Cook Islands
The Kingdom of Rarotonga was established in 1858 and in 1888 it became a British protectorate by the request of Queen Makea Takau, mainly to thwart the French. In 1893 the name was changed to the Cook Islands Federation in recognition of Captain Cook.
The Cook Islands comprises 15 islands spread over 2.2 million square kilometres of the South Pacific with Tonga to the west and the Society Islands to the east.
The Cook Islands comprise of two main groups, one in the north and one in the south. The southern group is made up of nine islands mainly of volcanic origin although some are virtually atolls.
The majority of the population lives in the southern group.
Island |
European discoverer: vessel date |
Distance from capital (km) |
Aitutaki |
William Bligh: Bounty 11 Apr 1789 |
225 |
Atiu |
James Cook: Endeavour 31 Mar 1777 |
223 |
Mangaia |
James Cook: Endeavour 29 Mar 1777 |
177 |
Manuae |
James Cook: Endeavour 23 Sep 17735 |
225 |
Mauke |
John Williams: 23 Jul 1823 |
241 |
Mitiaro |
John Williams: 20 Jul 1823 |
265 |
Palmerston |
James Cook: Endeavour 16 Jun 1774 |
434 |
Rarotonga |
William Bligh: Bounty 1789 |
– |
Takutea |
James Cook: Endeavour 4 Apr 1777 |
244 |
Winslow Reef |
Perry Winslow: Phoenix 1851 |
133 |
The northern group comprises six atolls.
Atoll |
European discoverer: vessel date |
Distance from capital (km) |
Manihiki |
Pedro Fernandes de Queirùs: San Pedro y San Pablo 1606 |
1160 |
Nassau |
Louis Coutance: Adele 1803 |
1240 |
Penrhyn |
William Cropton Sever: Lady Penrhyn 8 Aug 1788 |
1365 |
Pukapuka |
Alvaro de Mendana de Neira: San Geronimo 20 Aug 1595 |
1315 |
Rakahanga |
Ferdinand Magellan [?]: Trinidad Feb 1521 |
1248 |
Suwarrow |
Mikhail Lazarev: Suvorov 17 Sep 1814 |
930 |
Tema Reef |
John Byron: HMS Dolphin 21 Jun 1765 |
1340 |
In 1901 administrative control was transferred to New Zealand. In 1965 the Cook Islands became a self-governing parliamentary democracy of 15 small islands whose citizens are citizens of New Zealand with the status of Cook Islands nationals. New Zealand oversees the country's foreign relations and defence.
On 11 June 1980, the United States agreed on the maritime border between the Cook Islands and American Samoa and also relinquished claims to the islands of Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Manihiki, and Rakahanga.
In 1990 the maritime boundary between the Cook Islands and French Polynesia was ratified.
The Cook Islands Library and Museum on Rarotonga is a private organisation dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of the Cook Islands. It is entirely run and funded by volunteers. It is a pay to access collection.
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