Cook Islands

The Block

The Cook Islands declared themselves a self-governing entity in 1965 yet remain a dependency of New Zealand. Officially, they are a state in “free association” with New Zealand. As they are not widely recognized as a sovereign nation, a block on the Quilt of Belonging was not created for them. Recognizing the distinct identity of this new nation, we invite you to learn about the Cook Islands in the Cultural Profile below.

Cultural Profile

The Cook Islands are a collection of 15 main islands that are home to about 15000 inhabitants. They are home to mainly Polynesian people of the Maori and Pukapukan cultures who first settled there around 1000 CE. The modern name “Cook Islands” is derived from the famous British explorer James Cook, who was the first European to discover the islands.

The capital of the Cook Islands is Avarua and the official languages are English and Cook Islands Maori.

The Cook Islands became a British territory in 1900. They were declared formally a part of the British Colony of New Zealand in 1901. In the wake of the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 , Cook Islanders who were previously considered British subjects automatically became citizens of New Zealand The islands remained a New Zealand dependent territory until the New Zealand Government decided to grant them self-governing status, which was formalized on 4 August 1965 with the creation of a separate constitution for the Cook Islands.

The economy of the Cook Islands is largely dependent on foreign aid with tourism and the hosting of offshore financing serving as local sources of wealth. The culture of the Cook Islands is derived from a combination of a Polynesian flavor combined with the Christian religion of which most denizens of the islands are a part.