Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
Cook Islands
former:
Harvey Islands
Dependency status:
self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates:
21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference:
UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
National holiday:
Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)
Constitution:
4 August 1965
Legal system:
based on New Zealand law and English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal (adult)
Executive branch: Legislative branch: Judicial branch: Political parties and leaders: Political pressure groups and leaders: International organization participation: Diplomatic representation in the US: Diplomatic representation from the US: Flag description:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand Acting High Commissioner Nicola NGAWATI, representative of New Zealand (note - Tia BARRETT, former New Zealand High Commissioner, died suddenly after a short illness on 15 November 2009; a permanent replacement has not yet been named)
head of government:
Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Robert WIGMORE (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet:
Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
(For more information visit the )
elections:
the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
bicameral Parliament consisting of a House of Ariki (or upper house) made up of traditional leaders and a Legislative Assembly (or lower house) (24 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
note:
the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence but has no legislative powers
elections:
last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%, independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1
High Court
Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo [Dr. Terepai MAOATE]
Reform Conference (lobby for political system changes)
other:
various groups lobbying for political change
ACP, ADB, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMSO, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag