1986 Edition

Agriculture

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

Airfields

55 total, 51 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 21 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; popularly elected 24-member Parliament; 15-member House of Arikis (chiefs), appointed by Representative, is 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: Democratic Party, Sir Thomas Davis; Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey Henry

Electric power

4,750 kW capacity (1985); 15 million kWh produced (1985), 840 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

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

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

Government leader

Sir Thomas DAVIS, Prime Minister (since July 1978)

Highways

1 1,970 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

the Congo and Ubangi Rivers provide 1,120 km of commercially navigable water transport; the remainder of the inland waterways are used for local traffic only

Lanaguage

English Government

Limits of territorial waters

12 nm (200 nm exclusive economic zone)

Major industry

fruit processing, tourism

Major trade partners

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

Member of

ADB, IDA, IFC, IMF, SPF, SPEC, ESCAP (associate member) Economy

Military manpower

males 15-49, 410,000; 206,000 fit for military service; about 19,000 reach military age (20) annually Pukapuka Rakahanta, Pamhyn 'Manihiki Nassau Island South Pacific Ocean Palmerston A"u'"". Manuaa . Mitiaro Takutaa Mauka 400km Rarotonga — *AVARUA Mangaia Land About 240 km2 Water

Monetary conversion rate

475 Communaute Financiere Af ricaine (CFA) francs=US$l(1985)

Nationality

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

Official name

Cook Islands

Pipelines

crude oil 25 km

Population

17,738 (July 1986), average annual growth rate — 1.0%

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

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; 18, 100 telephones (1.1 per 100 popl.); 3 AM, 1 FM, 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 the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands Government

Voting strength

(1983) Parliament— Democratic Party, 13 seats; Cook Islands Party, 1 1 seats