Cook Islands
 

1893 - 11 Jun 1901	11 Jun 1901 - 23 Jul 1973	23 Jul 1973 - 4 Oct 1979
Adopted 4 Aug 1979

Map of the Cook Islands Hear National Anthem  "God Save the Queen" Hear Local Anthem "Te Atua Mou'e" (God is Truth) Adopted 1982 Constitution (4 Aug 1965) Capital: Avarua  Currency: Cook Islands Dollar (CKD); New Zealand Dollar (NZD)  National Holiday: 4 Aug (1965) Constitution Day Population: 11,870 (2009) GDP: $183.2 million (2005) Exports: $5.22 million (2005) Imports: $81.0 million (2005)  Ethnic groups: Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001)  Total Police Force: 73 (1998) Defense is the Responsibility of New Zealand (in consultation with Cook Islands and at its request) Merchant marine: 26 ships (2008) Religions: Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh-Day Adventists 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001)  International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ADB, APM, BTWC, C (associate), FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ISA, ITUC, KP, OPCW, PC, PIF, UNCLOS, UNESCO, UNFCC, UPU, WHO, WMO Coook Islands Index Chronology 20 Aug 1595                Discovered by Spanish Capt. Álvaro de Mendaña                              y Neyra. 23 Sep 1773                Visited by British Capt. James Cook and named                             the Hervey Islands. 1824                       Name Cook Islands first used by Russian                              cartographer Johann von Krusenstern.  26 Oct 1888                British protectorate.   5 Jun 1891                Cook Islands Federation.  7 Oct 1900                Declared annexed by New Zealand. 11 Jun 1901                Incorporation into New Zealand. 11 Jun 1901 -  2 Jan 1976  Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.  4 Aug 1965                Self-government granted (territory in free                              association with New Zealand). 11 Jun 1980                U.S. recognizes Danger (Pukapuka), Manahiki,                               Penrhyn, and Rakahanga atolls as part of the                              Cook Islands (effective 8 Sep 1983). Avarua (Rorotonga)

President of the Executive Council
 5 Jun 1891 - 11 Jun 1901  Makea Takau Ariki (f)              (b. 1845 - d. 1911)
Residents
1888 - 1891                Richard Exham                      (b. 1848 - d. 1915)
1891 - 1898                Frederick Joseph Moss              (b. 1827 - d. 1904)
1898 - 1901                Walter Edward Gudgeon              (b. 1842 - d. 1920)
Resident Commissioners
1901 - 1909                Walter Edward Gudgeon              (s.a.)
1909 - 1913                James Eman-Smith
1913 - 1916                Henry William Northcroft           (b. 1844 - d. 1923)
1916 - 1921                Frederick William Platts           (b. 1865 - d. 1941)
1921 - 1923                John George Lewis Hewitt
1923 - 1937                Hugh Fraser Ayson (1st time)       (b. 1884 - d. 1948)
1937 - 1938                Stephan John Smith                 (b. 1887 - d. 1948)
1938 - 1943                Hugh Fraser Ayson (2nd time)       (s.a.)
1943 - 1951                William Tailby
1951 - 1960                Geoffrey Nevill                    (b. 1901 - d. 1972)
1961 - 1965                Albert Oliver Dare                 (b. 1917)
High Commissioners
1965                       Albert Oliver Dare                 (s.a.)
1965 - 1972                Leslie James Davis                 (b. 1925)
16 Nov 1972 - 19 Jan 1975  George James Brocklehurst          (b. 1906)
19 Jan 1975 - 10 Feb 1976  Vacant
New Zealand Representatives
10 Feb 1976 - 1978         Terence C. O'Brien
21 May 1978 - 1980         Brian William Peter Absolum
16 Feb 1980 - 1982         Lindsay Johnstone Watt
 7 Mar 1982 - 1985         Paul A.J. Tipping
 1 Apr 1985 - 1987         Lance A. Beath
12 Dec 1987 - 1990         Adrian George Simcock
22 Nov 1990 - 1993         Tim Caughley
High Commissioners
1993 - 1994                Tim Caughley
16 Feb 1994 - 1997         Darryl Dunn
Feb 1997 - 1998            James Kember
Jul 1998 - Jul 2001        Rob Moore-Jones
 6 Jul 2001 - 29 Aug 2005  Kurt Meyer
 6 Sep 2005 - Feb 2008     John Bryan
21 Feb 2008 - Aug 2008     Brian Donnelly                     (b. 1949 - d. 2008)
Aug 2008 - Jan 2009        Sophie Vickers (f)(acting)
Jan 2009 - 15 Nov 2009     Tia Barrett                        (b. 1947 - d. 2009)
15 Nov 2009 -              Nicola Ngawati (f)(acting)
Queen's Representatives
15 Oct 1975 - 18 Sep 1984  Gaven John Donne                   (b. 1914)
                             (from 30 Dec 1978, Sir Gaven John Donne)
                             (acting to 26 Jun 1982)
18 Sep 1984 - 19 Dec 1984  Sir Graham Davies Speight (acting) (b. 1921)
19 Dec 1984 - 19 Dec 1990  Tangaroa Tangaroa                  (b. 1921 - d. 2009)
                             (from 4 Mar 1987, Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa) 
19 Dec 1990 - 14 Nov 2000  Apenera Pera Short                 (b. 1916) 
                             (from 14 Jun 1997, Sir Apenera Pera Short)
14 Nov 2000 -  9 Feb 2001  Lawrence Murray Greig (acting)
 9 Feb 2001 -              Frederick Tutu Goodwin
                             (from 12 Jun 2004, Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin)

