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NAVIGATION
Cook Islands
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands |
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Dependency status:
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self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands |
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Government type:
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self-governing parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Avarua |
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Administrative divisions:
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none |
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Independence:
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none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965) |
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Constitution:
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4 August 1965 |
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Legal system:
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based on New Zealand law and English common law |
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Suffrage:
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NA years of age; universal adult |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12 February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey HENRY (since 12 February 2002) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held NA June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1 note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers |
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Judicial branch:
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High Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AsDB, ESCAP (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), IOC, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
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Flag description:
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blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $105 million (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 17%
industry: 8% services: 75% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.2% (2000 est.) |
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Labor force:
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8,000 (1996) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995) |
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Unemployment rate:
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13% (1996) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est. ) |
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Industries:
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fruit processing, tourism, fishing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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24 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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22.32 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry |
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Exports:
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$9.1 million (2000) |
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Exports - commodities:
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copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing |
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Exports - partners:
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Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$50.7 million (2000) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods |
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Imports - partners:
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NZ 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$141 million (1996 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$13.1 million (1995); note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995) |
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Currency:
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New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
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Currency code:
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NZD |
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Exchange rates:
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New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |