introduced
by humans, such as mimosa, can be found on the coast. In the wetlands of
the Cook Islands, typical plants grow, and taro is cultivated by the
locals. On the islands of Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke and Rarotonga, ferns are
ubiquitous, protecting a thin layer of fertile soil from being washed
away. Humid jungles occupy up to 64% of the island of Rarotonga,
nephelogiles (tropical evergreen forests on the slopes of mountains at
an altitude of 400 m in the fog condensation zone), in which many
endemic plants grow, up to 3% of the island.
Typical plants for
the islands of volcanic origin are casuarina, hibiscus, frangipani and
bougainvillea introduced by Europeans. The sparse vegetation of the
atolls, where the soils are very poor and the only source of fresh water
is rain, is represented by pandanus. Coconut trees grow everywhere.
Terrestrial mammals are represented mainly by introduced species:
dogs, pigs and cats. The Tongan flying fox (lat. Pteropus tonganus)
lives on the islands of Rarotonga and Mangaia, small rats (lat. Rattus
exulans) and palm thieves (lat. Birgus latro) are widespread.
The
avifauna of the Cook Islands is very rich. On the islands of the
Northern Group, mostly covered with coconut palms, there is only one
species of land bird - the Pacific fruit-eating pigeon (lat. Ducula
pacifica), which feeds on the fruits of the magnificent guettard (lat.
Guettarda speciosa). However, islands such as Suvorov and Takutea are
places of large bird colonies where many species of seabirds nest: the
sooty tern (lat. Sterna fuscata), lesser frigatebird (lat. Fregata
ariel), red-footed booby (lat. Sula sula), red-tailed phaeton (lat.
Phaethon rubricauda), large frigatebird (lat. Fregata minor), brown
booby (lat. Sula leucogaster), blue-faced booby (lat. Sula dactylatra),
Tahitian curlew (lat. Numenius tahitiensis). The islands of the Southern
Group are home to 11 species of indigenous non-migratory land bird
species. These include 4 species of endemic birds living within only one
island (Rarotonga pomarea, Rarotonga aplonis, lat. Aerodramus sawtelli,
lat. Todiramhus ruficollaris), two species of endemic birds nesting on
two islands (Rarotonga spotted pigeon, Cook's warbler and 5 species of
non-endemic birds.
Residents of the Cook Islands, under their self-governing statute in
free association with New Zealand, are New Zealand citizens. In recent
years, there has been a significant outflow of the indigenous population
to this country. The decline in the population of the Cook Islands
occurs mainly during periods of economic crisis, when the population
goes to New Zealand in search of work, the opposite is true during times
of economic growth. Thus, a significant decline in the population of the
Cook Islands was observed between 1971 and 1991. An important
demographic indicator is also internal migration. For example, in 1991,
there was an increase in the population of Manihiki by more than 30%,
while the islands of Mangaia and Palmerston experienced a decrease by
more than 20%. Such trends are explained by the increase in the pearl
catch on the island of Manihiki and the decrease in economic activity on
the island of Mangaia.
According to the 2016 census, the
population of the Cook Islands was 17,459, of which 13,044 lived on the
island of Rarotonga with a total area of 67.1 km². The capital city of
Avarua had a population of 6,935 in 2011. 93.7% of the population
(16,360 people) live on the islands of the Southern Group, almost
three-quarters on Rarotonga. Due to the limited number of jobs, many
islanders live abroad, mainly in New Zealand.
Population density
- 63.26 people. per km². The islands of Manuae, Suvorov and Takutea are
uninhabited. The most sparsely populated island in 2016 was Nassau (78
people).
In 2016, men accounted for 49.2% (8590 people), women -
50.8% (8869 people). The share of the urban population in 2001 was
67.6%, rural - 32.4%.
The birth rate in the Cook Islands in 2020
was 13.3 per 1,000 inhabitants, with a natural population increase of
2.59%. The share of children under 14 years old in 2020 was 19.93%, of
the adult population from 15 to 64 years old - 66.7%, over 65 years old
- 13.37%. The average life expectancy of the population in 2020 was 77
years.
