Survivor: Cook Islands - Friday, September 03rd 2010
Cook Islands Cast Sekou Billy Cao Boi Cecilia Jessica Jenny Rebecca Brad Stephannie Cristina J.P. Adam Candice Parvati Jonathan Nathan Becky Oscar Sundra Yul

Cook Islands

Cook Islands Map

The Cook Islands (Cook Islands Maori: Ku-ki 'A-irani) are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands in this South Pacific Ocean have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq. mi).

Tourism is the country's number one industry, the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports. A popular art form on the islands is tivaivai, often likened to quilting.

Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request. The Cook Islands has adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy, particularly after the adoption of an isolationist and non-aligned policy by New Zealand in the 1980s.


Brief History

Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888.

By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand.

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geography:

the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Natural Hazards:

typhoons (November to March)

Population:

21,388 (July 2006 est.)

Nationality:

Cook Islander(s)

Languages:

English (official), Maori

Cook Islands Flag

Flag;

The Flag of the Cook Islands is based on the traditional design for former British colonies in the Pacific region. It is a blue ensign containing the Union Flag in the upper left, and on the right, fifteen stars in a ring. The Union Flag is symbolic of the nation's historic ties to the United Kingdom. The stars stand for the fifteen islands that make up the Cook Islands. The blue represents the ocean.