Cook Islands Kūki 'Āirani
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Te Atua Mou E God is Truth
Capital (and largest city)		Avarua 21°12′S, 159°46′W
Official languages		English Cook Islands Māori
Demonym		Cook Islander
Government		Constitutional monarchy
-	Head of State	Queen Elizabeth II
-	Queen's Representative	Sir Frederick Goodwin
-	Prime Minister	Jim Marurai
Associated state
-	Self-government in free association with New Zealand	4 August 1965
Area
-	Total	236 km² (209th) 91 sq mi
Population
-	Mar 2006 estimate	18,700 (218th (2005))
-	2001 census	18,027
-	Density	76/km² (117th) 197/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$183.2 million (not ranked)
-	Per capita	$9,100 (not ranked)
Currency		New Zealand dollar (Cook Islands dollar also used) (NZD)
Time zone		(UTC-10)
Internet TLD		.ck
Calling code		+682

The Cook Islands (Cook Islands Māori: Kūki 'Āirani) are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The fifteen small islands in this South Pacific Ocean country have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi), but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1.8 million square kilometres (0.7 million sq mi) of ocean.^[1] Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Cook_Islands. ... Image File history File links Cook_islands_coa. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The Flag of the Cook Islands is based on the traditional design of form British colonies of the Pacific region. ... Cook Islands has a shield as its focal point The shield contains the fifteen stars found on the national flag. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Te Atua Mou E (God is Truth; also spelled Te Atua Moue) is the national anthem of the Cook Islands. ... Image File history File links LocationCookIslands. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... This article lists details about the demographics of the Cook Islands. ... Ara Maire Noi in Avarua Avarua is a town in the north of Rarotonga Island and the national capital of Cook Islands. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Cook Islands Māori also called Maori Kuki Airani became an official language of the Cook Islands in 2003 (1). ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A constitutional monarchy or limited monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges an elected or hereditary monarch as head of state, as opposed to an absolute monarchy, where the monarch is not... The Cook Islands are a constitutional monarchy within the Realm of New Zealand with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch, since 4 August 1965. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands is the most powerful official within the government of the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. ... Jim Marurai has been the prime minister of the Cook Islands since December 14, 2004 when he was elected by Parliament by a vote of 14-9. ... An associated state is used to describe a free relationship between a territory and a larger nation. ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... ISO 4217 Code NZD User(s) New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Tokelau Inflation 2. ... ISO 4217 Code none User(s) Cook Islands Inflation 2. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .ck is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Cook Islands. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... The Cook Islands Māori also called Maori Kuki Airani became an official language of the Cook Islands in 2003 (1). ... Pacific redirects here. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Sea areas in international rights Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (c.10,000), where there is an international airport. There is also 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.^[2] Rarotonga Island from space, September 1994 View of a Rarotongan beach. ... North Island The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

With over 90,000 visitors travelling to the islands in 2006, tourism is the country's number one industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports. Tourist redirects here. ...

Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy.

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Cook Islands

The politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic associated state, whereby the Queen of New Zealand, represented in the Cook Islands by the Queen's Representative, is Head of State and the Chief Minister is the head of government. There is a pluriform multi-party system and the islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand and fully responsible for both internal and external affairs. New Zealand no longer has any responsibility for external affairs. As of 2005, it has diplomatic relations in its own name with eighteen other countries. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of the Cook Islands. Politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in red and orange—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... An associated state is used to describe a free relationship between a territory and a larger nation. ... New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its reigning monarch, since February 6, 1952. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the comedy film of the same name, see Head of State (film). ... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... A Free Association is an association which meets certain mostly negative criteria. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The Parliament of the Cook Islands or Legislative Council has 24 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constuencies The parliament building of the Cook Islands that used to be a hotel. ...

The Cook Islands are not United Nations full members but participate in WHO and UNESCO. UN redirects here. ... Look up who in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Org type Specialized Agency Acronyms UNESCO Head Director General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura Japan Status Active Established 1945 Website www. ...

The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In the law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

Historical dates

1595 — Spaniard Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira is the first European to sight the islands. Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira. ...

1606 — Spaniard Pedro Fernández de Quirós made the first recorded European landing in the islands when he set foot on Rakahanga. Pedro Fernández de Quirós (1565 - 1614) (in Portuguese Pedro Fernandes de Queirós), was a Portuguese seaman and explorer. ...

1773 — Captain James Cook explores the islands and names them the Hervey Islands. Fifty years later they are renamed in his honour by Russian admiral and explorer Krusenstern. A Royal Navy captains rank insignia. ... This article is about the British explorer. ... For other uses, see Admiral (disambiguation). ... See also explorations, sea explorers, astronaut, conquistador, travelogue, the History of Science and Technology and Biography. ... Ivan Kruzenstern Adam Johann Ritter von (knight of) Krusenstern (born November 19, 1770 in Hagudi, close to Rapla, in the Russian province of Estonia, died August 24, 1846 in Reval, now Tallinn, Estonia) was the Baltic German admiral and explorer in Russian Service who in 1803-1806 led the first...

1821 — English and Tahitian missionaries arrive, become the first non-native settlers.

1858 — The Cook Islands become united as a state, the Kingdom of Rarotonga.

1888 — Cook Islands are proclaimed a British protectorate and a single federal parliament is established.

1901 — The Cook Islands are annexed to New Zealand.

1924 — The All Blacks Invincibles stop in Rarotonga on their way to the United Kingdom and play a friendly match against a scratch Rarotongan team. First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 All Black redirects here. ...

1946 — Legislative Council is established. For the first time since 1912, the territory has direct representation.

1965 — The Cook Islands become a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. Albert Henry, leader of the Cook Islands Party, is elected as the territory's first prime minister.

1974 — Albert Henry is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II Albert Royle Henry (1907 - 1981) was the former first Premier of the Cook Islands and a colorful and charismatic figure in Cook Islands politics for many years. ...

1979 — Sir Albert Henry is found guilty of electoral fraud and stripped of his premiership and his knighthood. Tom Davis becomes Premier. Albert Royle Henry (1907 - 1981) was the former first Premier of the Cook Islands and a colorful and charismatic figure in Cook Islands politics for many years. ... Sir Thomas (Tom) Davis KBE (June 11, 1917 Rarotonga - July 23, 2007 Rarotonga) was a former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and a medical researcher. ...

1981 — Constitution is amended. Parliament grows from 22 to 24 seats and the parliamentary term is extended from four to five years. Tom Davis is knighted.

1985 — Rarotonga Treaty is open for signing in the Cook Islands creating a nuclear free zone in the South Pacific.

1986 — In January 1986, following the rift between New Zealand and the USA in respect of the ANZUS security arrangements Prime Minister Tom Davis declared the Cook Islands a neutral country, because he considered that New Zealand (which has control over the islands' defence and foreign policy) was no longer in a position to defend the islands. The proclamation of neutrality meant that the Cook Islands would not enter into a military relationship with any foreign power, and, in particular, would prohibit visits by US warships. Visits by US naval vessels were allowed to resume by Henry's Government.