The majority of the population of
the Cook Islands are representatives of the Maori people of the Cook
Islands, who are close to the indigenous population of French Polynesia
and New Zealand. Despite the significant influence of Western culture
(various religious teachings, lifestyle), the traditional culture of the
Cook Islands has not disappeared and continues to develop.
87.7%
of the population is indigenous - the Maori of the Cook Islands. The
proportion of the population of foreign origin and their descendants is
low - 6.5%. The rest of the population are people from mixed marriages
of Maori and foreigners.
The inhabitants of most of the islands
are considered as representatives of one ethnic group - the Maori of the
Cook Islands. Within them, groups are distinguished that correspond to
individual islands: the Rarotongans, the Mangais, the Tongarevans, and
the Manihiki-Rakahanganans. Only the population of the island of
Pukapuka - the Pukapukans - speaks a different language and is
considered a separate Polynesian people. A special ethnic community is
represented by the inhabitants of Palmerston Atoll and people from it,
who are many in Rarotonga and New Zealand. They are descendants of the
English sailor William Masters and his three Polynesian wives.
The inhabitants of most Cook Islands speak Polynesian languages, most
notably Cook (Cook Island Maori or Cook Maori), which became the
official language in 2003. It is represented by two groups of dialects -
Rakahanga-Manihiki and Rarotonga (or Rarotonga-Mangai), which are often
considered separate languages.
The inhabitants of Tongareva
(Penryn) Atoll speak a closely related language, Tongareva (Penryn). The
people of Pukapuka and Nassau speak a distantly related language,
Pukapuka.
The second state language is English. It is the native
language of the people of Palmerston Atoll.
The dominant religion in the Cook Islands is Christianity, spread
in the archipelago by the missionaries of the London Missionary
Society, who first landed on it (namely, on the island of Aitutaki)
in 1821. With the spread of Christianity in the Cook Islands, the
practice of cannibalism, infanticide, and idol worship was stopped.
The missionaries contributed to the spread of literacy among the
local population, the basic principles of money management, and
created a written form of the Kuk language. Agriculture received an
impetus to development: there was a transition from an unproductive
subsistence economy to a plantation economy. The traditional tribal
system led by hereditary chiefs was gradually replaced by a
centralized form of government headed by elected politicians, and
extended families (that is, families that included, in addition to
parents and children, also immediate relatives) by nuclear families
(that is, families that included the head of the family, his wife
and children who had not yet married), who settled on the coast of
the islands, and not in the central part, as was the case before (an
exception to this is the island of Atiu, where the opposite
situation was observed).
However, the missionaries also
became a source of trouble. Together with the Europeans, a number of
infectious diseases were brought to the islands, against which the
locals had no immunity. As a result of epidemics, a significant part
of the islanders died.
In the modern society of the Cook
Islands, the majority of residents (49.1%) are followers of the
Christian Church of the Cook Islands (Protestants). About 17% are
Catholics, Seventh-day Adventists 7.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%
(555 people attended the Memorial in 2012 - about 3.5% of the
population).
The Cook Islands is a self-governing territory in free association
with New Zealand. This implies the independence of the Islands in
resolving the internal issues of the territory (in particular, the
government of the Cook Islands has executive power, the legislative
power is the Parliament of the Cook Islands, and not the Parliament of
New Zealand), being part of the Kingdom of New Zealand, headed by the
monarch of New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth II, providing residents
territory of New Zealand citizenship. However, Cook Islanders cannot
vote in New Zealand elections and receive welfare benefits until and
unless they become permanent residents of New Zealand. Foreign policy
and defense remain the prerogative of the New Zealand government.
The constitution, adopted on 4 August 1965, establishes a
monarchical form of government with a Westminster parliamentary system
similar to that in New Zealand. However, democratic principles in the
country are closely intertwined with local traditions. For example,
electoral districts are formed on the basis of traditional land surveys
and boundaries stretching from the interior of the islands to the ocean.
