Cook Islands

At a glance Land People Economy Achievements and challenges Links with Australia Cook Islands at a glance Did you know? 'Kia Orana!' (may you live long) is the Cook Islands ' greeting and response which is used anytime of the day or night. Region Pacific Population 21,923 (2008 estimate) Land Geography: Low coral atolls in north; Volcanic, hilly islands in south Climate: Tropical; moderated by trade winds People Religion: Christian Language: English (Official), Cook Island Maori dialects Economy GDP per person (PPP): $9,100 GDP by sector: Agriculture, 15%, Industry, 10%, Services, 75% Government Self –governing parliamentary democracy Land Physical geography Located about 5000 kilometres north east of Sydney Cook Islands consist of 15 islands spread over 2 million square kilometres of ocean with over 1400 kilometres separating the northern and southern islands. The northern group consist of six low coral atolls and the southern group consist of nine volcanic, hilly islands. They cover a total land area of 240 square kilometres or about the same as the Australian Capital Territory. The second furthest south island, Rarotonga, is the largest (67 square kilometres) and has the highest peak, the extinct volcano Te Manga, 652 metres. The smallest island, Suwarrow is only 40 hectares. Climate Cook Islands have a pleasant even climate all year round. The wetter, more humid months, December to March, have an average daily high 29°C. The cooler, drier months, June to September, have an average daily high of 25°C. The mountainous interior of Rarotonga is the wettest area. The hurricane season lasts from November to March, though severe storms are rare, averaging once every 20 years. Environment The more fertile southern islands grow coconut palms, pandanus and fruit trees and have jungles of ferns, creepers and tall hardwood trees. Animal life includes the Pacific fruit bats, found only on Mangaia and Rarotonga, the cave-dwelling Atiu swiftlet, the chattering kingfisher of Atiu and Mauke, the Mangaia kingfisher and the Rarotonga flycatcher, or kakerori. Fish life includes parrotfish and humpback whales. People Most of the population lives in the southern islands with about 9000 people in the capital, Avarua, on the island of Rarotonga. Many people from the outer islands have moved to Rarotonga in search of work and educational opportunities. The six northern islands are sparsely populated. Approximately 37,000 Cook Islanders live in New Zealand, most of them in Auckland. People Culture and identity The Cook Islanders are Polynesians, people of the 'many' (poly) islands of the South Pacific. They are mainly Maori people, distantly related to the New Zealand Maori, with small minorities of Europeans, New Zealanders, Fijians, Indians and Chinese. Each island has its own distinct mixture of culture but there are common threads. English is the official language and most people also speak one of the six dialects of Cook Island Maori which can be generally understood. Pukapukan is spoken on Pukapuka and Nassau. Christian missionaries brought many changes to the traditional systems of government, economy, agriculture and culture as well as religion. The traditional tribal system where hereditary chiefs were in control was gradually replaced by a centralised form of government under elected politicians. A cash economy replaced the barter system. Calico cotton clothing, bedding and house furnishings replaced tapa cloth. Plantations replaced subsistence farming. The traditional singing style with close harmonies with guttural sounds by the men continued through the hymn singing. There are now efforts to reclaim some of traditional practices. Arts and crafts include ceremonial adzes, an axe-like tool with a stone blade and an intricately carved wooden handle; coconut palm woven hats, fans, belts and baskets; feathered headdresses; carved wooden statues and communally sown tivaivai, appliqué quilts. Tivaivai are given on important family and social occasions such as weddings and the traditional hair cutting ceremony for boys when they come of age. Tattoos were traditionally a way of showing the family line and sometimes covered the whole body. Health The health status of Cook Islanders is relatively good in comparison with other Pacific island countries, as demonstrated by a life expectancy at birth of 71 years and infant mortality rate of 25 per 1000 live births. Health care is free, babies are fully immunised and there are active health promotion campaigns to address the increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, stress, heart disease and diabetes. Religion and beliefs Most Cook Islanders are devout churchgoers. About 56% of the people belong to the Cook Islands Christian Church, which is derived from the Congregationalist London Missionary Society. The second largest group is Roman Catholic but many other denominations are also followed. Food and shelter Coconut, fish, cassava, taro and tropical fruits form the basis of most meals in Cook Islands. Traditional foods may be cooked slowly in ground ovens. In the towns western style homes have replaced the bush materials village homes for the extended family. Economy Wealth and poverty The relatively high income of workers in Rarotonga is in great contrast to the subsistence lifestyle of the population on the outer islands. Education and work Cook Islands follows the New Zealand education system. Free education for primary and secondary students is provided and there is some financial assistance for independent schools run by Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist missions. The country also has a Teachers Training College, a nursing school, a Trade Training Centre, Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre and Nursing School. The Fiji-based University of the South Pacific maintains an extension centre in Avarua, Rarotonga and provides vocational, foundation and degree courses, some using video links with the Fiji centre. Industries and products The four leading producers of income in Cook Islands are tourism, fishing, agriculture and financial services. In the year 2000, 75,000 people visited the country, mainly Rarotonga and the northern island of Aitutaki. The fishing industry has expanded rapidly and black pearls are cultivated mainly on Manihiki and Penrhyn. About 70% of all households in Cook Islands are engaged in some form of agricultural activity either as subsistence or commercially, or both. The tourism sector is an important market outlet for locally grown produce. Citrus, banana and pineapple-growing industries are being developed.. Trade In 2005 Cook Islands exported $5.2 million of copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee, fish, pearls and pearl shells, and clothing to Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25% and US 8%. Imports far exceeded exports with $81 million spent on imports of foodstuffs, textiles, fuels and timber from NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9% and Australia 6%. Achievements and challenges Like many other South Pacific island nations, Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by distance from foreign markets, limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, occasional typhoons, diminishing workforce and inadequate infrastructure. Recent reforms to build up major industries and address structural issues are slowly improving the economy. Foreign aid and wages from overseas migrants, overwhelmingly from New Zealand, help overcome the problems of the trade deficit. The government is seeking to minimize this "brain drain" by improving educational, cultural, medical, and environmental services and opportunities. Links with Australia Australia's relationship with Cook Islands is based mainly on shared membership of regional organisations, and a small aid program. There are roughly 5030 Cook Islands born people living in Australia. Trade and investment between Australia and Cook Islands are limited, with Australian exports totalling $7.4 million and imports $101,000 in 2006-07. In 2008-09 Australia’s total overseas development assistance to Cook Islands is estimated to be $5.1 million, the majority of which is managed by the New Zealand Agency for International Development under the Tripartite Arrangement between Australia, New Zealand and Cook Islands. The harmonised program aims to improve development outcomes and reduce aid management administrative burdens for Cook Islands. Australia continues to manage education scholarships for Cook Islanders. The ongoing Defence Cooperation Program has considerably enhanced Cook Islands’ Maritime Law Enforcement capability through training, RAN ship visits, fuel subsidies and small infrastructure projects. Main Sources: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html http://www20.sbs.com.au/worldguide/index.php http://hdr.undp.org/ http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/index.html

Taro is the staple of Cook Islanders and people throughout the Pacific region. The underground 'corm' is like a long, fat carrot. It can be roasted, boiled or pounded into flour to make cakes. The leaves may also be eaten boiled or baked in an underground oven.

Women from around the Cook Islands share their experiences and hopes for more participation in decision making. Photo: NZAID