1991 — The Cook Islands signed a treaty of friendship and co-operation with France, covering economic development, trade and surveillance of the islands' EEZ. The establishment of closer relations with France was widely regarded as an expression of the Cook Islands' Government's dissatisfaction with existing arrangements with New Zealand which was no longer in a position to defend the Cook Islands.

1995 — The French Government resumed its Programme of nuclear-weapons testing at Mururoa Atoll in September 1995 upsetting the Cook Islands. Henry was fiercely critical of the decision and dispatched a vaka (traditional voyaging canoe) with a crew of Cook Islands' traditional warriors to protest near the test site. The tests were concluded in January 1996 and a moratorium was placed on future testing by the French government.

1997 — Full diplomatic relations established with China.

1997 — In November, Cyclone Martin in Manihiki kills at least six people; 80% of buildings are damaged and the black pearl industry suffered severe losses.

2000 — Full diplomatic relations concluded with France.

2002 — Prime Minister Terepai Maoate is ousted from government following second vote of no-confidence in his leadership.

2004 — Prime Minister Robert Woonton visits China; Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao grants $16 m in development aid.

2006 — Parliamentary elections held. The Democratic Party keeps majority of seats in parliament, but parliament is unable to meet due to petitions filed by the Cook Islands Party over alleged voting irregularities.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and Fiji. There are fifteen major islands, spread over 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean, divided into two distinct groups: the Southern Cook Islands, and the Northern Cook Islands of coral atolls.^[3] The Cook Islands can be divided into two groups. ... Portion of a Pacific atoll showing two islets on the ribbon or barrier reef separated by a deep pass between the ocean and the lagoon. ...

The islands were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is older and consists of six atolls (sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth). The climate is moderate to tropical. Portion of a Pacific atoll showing two islets on the ribbon or barrier reef separated by a deep pass between the ocean and the lagoon. ... Extant Subclasses and Orders Alcyonaria    Alcyonacea    Helioporacea Zoantharia    Antipatharia    Corallimorpharia    Scleractinia    Zoanthidea [1][2]  See Anthozoa for details For other uses, see Coral (disambiguation). ...

The fifteen islands are grouped as follows: Image File history File links Cook-Islands-map. ...

• Southern Group
  • Aitutaki
  • Atiu (Enua-Manu or Island of Birds)
  • Mangaia
  • Ma'uke (Akatokamanava)
  • Rarotonga (with capital, Avarua)
  • Palmerston Island
  • Manuae
  • Mitiaro
  • Takutea

• Northern Group
  • Manihiki
  • Nassau
  • Penrhyn Island also known as Tongareva
  • Pukapuka
  • Rakahanga
  • Suwarrow also called Suvorov

Aerial view of Aitutaki Aitutaki, traditionally known as Araura, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. ... Aerial view of Atiu Atiu, also known as Enuamanu (meaning land of the birds), is an island lying at 187 km to the northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago. ... Mangaia (traditionally known as Auau Enua - which means terraced) is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga. ... Rarotonga Island from space, September 1994 View of a Rarotongan beach. ... Palmerston Island is the name of a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean about 500 km northwest of Rarotonga. ... Manuae is an uninhabited atoll in the southern group of the Cook Islands 100 kilometres south-east of Aitutaki. ... Mitiaro Cook Islands THE FOURTH largest island in the Cooks group, Mitiaro is of volcanic origin. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Penrhyn Island (also called Tongareva or Mangarongaro) is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean, 1365 km (848 miles) north-north-east of Rarotonga, 9 degrees below the equator. ... Pukapuka is a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Rakahanga Atoll, part of the Cook Islands in the central-southern Pacific Ocean, is a paradise not yet spoilt by tourism and it is a long way from civilisation, being 1000 kilometres from Rarotonga]. The most recent claim to fame is that pearls can now be successfully grown in the... Map of Cook Islands with Suwarrow near the middle Suwarrow (also called Suvorov or Suvarov) is a low coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. ...

History

Beach on Rarotonga.

Main article: History of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands were first settled in the 6th century A.D. by Polynesian people who migrated from nearby Tahiti, to the southeast.^[4] Photo taken from Rarotonga. ... Photo taken from Rarotonga. ... Rarotonga Island from space, September 1994 View of a Rarotongan beach. ... The Cook Islands are named from a [[Russian naval chart of the early 1880s, after Captain James Cook, who visited the islands in 1773 and 1779. ... Look up AD in Wiktionary, the free dictionary AD or ad may stand for: ad or advertisement, see advertising ad- prefix Administrative domain Air Defence Andorra, ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code Anno Domini (In the Year of [Our] Lord). This year is A.D. 2005. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of the French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. ...

Spanish ships visited the islands in the late sixteenth century; the first written record of contact with the Islands came with the sighting of Pukapuka by Spanish sailor Álvaro de Mendaña in 1595 who called it San Bernardo ("Saint Bernard"). Another Spaniard, Pedro Fernández de Quirós, made the first recorded European landing in the islands when he set foot on Rakahanga in 1606, calling it Gente Hermosa ("Beautiful People"). Pukapuka is a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira or Neyra (1541 - November 1595) was a Spanish navigator. ... St. ... Pedro Fernández de Quirós (1565 - 1614) (in Portuguese Pedro Fernandes de Queirós), was a Portuguese seaman and explorer. ... Rakahanga Atoll, part of the Cook Islands in the central-southern Pacific Ocean, is a paradise not yet spoilt by tourism and it is a long way from civilisation, being 1000 kilometres from Rarotonga]. The most recent claim to fame is that pearls can now be successfully grown in the...

British navigator Captain James Cook arrived in 1773 and 1779 and named the islands the Hervey Islands; the name "Cook Islands", in honour of Cook, appeared on a Russian naval chart published in the 1820s.^[5] This article is about the British explorer. ...

In 1813, John Williams, a missionary on the Endeavour (not the same ship as that of Cook), made the first official sighting of the island of Rarotonga.^[6] Rarotonga Island from space, September 1994 View of a Rarotongan beach. ...

The first recorded landing on Rarotonga by Europeans was in 1814 by the Cumberland; trouble broke out between the sailors and the Islanders and many were killed on both sides.^[7]

The islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in 1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and many islanders continue to be Christian believers today.

The Cook Islands became a British protectorate at their own request in 1888, mainly to thwart French expansionism. They were transferred to New Zealand in 1901. They remained a New Zealand protectorate until 1965, at which point they became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. In that year, Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party was elected as the first Prime Minister. Sir Albert Henry led the country until he was accused of vote-rigging. He was succeeded in 1978 by Tom Davis of the Democratic Party. This article is about states protected and/or dominated by a foreign power. ... Self-governance is an abstract concept that refers to several scales of organization. ... A Free Association is an association which meets certain mostly negative criteria. ... Albert Royle Henry (1907 - 1981) was the former first Premier of the Cook Islands and a colorful and charismatic figure in Cook Islands politics for many years. ... Founded in 1964 by Albert Henry and associates, the Cook Islands Party is a personalist political party in the Cook Islands. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Thomas Davis (born January 11, 1959), American School Teacher and Independent Composer An aspiring jazz composer from the idyllic Finger Lakes region in upstate New York, Tom Davis teaches music at a public high school while tending to a family of four. ... The Democratic Party is a political party in the Cook Islands. ...

Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent ("self-governing in free association with New Zealand") but New Zealand is tasked with overseeing the country's defence.

On June 11, 1980, the United States signed a treaty with New Zealand specifying the maritime border between the Cook Islands and American Samoa and also relinquishing its claim to the islands of Penrhyn Island, Pukapuka (Danger), Manihiki, and Rakahanga. Penrhyn Island (also called Tongareva or Mangarongaro) is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean, 1365 km (848 miles) north-north-east of Rarotonga, 9 degrees below the equator. ... Pukapuka is a coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Rakahanga Atoll, part of the Cook Islands in the central-southern Pacific Ocean, is a paradise not yet spoilt by tourism and it is a long way from civilisation, being 1000 kilometres from Rarotonga]. The most recent claim to fame is that pearls can now be successfully grown in the...

Culture

Float parade during the annual Maeva Nui celebrations.

See also: Music of the Cook Islands

Image File history File linksMetadata Rarotonga-8-Maeva-Nui. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Rarotonga-8-Maeva-Nui. ... In the Cook Islands, Christian music is extremely popular. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the date January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the date January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ... Easter (also called Pascha) is generally accounted the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed March or April each year to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead (after his death by crucifixion; see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year, almost two... Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. ... Easter (also called Pascha) is generally accounted the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed March or April each year to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead (after his death by crucifixion; see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year, almost two... Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic cultures. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Anzac Day is commemorated by Australia and New Zealand on 25 April every year to remember members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who landed at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Anzac Day is also a public holiday in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and... In Jersey the Lieutenant-Governor hosts a reception for the public at Government House to mark the Queens Official Birthday at which he announces recipients of Birthday Honours The Queens Birthday or Queens Official Birthday is celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries (usually Commonwealth... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... is the 360th day of the year (361st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Boxing Day is a public holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on 26 December. ...

Art

Carving - Woodcarving is a common art form in the Cook Islands. Sculpture in stone is much rarer although there are some excellent carvings in basalt by Mike Taveoni. The proximity of islands in the southern group helped produce a homogeneous style of carving but which had special developments in each island. Rarotonga is known for its fisherman's gods and staff-gods, Atiu for its wooden seats, Mitiaro, Mauke and Atiu for mace and slab gods and Mangaia for its ceremonial adzes. Most of the original wood carvings were either spirited away by early European collectors or were burned in large numbers by missionary zealots. Today, carving is no longer the major art form with the same spiritual and cultural emphasis given to it by the Maori in New Zealand. However, there are continual efforts to interest young people in their heritage and some good work is being turned out under the guidance of older carvers. Atiu, in particular, has a strong tradition of crafts both in carving and local fibre arts such as tapa. Mangaia is the source of many fine adzes carved in a distinctive, idiosyncratic style with the so-called double-k design. Mangaia also produces food pounders carved from the heavy calcite found in its extensive limestone caves. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Weaving - The outer islands produce traditional weaving of mats, basketware and hats. Particularly fine examples of rito hats are worn by women to church on Sundays. They are made from the uncurled fibre of the coconut palm and are of very high quality. The Polynesian equivalent of Panama hats, they are highly valued and are keenly sought by Polynesian visitors from Tahiti. Often, they are decorated with hatbands made of minuscule pupu shells which are painted and stitched on by hand. Although pupu are found on other islands the collection and use of them in decorative work has become a speciality of Mangaia. Tweed loom, Harris, 2004 Woven sheet Weaving is an ancient textile art and craft that involves placing two sets of threads or yarn called the warp and weft of the loom and turning them into cloth. ...

Tivaevae - A major art form in the Cook Islands is tivaevae. This is, in essence, the art of making handmade patchwork quilts. Introduced by the wives of missionaries in the 19th century, the craft grew into a communal activity and is probably one of the main reasons for its popularity. Tivaivai (also spelt tīvaevae) is a form of art that Cook Islands women excell at. ...

National Flower

The National Flower of the Cook Islands is the Tiare Māori or Tiale Māoli.

Sport

Main article: Sport in the Cook Islands

Rugby union is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands with association football (soccer) and rugby league also popular.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... Rugby league football is a full-contact team sport played with a prolate spheroid-shaped ball by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. ...

See also

This article lists communications in the Cook Islands. ... This article lists details about the demographics of the Cook Islands. ... This article describes the economy of the Cook Islands. ... The Cook Islands are named from a [[Russian naval chart of the early 1880s, after Captain James Cook, who visited the islands in 1773 and 1779. ... In the Cook Islands, Christian music is extremely popular. ... Politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... This article lists transport in the Cook Islands. ...

References

Statistics New Zealand (Te Tari Tatau) is a New Zealand government department, and the source of the countrys official statistics. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 163rd day of the year (164th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Find more about Cook Islands on Wikipedia's sister projects:
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• Cook Islands Government
• Cook Islands Government (summary)
• Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
• Open Directory Project - Cook Islands directory category
• Comprehensive Cook Islands site with news section
• Detailed and non-commercial website
• Cook Islands National Environment Service
• Cook Islands Biodiversity Database
• Photographs of CI banknotes including unique 3 dollar bill