The supreme body of legislative power is a unicameral
parliament, consisting of 24 deputies (before 2003 - 25 deputies),
elected by universal secret ballot. Each deputy represents a separate
district, in some cases an entire island. The term of office of members
of parliament is 5 years.
At the first session of the Parliament,
the deputies elect the Speaker of the Parliament and his deputy.
According to the Constitution of the Cook Islands,
the head of state is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain,
who is represented in the Islands by the Queen's Representative
(formerly the High Commissioner), appointed by her for a period of three
years with the right of reappointment. The Queen's Representative acts
on the advice of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the appropriate
minister. If the Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the relevant Minister
makes any proposal to the Queen's Representative and if the Queen's
Representative does not reject it within 14 days of the date of the
proposal, the proposal shall be considered accepted. The representative
of the queen gives the acts of parliament the force of law, receives
credentials.
The Cabinet of Ministers, consisting of the
presiding Prime Minister and at least 6 and not more than 8 ministers,
is appointed from members of parliament (one minister is appointed from
outside the number of members of parliament). The Cabinet of Ministers
is the executive body responsible to Parliament. The Prime Minister of
the country is appointed by the representative of the British Queen from
among the members of Parliament. The remaining ministers are also
appointed by the Queen's representative from among the members of
Parliament, but on the proposal of the Prime Minister.
The islands have a common law - a legal system in which
judicial precedent is recognized as the source of law. The supreme law
of the country is the Constitution of the Cook Islands. The judiciary is
represented by the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Regional Court
and the Privy Council.
The High Court of the Cook Islands is
composed of a Chief Justice and Justices of the Peace appointed by the
Queen's Representative on the recommendation of the Executive Council.
The High Court is divided into a civil division, a criminal division,
and a land division. Only citizens of the Cook Islands who have served
as barristers in New Zealand or another Commonwealth country for at
least 7 years can become Judges of the High Court of the Cook Islands.
The Court of Appeal is composed of three judges, also appointed by
the Queen's representative. The Privy Council considers claims against
decisions of the Court of Appeal.
Voting rights
are granted to citizens of the Cook Islands, citizens of New Zealand,
persons who have the status of a permanent resident of the Cook Islands,
persons who have ever lived in the country for at least 12 months.
However, if a person has been outside the Cook Islands for 3 or more
months, he loses the right to vote in parliamentary elections. The right
to vote is granted again if the person has been in the Cook Islands for
3 months or more.
Each constituency is represented by one deputy
in the country's parliament. Thus, the island of Rarotonga, together
with Palmerston, is represented in parliament by 10 deputies, Aitutaki
and Mangaia - 3 deputies, Atiu - 2 deputies, Mauke, Mitiaro, Rakahanga,
Manihiki, Penrhyn - 1 deputy, Pukapuka together with Nassau - 1 deputy.
The Outer Islands Local Government Act 1988 is valid for all islands
except Rarotonga. According to it, an island council is established on
all islands, which includes island chiefs, elders, members of parliament
representing the island, and elected members from each constituency of
the island.
The local government system for the three districts
(waka) of Rarotonga was re-established in 1997 with the passage of the
Rarotonga Local Government Act. The first mayoral and councilor
elections were held in November 1998. However, in 2008, local
self-government was again abolished.
The Cook Islands
constitution provides for the establishment of a House of Ariki, which
is governed by the House of Ariki Act 1966. The council consists of
eight ariki (chiefs) representing the outer islands, and no more than
six from the islands of Rarotonga and Palmerston. Its activities are
limited to advisory functions.
The party system in the Cook Islands is underdeveloped. The country has a two-party system, which means that there are only two dominant parties in the Cook Islands, leading the main political struggle among themselves. The Cook Islands Party and the Democratic Party operate in the Cook Islands. In the past, there was also the First Party of the Cook Islands and Tumu Enua.
Under the Cook
Islands Constitution, adopted in 1965, New Zealand is responsible for
the defense of the country. However, in practice, this function is
exercised only at the request of the Government of the Cook Islands.
