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Cook Islands
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The population of the Cook Islands was 21,750 in 2007, with a population density of 90 persons per sq km (234 per sq mi). Almost 90 percent of the people live in the southern islands. The island of Rarotonga has well over half of the population. Due to limited employment opportunities on the islands, Cook Islanders living overseas outnumber those at home. The vast majority live in New Zealand, and there is considerable movement of people between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
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The main Cook Islands are about the same distance from the equator as Hawaii and have a similarly pleasant tropical climate. Rain clouds hang over Rarotonga's interior much of the year, but the coast is often sunny, and the rain often comes in brief, heavy downpours. The other islands are drier and can even experience severe water shortages. Winter evenings June to August can be cool.
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The Cook Islands have 11 public holidays. On these days, bus service is either irregular or non existent. The town shops are closed. Some little shops are open either in the morning and evening. Many restaurants are closed. If you are holidaying during this time then please make sure you stock up and you arrange transport to cover you over the holidays.
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Before either purchasing a business or commencing a new business in the Cook Islands, an overseas investor must obtain the approval of the Development Investment Board. The Development Investment Board is a Government agency which monitors foreign investment in the Cook Islands and requires any "foreign enterprise" to obtain registration prior to commencing a business or effecting the purchase of an existing business. A foreign enterprise is a person who is not a Cook Islander or a company in which one-third or more of the shares are owned by or controlled by non-Cook Islanders. An application to the Development Investment Board for approval as a foreign enterprise must attach the following:
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The Cook Islands consist of 15 islands scattered over some 2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean and with a total population of approximately 18,000. They lie in the centre of the Polynesian Triangle, flanked to the west by The Kingdom of Tonga and Samoa and to the east by Tahiti and the islands of French Polynesia. The Cook’s are split into two groups. The Southern Group includes the mountainous main island of Rarotonga, the scenic beauty of Aitutaki and the raised coral atolls of Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro. The makatea (uplifted coral reef) on these islands hides deep caves and supports extensive native forest and scrubland. The Northern Group islands are recognised for their turquoise lagoons fringed by white sand beaches and coconut palms.
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The National Archives of the Cook Islands (NACI) was first established in 1974 and charged with the responsibility of the collection and ensuring the safe storage of government, cultural and oral traditions of the nation. The Public Records Act of 1984 conferred statutory responsibilities on the NACI and empowers the Archivist to store by contract, bequest and the like, other materials that might be so placed in the safe keeping of the Archives by private individuals or groups. Since 1991, the archives has existed as a division of the Ministry of Cultural Development (MOCD) and administers a collection that depicts Cook Islands life government administration and culture from the early 1870s to the present.
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