Geographic locale
v • d • e Administrative divisions of New Zealand Supranational level Realm of New Zealand National level New Zealand Tokelau Cook Islands Niue   Ross Dependency Regions 12 non-unitary regions 4 unitary regions Chatham Islands   Kermadec Islands sub-Antarctic islands Territorial authorities 16 cities and 57 districts Notes Some districts lie in more than one region These combine the regional and the territorial authority levels in one Special territorial authority Areas outside regional authority; these, plus the Chatham Islands and the Solander Islands, form the New Zealand Outlying Islands State administered by New Zealand States in free association with New Zealand Claimed by New Zealand, but claim frozen by the Antarctic Treaty v • d • e Realm of New Zealand Cook Islands · New Zealand · Niue · Ross Dependency · Tokelau Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiversity-logo-Snorky. ... New Zealand is administratively divided into regions on the first level and territorial authorities on the second level. ... The Realm of New Zealand is the territory in which the Queen in right of New Zealand is head of state. ... Political status Dependency of New Zealand Governor Anand Satyanand Area   – Total  450 000 km² (174 000 mi²) Population Scott Base: 10-80 seasonally McMurdo Station: 200-1000 seasonally Currency New Zealand dollar The Ross Dependency comprises an area of Antarctica (and other land masses in the Southern Ocean) claimed by... Region is the formal term for the top tier of local government in New Zealand. ... The Chatham Islands from space. ... Raoul Island from space The Kermadec Islands are an island arc in the South Pacific Ocean. ... Five groups of islands form the New Zealand sub-antarctic islands. ... Territorial authorities is the formal term for the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. ... The Chatham Islands from space. ... Solander Island from northwest Map of the Solander Islands Overview map The Solander Islands are a small chain of uninhabited volcanic islets lying at , close to the western end of the Foveaux Strait in southern New Zealand. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... An associated state is a territory that effectively has independence, but chooses to have constitutional links with another, larger, country that handles its external affairs, unless it decides to seek full independence. ... For the Antarctic Treaty from the Gundam anime, see Antarctic Treaty (Gundam) The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, regulate the international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earths only uninhabited continent. ... The Realm of New Zealand is the territory in which the Queen in right of New Zealand is head of state. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Political status Dependency of New Zealand Governor Anand Satyanand Area   – Total  450 000 km² (174 000 mi²) Population Scott Base: 10-80 seasonally McMurdo Station: 200-1000 seasonally Currency New Zealand dollar The Ross Dependency comprises an area of Antarctica (and other land masses in the Southern Ocean) claimed by... v • d • e Polynesia Polynesian triangle Austral Islands · Cook Islands · Easter Island · Gambier Islands · Hawaiian Islands · Loyalty Islands · Marquesas · New Zealand · Pitcairn Islands · Sala y Gómez · Samoan Islands · Society Islands · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuamotus · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna Islands Polynesian outliers and peripheral cultures Anuta · Emae · Futuna · Kapingamarangi · Mele · Nuguria · Nukumanu · Nukuoro · Ontong Java · Ouvéa · Pileni · Rennell · Rotuma · Sikaiana · Takuu · Tikopia v • d • e Countries and territories of Oceania  Australasia Australia · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · New Zealand1 · Norfolk Island   Melanesia East Timor2 · Fiji · Maluku Islands (Indonesia)2 · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea3 · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu  Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia · Guam · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Nauru · Northern Mariana Islands · Palau   Polynesia American Samoa · Cook Islands · Easter Island · French Polynesia · Juan Fernández Islands · Niue · Pitcairn · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna 1Often included in Polynesia. 2Often included in Southeast Asia. 3Often included in Australasia. v • d • e British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations Legend Current territory  ·   Former territory * now a Commonwealth Realm  ·   now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... The Polynesian Triangle is a geographical region of the Pacific Ocean anchored by Hawaii, Rapa Nui and New Zealand. ... The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, sometimes also called the Tubuai Islands, after one of the main islands. ... Rapa Nui redirects here. ... The Gambier Islands (French: ÃŽles Gambier or Archipel des Gambier) are a small group of islands in French Polynesia, located at the southeast terminus of the Tuamotu archipelago. ... Map of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of islands that stretches 1,500 mi (2,400 km) in a northwesterly direction from the southern tip of the Island of Hawaii. ... The Loyalty Islands. ... National motto: Mau‘u‘u ha‘e iti Official languages French, Tahitian Political status Dependent territory, administrative division of French Polynesia Capital Tai o Hae Largest City Tai o Hae Area 1,274 km² ( 492 sq. ... Isla Sala y Gómez (Rapa Nui: Motu Motiro Hiva) is a small uninhabited island lying in the eastern Pacific at 26°27′ S 105°28′ W. It is part of Chiles Easter Island province. ... Samoa Islands may refer to: Samoa, a country in the South Pacific American Samoa, a U.S. territory, also in the South Pacific This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Map of Society Islands One of the islands. ... A Satellite photo of the Acteon Group, 4 atolls in the southeastern Tuamotus. ... Motto: n/a Anthem: La Marseillaise Capital (and largest city) Mata-Utu Official languages French Uvean, Futunan Government Overseas territory of France  -  President of France Nicolas Sarkozy  -  Administrateur supérieur Richard Didier  -  President of the Territorial Assembly Pesamino Taputai  -  Kings (traditionally three) King of Uvea (none at present) Soane Patita... Polynesian outliers are a number of Polynesian islands which lie in Melanesia and Micronesia. ... Anuta is a small high island in the southeastern part of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. ... Emae (coordinates ) is an island in the Shepherds Islands, Shefa, Vanuatu. ... Futuna is an island in the Tafea province of Vanuatu. ... Kapingamarangi is an atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia. ... Mele Island also known as Hideaway Island is a Polynesian outlier and islet in Vanuatu. ... Nuguria or the Nuguria Islands are a Polynesian outlier and islands of Papua New Guinea. ... The Nukumanu Islands, part of Papua New Guinea are located in the path of the Polynesian migration to Oceania some 5,000 years ago, the Nukumanu Islands were settled by the Polynesians and retained their Polynesian character as part of the Melanesian Archipelago of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon... Nukuoro is an atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia. ... Ontong Java Atoll is the northernmost tract of land in the Solomon Islands and an outlying part of the province of Malaita. ... Ouvéa from space, November 1990 Ouvea may refer to: Ouvéa, an island in the Loyalty Islands of New Caledonia. ... Pileni is a culturally important island in the Reef Islands, in the northern part of the Solomon Islands province of Temotu. ... Rennell and Bellona Province is one of the provinces of the Solomon Islands. ... Rotuma is a Fijian Dependency, consisting of the island of Rotuma and the nearby islets of Hatana, Hofliua, Solkope, Solnohu and Uea. ... Sikaiana formerly called Stewart Islands is a small atoll 212 km NE of Malaita. ... A village scene on Takuu Takuu (also Tauu or Mortlock Islands) is a small, isolated atoll off the east coast of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. ... Tikopia is the southernmost of the Santa Cruz Islands, located in the province of Temotu. ... This is an alphabetical list of Oceanian countries and dependencies. ... For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1096x744, 47 KB)Australasia ecozone re-drawn from French wiki by MPF Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Australasia Australasia is a term variably used to describe a region of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Copyright 2004 Affordable Solutions Pty Ltd Aust. ... map of Melanesia Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western side of the West Pacific to the Arafura Sea, north and northeast of Australia. ... Maluku redirects here. ... Image File history File links Micronesia. ... Image File history File links Polynesia. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Rapa Nui redirects here. ... The town of San Juan Bautista in Cumberland Bay, Robinson Crusoe Island The Juan Fernández Islands is a sparsely inhabited island group reliant on tourism in the South Pacific Ocean, situated about 667 km off the coast of Chile, and is composed of several volcanic islands: Robinson Crusoe, ( ) (also... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... For a comprehensive list of the territories that formed the British Empire, see Evolution of the British Empire. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the sixteen sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations that recognise Elizabeth II as their respective monarch. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2008. ... Europe  18th century 1708-1757  Minorca since 1713  Gibraltar 1782-1802  Minorca For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Capital Maó Official languages Catalan & Spanish Area  -  Total 694. ... Capital Maó Official languages Catalan & Spanish Area  -  Total 694. ... 19th century 1800-1964  Malta 1807-1890  Heligoland 1809-1864  Ionian Islands 1878-1960  Cyprus For the landscape in Norway, see Helgeland. ... The Ionian Islands (Modern Greek: Ιόνια νησιά, Ionia nisia; Ancient Greek: , Ionioi NÄ“soi) are a group of islands in Greece. ... 20th century since 1960  Akrotiri and Dhekelia Anthem God Save the Queen Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Occupied Areas) Sovereign Base Areas indicated in pink. ... North America  17th century 1607-1776  Virginia 1610-1907  Newfoundland since 1619  Bermuda 1620-1691  Plymouth Colony 1629-1691  Massachusetts Bay Colony 1632-1776  Maryland 1636-1776  Connecticut 1636-1776  Rhode Island 1637-1662  New Haven Colony 1663-1712  Carolina 1664-1776  New York 1665-1776  New Jersey 1670-1870  Rupert's Land 1674-1702  East Jersey 1674-1702  West Jersey 1680-1776  New Hampshire 1681-1776  Pennsylvania 1686-1689  Dominion of New England 1691-1776  Massachusetts North American redirects here. ... A map of the Colony of Virginia. ... The History of Newfoundland and Labrador starts with two separate regions, the Colony of Newfoundland and the region of Labrador, then converge after 1946, with the creation of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Seal of Plymouth Colony Map of Plymouth Colony showing town locations Capital Plymouth Language(s) English Religion Puritan, Separatist Government Monarchy Legislature General Court History  - Established 1620  - First Thanksgiving 1621  - Pequot War 1637  - King Philips War 1675–1676  - Part of the Dominion of New England 1686–1688  - Disestablished 1691... A map of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Capital Charlestown, Boston History  - Established 1629  - New England Confederation 1643  - Dominion of New England 1686  - Province of Massachusetts Bay 1692  - Disestablished 1692 The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it) was an English settlement on... A map of the Province of Maryland. ... A map of the Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook colonies. ... Providence Plantation was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Baptist minister fleeing from religious persecution in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. ... The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662. ... The Carolina Colony grants Haystack of 1663 and 1665 The Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1729, was a North American British colony. ... A map of the Province of New York. ... The Province of New Jersey was an English colony that existed within the boundaries of the current U.S. state of New Jersey prior to the American Revolution. ... This article is about the trading territory. ... The original provinces of West and East New Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively. ... The original provinces of West and East New Jersey are shown in yellow and green respectively. ... A map of the Province of New Hampshire. ... A map of the Province of Pennsylvania. ... The Dominion of New England was the name of a short-lived administrative union of English colonies in the New England region of North America. ... A map of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. ... 18th century 1701-1776  Delaware 1712-1776  North Carolina 1712-1776  South Carolina 1713-1867  Nova Scotia 1733-1776  Georgia 1763-1873  Prince Edward Island 1763-1791  Quebec 1784-1867  New Brunswick 1791-1841  Lower Canada 1791-1841  Upper Canada Delaware Colony was an English colony in North America. ... A map of the Province of Carolina. ... A map of the Province of Carolina. ... Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on Canadas Maritimes. ... Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name. ... Province of Quebec (COLONIAL PERIOD, 1763-1791) Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris (1763) when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France, which was viewed as a vast, frozen wasteland... N.B. in Canada today N.B. today New Brunswick (French: Nouveau-Brunswick), is one of the three Maritime provinces in Canada, and the only officially bilingual province (French and English) in the country. ... Map of Lower Canada (green) Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (1791-1841). ... Flag Map of Upper Canada (orange) Capital Newark 1792 - 1797 York(later renamed Toronto in 1834) 1797 - 1841 Language(s) English Religion Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Sovereign  - 1791-1820 George III  - 1837-1841 Victoria Lieutenant-Governor See list of Lieutenant-Governors Legislature Parliament of Upper Canada  - Upper house Legislative Council... 19th century 1818-1846  Columbia District/Oregon Country1 1841-1867  Province of Canada 1849-1866  Vancouver Island 1858-1866  British Columbia 1859-1870  North-Western Territory 1862-1863  Stikine Territory 1866-1871  Vancouver Island                       and British Columbia 1867-1931  *Dominion of Canada2 20th century 1907-1949  Dominion of Newfoundland3 Columbia District was a regional department of the Hudsons Bay Company, and included all of the Columbia River basin, extending as far north as the Thompson River. ... Landscape in Oregon Country, by Charles Marion Russell Map of Oregon Country Oregon Country was a region of western North America that originally consisted of the land north of 42°N latitude, south of 54°40N latitude, and west of the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... See main article Vancouver Island Colonial flag of Vancouver Island, consisting of the British Blue Ensign and the great seal of the colony. ... The Colony of British Columbia was a crown colony of British North America from 1858 until 1871. ... The North-Western Territory at its greatest extent, 1859 The North-Western Territory was a region of British North America until 1870. ... Stikine Territory Stikine Territory (usually spelt Stickeen in the 19th Century) was a territory that existed in British North America from July 19, 1862 until July of the next year. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Colony of British Columbia. ... // Confederation Main article: Canadian Confederation Fathers of Confederation meet in Quebec City In the 1860s, in the wake of the American Civil War, the British were concerned with possible American reprisals against Canada for Britains tacit support of the Confederacy. ... Motto: Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei (Latin: Seek ye first the kingdom of God) Anthem: Ode to Newfoundland Capital St. ... 1Occupied jointly with the United States. 