There is a Mutual Assistance Program between the Cook Islands and
New Zealand, which includes patrolling the Exclusive Coastal Economic
Zone of the Cook Islands by New Zealand patrol boats, training
specialists from the Cook Islands Maritime Police Department in diving,
using small arms, and instructing New Zealand specialists. The official
seat of the New Zealand Defense Adviser for the Cook Islands is
Wellington.
In 1987, Cook Islands Prime Minister Tom Davis
declared the country neutral immediately after New Zealand's refusal to
allow US ships carrying nuclear weapons and/or nuclear power plants to
enter its ports. The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands stated that New
Zealand does not have the right to carry out the defense of the country
and the agreements between the countries have long been outdated.
In the 1993 exchange of messages between the governments of the two
countries, a compromise was reached, according to which New Zealand
recognized the government of the Cook Islands as unlimited control not
only over foreign policy, but also over the country's defense.
Internal security is provided by the formations of the national police.
The Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Minister of Police.
Foreign policy matters for the Cook Islands are under the Cook
Islands Constitution Act 1964 under the jurisdiction of New Zealand,
which must coordinate action in this area with the government of the
Cook Islands. However, since the 1980s, the self-governing territory's
foreign policy activities have become increasingly independent. For
example, the Cook Islands, regardless of New Zealand, have the right to
sign regional and international treaties, join various international
organizations, establish consular and diplomatic relations with other
countries of the world, and act as a sovereign and independent state in
their foreign policy activities. Despite this, the Cook Islands is not a
member of the United Nations.
The Cook Islands is a member of a
number of regional and international organizations: the Pacific Islands
Forum, the South Pacific Commission, the Asian Development Bank, the
World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, UNESCO, ACP countries and other organizations. The
country has five diplomatic representations abroad: in New Zealand, the
USA, Norway, Australia and in the European Union.
The Cook
Islands do not have diplomatic relations with Russia.
Diplomatic relations between the Cook Islands and the PRC
were established on July 25, 1997. Strengthened ties between China and a
number of countries in Oceania, including the Cook Islands, in recent
decades have caused some concerns from New Zealand and Australia, whose
positions in the region are traditionally strong. Often the countries of
Oceania are involved in diplomatic wars between the People's Republic of
China and the Republic of China on the island of Taiwan.
The PRC
provides significant financial support to the Cook Islands. The
countries cooperate in the field of trade, fisheries, regular meetings
of the leaders of the two countries are held. The Cook Islands, in turn,
recognize only one China, the People's Republic of China.
In
2003, trade between China and the Cook Islands was US$ 575,000.
The Cook Islands cooperate closely with the European Union, including, in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, there is a diplomatic mission of the Cook Islands. The first honorary consul of the Cook Islands in the region appeared on February 10, 1987 in the city of Oslo, the capital of Norway. The EU countries provide financial and humanitarian assistance to the country (mainly to remote islands), cooperate in the social sphere (health, education), and fisheries.
The latest economic reforms on the islands are aimed at developing
the private sector of the economy and creating conditions for its
investment. For example, the government reduced taxes.
The main
sectors of the economy in recent years are agriculture, tourism and
financial services. The service sector is the most dynamic sector of the
economy. Tourism, offshore banking companies and other types of
financial services are developing rapidly. Currently, tourism is the
main supplier of foreign exchange. It is also the main source of income
for many families.
Of the approximately 6,600 working-age
population, 52% work in the service sector (half in the civil service),
29% in agriculture and 15% in industry.
Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in the Cook
Islands. Since the 1970s, this sector has undergone significant changes:
the role of agriculture in the country's economy has significantly
decreased. For example, in 1997, commercial agricultural production did
not exceed 2,000 tons and accounted for less than 20% of the country's
annual exports. Significant changes can be explained by many factors:
the intensive development of tourism, as a result of which the
population reoriented from agricultural production to the service
sector, the growth of the urban population (the process of
urbanization), the outflow of population from remote islands to
Rarotonga, and frequent droughts in recent decades. All this led to an
increase in imports, and hence to the country's dependence on foreign
food supplies. Some of the obstacles to the development of agriculture
in the Cook Islands and the competitiveness of their products are the
very small area of the country, the remoteness of the islands from
world markets, and poor transport links.
