Cook Islands Country Brief
Introduction
Cook Islands is a parliamentary democracy, with Queen Elizabeth II the Head of State, represented by the Governor-General HE Sir Fredrick Goodwin. Cook Islands is a self-governing state ‘in free association with New Zealand’, an arrangement dating from August 1965. Under the terms of the free association, Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship and enjoy the right of free access to New Zealand.
Political Overview
Government
Cook Islands has a unicameral parliament with 24 elected members and a parliamentary term of 4 years. There is also a 15-member House of Ariki (Chiefs), established in 1966, composed of six Ariki from Rarotonga and nine from the outer islands. The Ariki advise the Government on land use and customary issues. There is full adult suffrage and registration is compulsory, although voting is not.
The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, the Hon Jim Marurai MP. The Hon Dr Terepai Maoate is Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Attorney-General, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
Recent political developments
On 24 July 2006, the Queen's Representative dissolved the Cook Islands Parliament at the request of Prime Minister Marurai. Elections were held in September 2006 and the Democratic Party won a clear majority of 15 of the 24 district seats. The Cook Islands Party (CIP) won 8 seats and there was one CIP-aligned independent. Marurai continued as Prime Minister. The next elections are expected be held in 2010.
Foreign Relations
Cook Islands is a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum and is a member of a number of other regional and international organisations: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Health Organization (WHO), Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) and the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP). The Cook Islands hosted the Pacific Energy Ministers’ Meeting in April 2007 and the Forum Trade Ministers’ Meeting in July 2008. The Cook Islands is scheduled to host the Forum Disabilities Ministers’ and Forum Economic Ministers’ meetings in late 2009.
Economic Overview
The Cook Islands' economy faces many of the development impediments common to other small island states in the Pacific region: relatively limited natural resources, remoteness from major trade and industrial centres, and a diminishing labour force. Despite these constraints, Cook Islands has developed a small but successful tourism industry and the Government has accorded high priority to its further development. Real GDP growth is estimated at around 1.0 percent in 2009 (ADB Forecast). Priority has been given to the development of the marine resources within Cook Islands' large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), including black pearl farming in the Northern Group of Islands.
Cook Islands has experienced significant population decline since 1996, with large numbers of Cook Islanders migrating to New Zealand, Australia and other countries in search of better employment opportunities. According to the 2006 Census, the population is 19,569 with the majority of the population (72.3 per cent) residing on Rarotonga. The total estimated population for the March quarter 2009 was 21,000. However, the resident population for the same quarter was estimated at 12,000 (Quarterly Statistical Bulletin, March 2009).
Bilateral Relationship
Prime Minister and Mrs Murarai and Deputy Prime Minister Maoate attended the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns 5-7 August 2009.
Australia's relationship with Cook Islands is based mainly on shared membership of regional organisations, a modest aid program, and the Cook Islands' participation in the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. In 2009-10 Australia’s total overseas development assistance to Cook Islands is estimated to be $3.1 million, including $1.7 million in bilateral assistance. The Australian High Commissioner in New Zealand is accredited to the Cook Islands.
The majority of Australia’s aid allocation to the Cook Islands 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 the Cook Islands. Australia continues to manage education scholarships for Cook Islanders. The Cook Islands is also eligible for funding under regional development assistance programs.
Under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, Australia gifted a patrol boat to Cook Islands in 1989. In 2006, Australia completed a life-extension upgrade of the vessel (valued at approximately $4.5 million). The ongoing Defence Cooperation Program has considerably enhanced the Cook Islands’ Maritime Law Enforcement capability through training, RAN ship visits, fuel subsidies and small infrastructure projects. Defence Cooperation funding to Cook Islands is estimated at $416,000 in 2009-10. Cook Islands contributes two personnel to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.
Regular commercial flights operate between Sydney and Rarotonga.
Bilateral Economic and Trade Relationship
Australian exports to Cook Islands in 2008 totalled $12.8 million (principally liquefied propane and butane, tobacco and alcoholic beverages). Australian imports from Cook Islands in the same period totalled $106,000 (principally artwork, antiques, pearls and gems).
Visitor Information
Australians travelling to Cook Islands are advised to consult the Smartraveller travel advice website.
Updated 17 September 2009