2In 1931, Canada and other British dominions obtained self-government through the Statute of Westminster. 'Dominion' remains Canada's legal title; see Canada's name. 3Gave up self-rule in 1934, but remained a de jure Dominion until it joined Canada in 1949. This article is about Dominions of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... This article is about the Statute of Westminster relating to the British Empire and its dominions. ... Detail from the current Canadian $20 bank note, issued in 2004. ... Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. ... Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Regions Political culture Foreign relations Other countriesAtlas  Politics Portal      Canada is a federation which consists of ten provinces that, with three territories, make up the worlds second largest country in total area. ... Latin America and the Caribbean  17th century 1605-1979  *Saint Lucia 1623-1883  Saint Kitts (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1624-1966  *Barbados 1625-1650  Saint Croix 1627-1979  *St. Vincent and the Grenadines 1628-1883  Nevis (*Saint Kitts & Nevis) 1629-1641  St. Andrew and Providence Islands4 since 1632  Montserrat 1632-1860  Antigua(*Antigua & Barbuda) 1643-1860  Bay Islands since 1650  Anguilla 1651-1667  Willoughbyland (Suriname) 1655-1850  Mosquito Coast (protectorate) 1655-1962  *Jamaica since 1666  British Virgin Islands since 1670  Cayman Islands 1670-1973  *Bahamas 1670-1688  St. Andrew and Providence Islands4 1671-1816  Leeward Islands Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... West Indies redirects here. ... Saint Kitts and Nevis has one of the longest written histories in the Caribbean, both islands being amongst Europes first colonies in the archipelago. ... Saint Croix from space, January 1993 Saint Croix is one of the United States Virgin Islands, a United States territory, in the Caribbean. ... Saint Kitts and Nevis has one of the longest written histories in the Caribbean, both islands being amongst Europes first colonies in the archipelago. ... Motto Paraíso Turistico(Spanish) Touristic Paradise Anthem Himno de San Andrés y Providencia Capital (and largest city) San Andrés City Official languages Spanish, English Government Colombian Department  -  Governor Alvaro Archbold Nuñes Area  -  Total 52 km² (33th)  sq mi   -  Density 1145. ... The history of Antigua and Barbuda can be separated into three distinct eras. ... Islas de la Bahía (Bay Islands) is one of the 18 departments into which the Central American nation of Honduras is divided. ... // Native American period The history of Suriname dates from 3000 BCE, when Native Americans first inhabited the area. ... The article is about the Central American area. ... Motto Paraíso Turistico(Spanish) Touristic Paradise Anthem Himno de San Andrés y Providencia Capital (and largest city) San Andrés City Official languages Spanish, English Government Colombian Department  -  Governor Alvaro Archbold Nuñes Area  -  Total 52 km² (33th)  sq mi   -  Density 1145. ... Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Not specified Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1952-1960 (last) Elizabeth II History  - Established 1833  - Federation 1871  - Dominica joined 1871  - Dominica left 1940  - West Indies Federation 1958  - Federation dissolved May 31, 1962 The British Leeward Islands was a British colony existing between... 18th century 1762-1974  *Grenada 1763-1978  Dominica since 1799  Turks and Caicos Islands 19th century 1831-1966  British Guiana (Guyana) 1833-1960  Windward Islands 1833-1960  Leeward Islands 1860-1981  *Antigua and Barbuda 1871-1964  British Honduras (*Belize) 1882-1983  *St. Kitts and Nevis 1889-1962  Trinidad and Tobago 20th century 1958-1962  West Indies Federation British Guiana and its boundary lines, 1896 Flag of British Guiana British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana. ... The Windward Islands are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles. ... Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Not specified Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1952-1960 (last) Elizabeth II History  - Established 1833  - Federation 1871  - Dominica joined 1871  - Dominica left 1940  - West Indies Federation 1958  - Federation dissolved May 31, 1962 The British Leeward Islands was a British colony existing between... Flag Capital Belize City Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy History  - Established 1871  - Disestablished 1981 Area 22,966 km2 8,867 sq mi Currency British Honduran dollar Flag of British Honduras British Honduras was the former name of what is now the independent nation of Belize and was a British... Flag Motto To dwell together in unity Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Chaguaramas Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Queen Elizabeth II Governor-General Lord Hailes Prime minister Grantley Herbert Adams¹ History  - Established January 3, 1958  - Disestablished May 31, 1962 Area  - 1960 20,253 km² Population  - 1960 est. ... 4 Now the San Andrés y Providencia Department of Colombia. Motto Paraíso Turistico(Spanish) Touristic Paradise Anthem Himno de San Andrés y Providencia Capital (and largest city) San Andrés City Official languages Spanish, English Government Colombian Department  -  Governor Alvaro Archbold Nuñes Area  -  Total 52 km² (33th)  sq mi   -  Density 1145. ... Africa  18th century 1792-1961  Sierra Leone 1795-1803  Cape Colony A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... 19th century 1806-1910  Cape Colony 1816-1965  Gambia 1856-1910  Natal 1868-1966  Basutoland (Lesotho) 1874-1957  Gold Coast (Ghana) 1882-1922  Egypt 1884-1966  Bechuanaland (Botswana) 1884-1960  British Somaliland 1887-1897  Zululand 1888-1894  Matabeleland 1890-1980  Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) 1890-1962  Uganda 1890-1963  Zanzibar (Tanzania) 1891-1964  Nyasaland (Malawi) 1891-1907  British Central Africa 1893-1968  Swaziland 1895-1920  British East Africa 1899-1956  Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Anthem: God Save the Queen Cape Colony Capital Cape Town Language(s) English and Dutch1 Religion Dutch Reformed Church, Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Last Monarch King George VI Last Prime Minister  - 1908 – 1910 John X. Merriman Last Governor  - 1901 - 1910 Walter Hely-Hutchinson Historical era 19th century  - Dutch East India... The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. ... The mountainous and largely arid land that came to be Basutoland was populated by San (bushmen, Qhuaique) until the end of the 16th century. ... Flag of Gold Coast Map from 1896 of the British Gold Coast Colony. ... An 1887 map showing the Crown Colony of Bechuanaland (shaded pink) and the Bechuanaland Protectorate (pink border) The Bechuanaland Protectorate (BP) was a protectorate established on March 31, 1885 by the United Kingdom in southern Africa. ... Flag Capital Aden Religion Islam Political structure Protectorate History  - Established 1884  - Independence June 26, 1960  - Somaliland established 18 May, 1991 Currency British pound British Somaliland was a British protectorate in the north part of the Horn of Africa, and later part of Somalia and presently the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland. ... Zululand was the Zulu-dominated area of what is now northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... Map of Zimbabwe showing Matabeleland Map of Zimbabwe: Matabeleland is on the west Modern day Matabeleland is currently divided into two provinces: Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South. ... Flag Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Salisbury Language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch  - 1923-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1952 George VI  - 1952-1980¹ Elizabeth II Governor  - 1923-1928 Sir John Robert Chancellor  - 1959-1969² Sir Humphrey Gibbs  - 1979-1980 Lord Soames Premier, then Prime Minister... Map of Zanzibars main island Zanzibar is part of Tanzania Coordinates: , Country Tanzania Islands Unguja and Pemba Capital Zanzibar City Settled AD 1000 Government  - Type semi-autonomous part of Tanzania  - President Amani Abeid Karume Area  - Both Islands  637 sq mi (1,651 km²) Population (2004)  - Both Islands 1,070... Hominid remains and stone implements have been identified in Malawi dating back more than one million years, and early humans inhabited the vicinity of Lake Malawi 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. ... Flag of British Central Africa The British Central Africa Protectorate existed in the area of present-day Malawi between 1891 and 1907. ... British East Africa was a British protectorate in East Africa, covering generally the area of present-day Kenya and lasting from 1890 to 1920, when it became the colony of Kenya. ... Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was the name of Sudan between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of the United Kingdom and Egypt. ... 20th century 1900-1914  Northern Nigeria 1900-1914  Southern Nigeria 1900-1910  Orange River Colony 1900-1910  Transvaal Colony 1906-1954  Nigeria Colony 1910-1931  South Africa 1911-1964  Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) 1914-1954  Nigeria Protectorate 1915-1931  South West Africa (Namibia) 1919-1960  Cameroons (Cameroon) 5 1920-1963  Kenya 1922-1961  Tanganyika (Tanzania) 5 1954-1960  Nigeria Northern Nigeria was a British colony formed in 1900 from the interior territories of the Royal Niger Company, north from about where the Niger River and Benin River joined at Lokoja. ... Southern Nigeria was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria, formed in 1900 from union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River. ... Flag of Orange River Colony The Orange River Colony was a British colony created by the annexation of the Orange Free State in 1900, after the Boer War. ... Anthem Transvaalse Volkslied Location of the Transvaal in pre-1994 South Afica Capital Pretoria Language(s) Dutch, English, Afrikaans Religion Dutch Reformed Church Government Republic President  - 1857-1863 Marthinus Wessel Pretorius  - 1883-1902 Paul Kruger  - 1900-1902 Schalk Willem Burger (acting) History  - Established June 27, 1857  - British annexation 1877-1881... Early history Migration & settlements History before 1500 First states (1500-1800) Igbo and Savannah states Colonization (1800-1960) 1960-1979 Independence, military rule, and civil war Civil War (1967-1970) 1979-1999 Second republic, more military rule History of Nigeria (1999-present) Return of democracy      Stamp of Southern Nigeria, 1901... Flag of Northern Rhodesia. ... Early history Migration & settlements History before 1500 First states (1500-1800) Igbo and Savannah states Colonization (1800-1960) 1960-1979 Independence, military rule, and civil war Civil War (1967-1970) 1979-1999 Second republic, more military rule History of Nigeria (1999-present) Return of democracy      Stamp of Southern Nigeria, 1901... The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages, and Namibia has really only existed as a modern state since South Africa relinquished control of the country in 1989. ... Cameroon over time  German Kamerun  British Cameroons  French Cameroun  Republic of Cameroon Cameroons was a British Mandate territory in West Africa, now divided between Nigeria and Cameroon. ... Flag of Deutsch-Ostafrika (1885-1919) Flag of Tanganyika (1919-1961) Flag of the Republic of Tanganyika 1962–64 Tanganyika is the name of an East African territory lying between the largest of the African great lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, after which it was named. ... 5 League of Nations mandate. Mandates in the Middle east and Africa. ... Asia  18th century 1757-1947  Bengal (West Bengal (India) and Bangladesh) 1762-1764  Philippines 1795-1948  Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1796-1965  Maldives For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Bengal, known as Bango ( Bengali:বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bangodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bengali, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Traditionally, the recorded History of Sri Lanka boasts of 25 chronicled centuries. ... 19th century 1819-1826  British Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore) 1826-1946  Straits Settlements 1839-1967  Colony of Aden 1841-1997  Hong Kong 1841-1941  Kingdom of Sarawak (Malaysia) 1858-1947  British India (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Burma) 1882-1963  British North Borneo (Malaysia) 1885-1946  Unfederated Malay States 1891-1971  Muscat and Oman protectorate 1892-1971  Trucial States protectorate 1895-1946  Federated Malay States 1898-1930  Weihai Garrison British Malaya was a set of states that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century. ... The Straits Settlements were a collection of territories of the British East India Company in Southeast Asia, which were given collective administration in 1826. ... Flag Capital Aden Language(s) Arabic Political structure Colony History  - Established 1937  - Disestablished January 18, 1963 Area 121 km² The Colony of Aden (Arabic: ) was a British crown colony from 1937 to 1963 and consisted of the port city of Aden and its immediate surroundings. ... State motto: Bersatu, Berusaha, Berbakti State anthem: Ibu Pertiwiku Capital Kuching Ruling party Barisan Nasional  - Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin  - Ketua Menteri Abdul Taib Mahmud History    - Brunei Sultanate 19th century   - Brooke dynasty 1841   - Japanese occupation 1941-1945   - British control 1946   - Accession into Malaysia 1963  Area  - Total 124,450... Anthem God Save The King-Emperor The British Indian Empire, 1909 Capital Calcutta (1858 - 1912) New Delhi (1912 - 1947) Language(s) Hindustani, English and many others Government Monarchy Emperor of India  - 1858-1901 Victoria¹  - 1901-1910 Edward VII  - 1910-1936 George V  - 1936 Edward VIII  - 1936-1947 George VI Viceroy... Motto: Pergo et Perago (Latin: I undertake and I achieve”) British North Borneo Capital Jesselton Language(s) Malay, English Government Monarchy Monarch  - 1882 - 1901 Victoria  - 1952 - 1963 Elizabeth II Governor  - 1896 - 1901 Robert Scott Historical era New Imperialism  - North Borneo Company May, 1882  - British protectorate 1888  - Japanese invasion January 1... The Unfederated Malay States were five Malay states, namely Johore Terengganu Kelantan Kedah Perlis Together the states were not a single entity but merely a category to describe those states which were not Federated Malay States or Straits Settlements. ... Muscat and Oman (Arabic:مسقط وعمان) was a country that encompassed the present day Sultanate of Oman and parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ... The United Arab Emirates was formed from the group of tribally organized Arabian Peninsula sheikhdoms along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf and the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Oman. ... The Federated Malay States (FMS) was a federation of four states on the Malay Peninsula - Pahang, Perak, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan - established by the British government in 1895, and lasted until 1946, when they together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay States formed the Malayan Union. ... Weihai (威海; pinyin: wēihǎi, also Weihaiwei) is a seaport city on the Bohai Gulf in north-east Shandong province, China. ... 20th century 1918-1961  Kuwait protectorate 1920-1932  Iraq5 1921-1946  Transjordan4 1923-1948  Palestine5 1946-1948  Malayan Union 1946-1963  Sarawak (Malaysia) 1948-1957  Federation of Malaya (Malaysia) since 1965  British Indian Ocean Territory Anthem: Al-Nasheed Al-Watani Capital Kuwait City , Official languages Arabic Demonym Kuwaiti Government Constitutional hereditary emirate[1]  -  Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah  -  Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah Independence  -  from the UK June 19, 1961  Area  -  Total 17,818 km² (157th) 6,880... Map of the territory of the British Mandate of Palestine The Emirate of Transjordan was an autonomous political division of the British Mandate of Palestine, created as an administrative entity in April 1921 before the Mandate came into effect. ... Flag Palestine and Transjordan were incorporated (under different legal and administrative arrangements) into the British Mandate of Palestine, issued by the League of Nations to Great Britain on 29 September, 1923 Capital Not specified Organizational structure League of Nations Mandate High Commissioner  - 1920 — 1925 Sir Herbert Louis Samuel  - 1945 — 1948... The Malayan Union was formed on April 1, 1946 by the British. ... For the river, see Sarawak River. ... The Federation of Malaya, or in Malay Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, was formed in 1948 from the British settlements of Penang and Malacca and the nine Malay states and replaced the Malayan Union. ... 