1985 Edition

Agriculture

export crops include copra, citrus fruits, pineapples, tomatoes, and bananas, with subsistence crops of yams and taro

Aid

Australia (1980-83), $2.0 million; Australia and New Zealand (1977), $6.5 million

Airfields

48 total, 43 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,4403,659 m, 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National People's Militia

New Zealand Governor General appoints Representative to Cook Islands, who represents the Queen and the New Zealand Government; Representative appoints the Prime Minister; Parliament of 24 members, popularly elected; House of Arikis (chiefs), 15 members, appointed by Representative, an advisory body only

Capital

Avarua, located on Rarotonga

Civil air

6 major transport aircraft

Coastline

about 120 km People

Elections

every five years, latest in November 1983 Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey Henry; Democratic Party, Thomas Davis

Electric power

4,750 kW capacity (1984); 15 million kWh produced (1984), 880 kWh per capita

Ethnic divisions

81.3% Polynesian (full blood), 7.7% Polynesian and European, 7.7% Polynesian and other, 2.4% European, 0.9% other

Exports

$3.0 million (1977); copra, fresh and canned fruit

GDP

$15.4 million (1977), $860 per capita (1978)

Government leader

Sir Thomas DAVIS, Prime Minister (since July 1978)

Highways

11,970 km total; 555 km bituminous surface treated; 848 km gravel, laterite, 5,347 km improved earth, and 5,220 km unimproved roads

Imports

$16.8 million (1977); foodstuffs, textiles, fuels

Inland waterways

6,485 km navigable

Limits of territorial waters

3 nm

Major industry

fruit processing

Major trade partners

(1970) exports— 98% New Zealand; imports — 76% New Zealand, 7% Japan

Member of

ADB, IDA, IFC, IMF Economy

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 31 December 1984, $51.5 million; about 5% of central government budget South Pacific Ocean 375km Sec regional map X -*AVARUA Land About 240 km2 Water

Military manpower

males 15-49, 398,000; 200,000 fit for military service; about 18,000 reach military age (20) annually

Nationality

noun — Cook Islander(s); adjective— Cook Islander

Official name

Cook Islands

Pipelines

crude oil 25 km

Population

17,000 (July 1985), average annual growth rate —0.7%

Ports

1 major (Pointe-Noire)

Railroads

727 km, 1 .067-meter gauge, single track

Religion

Christian, majority of populace members of Cook Islands Christian Church Government

Suffrage

universal adult

Telecommunications

services adequate for government use; primary network is composed of radio-relay routes and coaxial cables; key centers are Brazzaville, PointeNoire, and Loubomo; 17,300 telephones (1.1 per 100 popl.); 3 AM stations, 1 FM station, 4 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces

Type

self-governing in "free association" with New Zealand; Cook Islands Government fully responsible for internal affairs and has right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with Cook Islands Government

Voting strength

(1983) Parliament— Cook Islands Party, 11 seats; Democratic Party, 13 seats