The most important crops
are tomatoes, white cabbage, bok choy, lettuce, watermelons, pumpkins,
squashes, capsicums, legumes, eggplants, as well as traditional crops
such as taro, yams, cassava and sweet potatoes. Agriculture is mainly
concentrated on the Southern Group Islands, where papaya, coconut,
various citrus fruits and tropical fruits are grown for export.
Fish is one of the national treasures of the Cook Islands,
which plays a very important role in the country's economy. In the
ocean, they mainly fish for tuna, striped marlin, wahoo and moonfish.
The main importers of fish products are the markets of Japan, New
Zealand and the USA. Fishing for aquarium fish species is also carried
out.
In 1957, Trochus niloticus was introduced to Aitutaki
Island, and since then the shells of this commercial mollusc, introduced
to many islands of the archipelago, have become an important export
commodity of the Cook Islands. On the islands of Manihiki and Tongareva
of the Northern Group, pearl mussels are bred to obtain valuable black
pearls for export. In small ponds, local residents breed lat fish for
the domestic market. Chanos chanos.
The state budget is also
replenished by issuing licenses to foreign vessels for the right to fish
in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Rarotonga International Airport serves international flights
connecting the Cook Islands with many points on Earth. The main company
operating flights between Rarotonga and Auckland (New Zealand), Fiji,
Tahiti and Los Angeles (USA) is Air New Zealand. Domestic flights, as
well as to the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, are operated by Air
Rarotonga.
Public transport (buses) operates on the island of
Rarotonga, and if necessary, tourists can rent a car or call a taxi.
A regular steamship line connects the islands with Auckland, Samoa,
Tonga and Niue. A whole fleet of small vessels serves domestic lines.
Rarotonga and some other South Islands have a developed road network.
Telecommunication services, including domestic and
international telephone communications, facsimile and telegraph
communication services, the Internet, are provided by Telecom Cook
Islands, whose office is located in Avarua. Some of these services are
also available on the outlying islands of the archipelago. There is also
a postal service, and local postage stamps are of interest to
philatelists from all over the world. There are several Internet cafes
on the islands of Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and there is WiFi in key
places.
Satellite TV is in operation, including a local channel
that mainly broadcasts New Zealand TV programs and is owned by Elijah
Communications Ltd (also owner of Radio Cook Islands and The Cook
Islands Herald weekly). There is no cable TV on the islands. There are
two radio stations in the Cook Islands, Radio Cook Islands and Radio
Ikurangi. The daily Cook Islands News is published, and New Zealand and
Australian newspapers and magazines are widely distributed. Rarotonga
has weekly local newspapers, the Herald and the Independent.
The leading economic sector of the Cook Islands is tourism, which has
been intensively developing since 1971. In 2006, 92,095 people visited
the islands, thereby providing the country's economy with the necessary
funds and giving impetus to the development of tourism infrastructure.
The main flow of tourists goes either to the island of Rarotonga or
Aitutaki. In recent years, up to 80% of the Cook Islands' GDP has come
from tourism. The archipelago is mainly visited by citizens of New
Zealand (more than half of the tourists who visited in 2006), Australia,
European countries, the USA and Canada. However, a significant increase
in the share of the tourism sector in the country's economy can also
lead to negative consequences. In the event of a sharp decrease in the
number of tourists visiting the Cook Islands, the economy will face
difficult tests: a decrease in the country's GDP, a drop in incomes of
the population, and hence its emigration to New Zealand.
To enter
the country for up to 31 days, a person needs only a valid passport, a
return ticket and sufficient funds. If the duration of stay in the Cook
Islands is more than 1 month and less than 3 months, a fee of NZ$70 must
also be paid (age 15 and over). If the duration of stay on the islands
is more than 3 months and up to 5 - you must pay 120 $ NZ. If the
duration of stay in the Cook Islands is more than 6 months, a visa is
required.