5 League of Nations mandate. Mandates in the Middle east and Africa. ... Oceania  18th century 1788-1901  New South Wales For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... // Foundation and growth Governor Lachlan Macquarie In 1770 Captain James Cook sailed along the east coast of Australia, the first European to do so. ... 19th century 1803-1901  Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania 1807-1863  Auckland Islands6 1824-1980  New Hebrides (Vanuatu) 1824-1901  Queensland 1829-1901  Swan River Colony/Western Australia 1836-1901  South Australia since 1838  Pitcairn Islands 1841-1907  Colony of New Zealand 1851-1901  Victoria 1874-1970  Fiji7 1877-1976  British Western Pacific Territories 1884-1949  Territory of Papua 1888-1965  Cook Islands6 1888-1984  Sultanate of Brunei 1889-1948  Union Islands (Tokelau)6 1892-1979  Gilbert and Ellice Islands8 1893-1978  British Solomon Islands9 1663 map of Van Diemens Land, showing the parts discovered by Tasman, including Storm Bay, Maria Island and Schouten Island. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Southern coast of the main island The Auckland Islands (Motu Maha) () form an archipelago of the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands and include the following: Auckland Island, Adams Island, Enderby Island, Disappointment Island, Ewing Island, Dundas Island and Green Island. ... The New Hebrides are an island group in the South Pacific that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ... The history of Queensland spans thousands of years, encompassing both a lengthy indigenous presence in the state, as well as the eventful times of post-European settlement. ... Swan River Colony was a British settlement established at the Swan River on the west coast of Australia in 1829. ... The human history of Western Australia spans between the first inhabitants arriving on the northwest coast about 55,000 years ago to events in the twentieth century. ... The history of South Australia details from the first human activity in the region, estimated at about 20 000 years ago to the current events of the 21st century. ... The history of New Zealand dates back at least seven hundred years to when it was discovered and settled by Polynesians, who developed a distinct Māori culture centred on kinship links and land. ... This article describes the history of Victoria. ... The British Western Pacific Territories was the name of a colonial entity, created in 1877, for the administration, under a single representative of the British Crown, styled High Commissioner (compare other uses of this title), of a series of relatively minor Pacific islands in and around Oceania // The island entities... The Territory of Papua was an Australian possession comprising the southeastern quarter of the island of New Guinea, existing from roughly 1902 to 1949. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Geographic location of atolls: Atafu Nukunonu Fakaofo Languages Tokelauan, English Capital None; each atoll has its own administrative centre Political status Territory of New Zealand Head of State Queen Elizabeth II (as Queen of New Zealand) Administrator David Payton Head of Government Kolouei OBrien Area   – Total   – % water  12 km... The Gilbert and Ellice Islands were a British protectorate from 1892 and colony from 1916 — until 1 January 1976 when the islands were divided into two different colonies which became independent nations shortly after. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... 20th century 1900-1970  Tonga (protected state) 1900-1974  Niue6 1901-1942  *Commonwealth of Australia 1907-1953  *Dominion of New Zealand 1919-1949  Territory of New Guinea 1949-1975  Territory of Papua and New Guinea10 The history of Tonga stretches back to around roughly 4000B.C. when the Polynesians arrived. ... For alternative meanings, see New Zealand (disambiguation). ... Territory of New Guinea was the name given to the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949. ... Flag Capital Canberra Language(s) English (official), Austronesian languages, Papuan languages, English creoles Organizational structure Colony King List of British monarchs Prime Minister List of Prime Ministers of Australia Legislature House of Assembly Historical era Cold War  - Union established November 6, 1949  - Self-governing December 1, 1973  - Independence September 16... 6 Now part of the *Realm of New Zealand. 7 Suspended member. 8 Now Kiribati and *Tuvalu. 9 Now the *Solomon Islands. 10 Now *Papua New Guinea. The Realm of New Zealand is the territory in which the Queen in right of New Zealand is head of state. ... Antarctica and South Atlantic  17th century since 1659  St. Helena Atlantic and North Atlantic redirect here. ... 19th century since 1815  Ascension Island10 since 1816  Tristan da Cunha10 since 1833  Falkland Islands11 Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Largest city Georgetown Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... Motto Our faith is our strength Anthem God Save the Queen Capital (and largest city) Edinburgh of the Seven Seas Official languages English Government Dependency of St. ... 20th century since 1908  British Antarctic Territory12 since 1908  South Georgia and                       the South Sandwich Islands11, 12 Motto: Research and Discovery Anthem: God Save the Queen Status British overseas territory Official language(s) - Commissioner Tony Crombie Administrator Michael Richardson Area 1,395,000 km² Population c. ... Motto Leo Terram Propriam Protegat(Latin) Let the Lion protect his own land or May the Lion protect his own land Anthem God Save the Queen Capital Grytviken (King Edward Point) Official languages English Government British overseas territory  -  Head of State Queen Elizabeth II  -  Commissioner Alan Huckle Area  -  Total 3... 10 Dependencies of St. Helena since 1922 (Ascension Island) and 1938 (Tristan da Cunha). 11 Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of April-June 1982. 12 Both claimed in 1908; territories formed in 1962 (British Antarctic Territory) and 1985 (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). Belligerents Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties and losses 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner... v • d • e Austronesian-speaking countries and territories Formosan Taiwan Malayo-Polynesian American Samoa • Brunei • Burma • Cambodia • Christmas Island • Cocos (Keeling) Islands • Cook Islands • Easter Island • East Timor • Fiji • French Polynesia • Guam • Hainan • Hawaii • Indonesia • Kiribati • Madagascar • Malaysia • Marshall Islands • FS Micronesia • Nauru • New Caledonia • New Zealand • Niue • Northern Mariana Islands • Orchid Island • Palau • Papua New Guinea • Patani • Philippines • Samoa • Singapore • Solomon Islands • Suriname • Tokelau • Tonga • Tuvalu • Vanuatu • Vietnam • Wallis and Futuna

Austronesian redirects here. ... Below is a list of countries that are home to Austronesian languages along with the most notable languages in each country. ... The Formosan languages are a group of Austronesian languages spoken 2% of the population of Taiwan, almost exclusively aboriginals. ... The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages used by some 351 million speakers. ... Rapa Nui redirects here. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Anthem Patriots of Micronesia Capital Palikir Largest city Weno Official languages English (national), Ulithian, Woleaian, Yapese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, and Chuukese (at state or local level) Government Constitutional government1  -  President Joseph J. Urusemal Independence from US-administered UN Trusteeship   -  Date 3 November 1986  Area  -  Total 702 km² (188th) 271 sq mi... Old photo of the people of Orchid Island, near Taiwan published in a Japanese colonial government publication, ca. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...