The Cook Islands (i/ˈkʊk ˈaɪləndz/; Cook Islands Māori: Kūki 'Āirani) is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It is composed of 15 small islands whose total land area is 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), however, covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean.
The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 in 2006), where there is an international airport. There is a much larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. In the 2006 census, 58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Island Māori descent.
With about 100,000 visitors travelling to the islands in the 2010-11 financial year, tourism is the country's main industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, and marine and fruit exports.
Defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens.
Read more about Cook Islands: Geography, History, Politics and Foreign Relations, Administrative Subdivisions, Economy, Wildlife, Sport
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... Main article Sport in the Cook Islands See also Netball in the Cook Islands Rugby league is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands ...
... The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament ... The current Speaker is Geoffrey Henry, a member of the Cook Islands Party ...
... Cook Islands national rugby union team (XV) Rugby union in the Cook Islands Rugby union in the Cook Islands Governing body Cook Islands Rugby Union National teams Mens Cook Islands 7's U-20 Womens ...
... e • d Summary of the 7 September 2004 Cook Islands Parliament of the Cook Islands election results Parties Votes % Seats Democratic Party 3944 47.5 14 Cook Islands Party 3647 43.9 9 Tumu Enua 198 2.4 ...
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