The main exports of the
Cook Islands are agricultural products (copra, tomatoes, citrus fruits,
pineapples, bananas and other fruits), pearls. The Cook Islands are
dependent on imported food, manufactured goods, machinery and fuel.
Imports are many times greater than exports. In 2006, exports amounted
to NZ$ 5.42 million against NZ$ 14.59 million in 2003, and imports - NZ$
148.5 million against NZ$ 121.02 million. Thus, over 3 years, exports
decreased by 169 %, and imports increased by 22%.
The main
trading partner is New Zealand, in addition, there are well-established
trade relations with Australia, Japan, the UK and the USA.
Iron-manganese nodules have been found in the area of the Cook
Islands.
Monetary system and finance
The monetary unit of the
Cook Islands is the New Zealand dollar, but since 1972 Cook Islands
dollars have also been in circulation, equated in a ratio of 1: 1 to the
New Zealand dollar. Banknotes have been in circulation since 1987
(before that, only coins).
The budget for 2006 had expenditures
of NZ$92.8 million and revenues of NZ$103.2 million. The largest
expenditure item in the budget is infrastructure spending. The cost of
maintaining the order and security of the country is NZ$ 4.5 million.
The share of spending on healthcare in 2006 was 12% of all spending, on
education - 16%. Among the incomes, the most important are the receipts
from taxes and duties. Postage stamps and collectible coins are also an
important source of replenishment of the country's budget.
A
large number of banks, including international ones, are registered on
the territory of the Cook Islands. The 2003 Banking Law provides for
three types of licenses: a domestic banking license, an international
banking license, and a limited international banking license. The Cook
Islands are one of the largest offshore centers in the world.
Pre-colonial organization of the Cook Islanders
Before the advent
of Europeans, there was a tribal social organization of the inhabitants
on the Cook Islands. On each of the islands lived peoples, or waka,
representing large social and territorial groups. Waka was formed as a
result of the merger of different genera, whose members were united by
common ancestors who, according to local legends, sailed by canoe. The
titled head of the people was the Ariki, who was treated with deep
reverence, since, according to the ideas of the members of the people,
he had a divine origin and was endowed with supernatural power. People's
questions were also discussed in the "royal court" or koutu. The waka
was divided into tapers, which were small plots of land headed by a
matayapo (leader of the main clan) or ariki (supreme leader of the
people) and stretching from the center of the island to the reef of the
island. The inhabitants of Tapere were collectively known as
Matakeinanga.
music and dancing
Music and
dance play a very important role in Maori life in the Cook Islands. Each
island has its own variations of the dance, and some of the islanders
are taught traditional singing and dancing from early childhood.
Concerts are organized especially for tourists, and a small group of
professional dancers tours around the world. The traditional Kuk Khura
dance (Kuksk. hura) is distinguished by its rhythm and complexity. The
most popular musical instrument is the drum.
The literature of the Cook Islands is mainly represented by numerous local legends. Of contemporary writers, Kauraka Kauraka (1951-1997), who was born on the island of Rarotonga and buried on Manihiki, is the most famous. He has written 6 collections of poetry and non-fiction in English and Cook Islands Maori. In addition to literary activities, he was engaged in music, photography, and was an anthropologist.
Many islands, such as Atiu, are famous for their textiles, or tivaevae (Kuk tivaevae), which combine applique and embroidery, as well as traditional jewelry: necklaces, or ei (Kuk. ei), and diadems, or ei-katu ( kuksk ei katu). Precious items are made mainly from black pearls. Among other traditional crafts, embroidered pandanus mats, baskets, bags and fans stand out. On many islands, craftsmen carve figurines.
Due to its small population, the Cook Islands are inferior in most
sports to their immediate neighbors. The most popular sport game is
rugby. The country even has its own national team. The Tereora National
Stadium regularly hosts rugby matches on Saturdays from June to August.
Another popular game is cricket (the season of games falls on
December-March). In December 2001, the Cook Islands took part in the
South Pacific Mini Games on Norfolk Island, winning several medals
there. The island of Rarotonga also has several tennis courts, squash
courts, and golf courses. Surfing has been popular among the locals
since ancient times. Triathlon competitions are held annually in
September.
The Cook Islands has its own national football team,
recognized by FIFA and the Oceania Football Confederation. The first
international match with their participation took place on September 2,
1971, in which the Cook Islands lost to the Tahiti team with a score of
0:30.
The country has been participating in the Summer Olympic
Games since 1988 (held in the capital of South Korea, Seoul). However,
in the entire history of their participation in the Olympic movement,
the Cook Islands have not won a single medal. The Cook Islands Olympic
team is represented in such disciplines as athletics, weightlifting,
boxing.
Health problems among the local population are associated mainly with non-contagious diseases, as well as overweight. The main causes of death are hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus. In 1980, studies were conducted by the Government of the Cook Islands and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community on 1,127 adults in Rarotonga. As a result, it turned out that almost half of the women were overweight (140% overweight). A follow-up study was conducted in 1987. According to him, 20% of men and 50% of women were obese. In 2002, 3,600 residents of Rarotonga were surveyed. According to the results, at least 80% of the population was overweight or obese, 12% had diabetes, and about a third of those surveyed had high blood pressure. A similar pattern was observed on other islands.
The Cook Islands has a relatively long history of education. The
first schools appeared in 1823 with the arrival of a missionary from the
London Missionary Society, John Williams, to the islands. The classes
were taught by Tahitian teachers in the Maori language with an emphasis
on religion and practical exercises. In 1840, a special teacher training
center appeared in Avarua, and by 1860, universal primary education was
introduced in the Cook Islands.
The main government agency
responsible for the country's educational system is the Ministry of
Education. In 2000, there were 28 primary schools in the Cook Islands,
10 of which were on Rarotonga. Twenty-three schools were public, one was
owned by the church, and the rest were private. There are 23 secondary
schools, three of which are located in Rarotonga.
In 2007, there
were 1,968 pupils in elementary schools in the Cook Islands and 1,915 in
secondary schools.
The Cook Islands education system is closely
related to the New Zealand education system and basically follows the
same curriculum. As in New Zealand, in the Cook Islands education is
compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 15. Primary and
secondary education is free and funded by the government, resulting in a
very high literacy rate.
It is very difficult to get a good
higher education on the islands, so those who wish go to New Zealand.
The country has a Pedagogical College (Eng. Teachers Training College),
Trade, Tourism Training Centers, in Avarua there is a branch of the
University of the South Pacific.
Contrary to popular belief, James Cook was not eaten in the Cook
Islands. In fact, he was killed in the Hawaiian Islands.
In honor of
the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first artificial Earth
satellite in the Cook Islands by the USSR, a silver coin was issued with
images of our planet and the legendary satellite in orbit.
In 2007,
in New Zealand, especially for the Cook Islands, 4 coins with a
denomination of two dollars from 999 silver, dedicated to Sherlock
Holmes, were issued. In the image of the famous detective, the popular
Soviet actor Vasily Livanov acted. The reverse of the coins also
features Vitaly Solomin as Watson and Nikita Mikhalkov as Baskerville.
The inhabitants of Palmerston Atoll speak English with a South Pacific
variety of Gloucestershire accent.
In 2007, the New Zealand Mint -
again for the Cook Islands - issued a circulation of 20,000 copies of 2
two-dollar coins made of 999 silver, dedicated to the sixtieth
anniversary of the creation of the legendary Soviet and Russian
Kalashnikov assault rifle model 1947 - AK-47, which is used in more than
than 100 countries of the world and is officially in service with 50, as
well as Mikhail Kalashnikov himself. The reverse of one of the coins
depicts a machine gun, which has proven itself to be the most reliable
in the world and suitable for any climatic conditions, a Russian soldier
with a machine gun in his hands and a colored red star with a golden
hammer and sickle against its background. On the reverse is another - a
color portrait of Lieutenant General M. Kalashnikov against the
background of a red banner and, again, a machine gun.