Premiers
 4 Aug 1965 - 25 Jul 1978  Albert R. Henry                    (b. 1907 - d. 1981)  CIP
                             (from 1974, Sir Albert R. Henry)
25 Jul 1978 - 1981         Thomas "Tom" Davis                 (b. 1917 - d. 2007)  DP
Prime ministers
1981 - 13 Apr 1983         Thomas "Tom" Davis (1st time)      (s.a.)               DP
                             (from 1981, Sir Thomas Davis)
13 Apr 1983 -  2 Aug 1983  Geoffrey Arama Henry (1st time)    (b. 1940)            CIP
19 Aug 1983 - 16 Nov 1983  Geoffrey Arama Henry (2nd time)    (s.a.)               CIP
16 Nov 1983 - 29 Jul 1987  Sir Thomas "Tom" Davis (2nd time)  (s.a.)               DP
29 Jul 1987 -  1 Feb 1989  Pupuke Robati                      (b. 1925 - d. 2009)  DP
 1 Feb 1989 - 29 Jul 1999  Geoffrey Arama Henry (3rd time)    (s.a.)               CIP
                             (from 13 Jun 1992, Sir Geoffrey Arama Henry) 
29 Jul 1999 - 18 Nov 1999  Joseph "Joe" Williams                                   CIP
18 Nov 1999 - 11 Feb 2002  Terepai Maoate                     (b. 1934)            DAP
11 Feb 2002 - 11 Dec 2004  Robert Woonton                     (b. 1949)            DAP
14 Dec 2004 -              Jim Marurai                        (b. 1947)            DTP:2006 DP

Party abbreviations: CIP = Cook Islands People's Party (personalist, est.1964); DP = Democratic Party (liberal, anti-personalist, est.1971, named DAP 1997-2003);
- Former Parties: DAP = Democratic Alliance Party (centerist, 1997-2003); DTP = Demo Tumu Party (True Democratic Party, later named Cook Islands First Party split from DP, 2004-2006)

High Chiefs (title Ariki)
.... - ....                Makea Te Rangi Tukivao
.... - ....                Rangi Makea
.... - ....                Makea Te Patuakino
.... - ....                Makea Pini + Makea Ken
.... - 1823                Makea Tinirau + Makea Tekao
1823 - c.1827              Makea Pori + Makea Karika II
c.1827 - 18..              Makea Davida + Makea Pa
1852?                      Makea Te Vairua + Makea Tuaivi
18.. - c.1864              Makea Daniela
                           + Makea Tavake (1st time)          (d. 189.)
c.1864 - 1868              Makea Abela
                           + Makea Tavake (2nd time)          (s.a.)
1868 - 1901                Makea Takau (f)                    (b. 1845 - d. 1911)
                           + Makea Tavake (3rd time)          (s.a.)
                             (to 189.)
1901 - 1950                Makea Mana                         (b. 1889 - d. 1950)
1950 - 1975                Makea Nui Teremona (f)             (b. c.1910 - d. 1975)
1975 - c.1988              Makea Karika III (f)               (b. c.1930 - d. c.1988)
c.1988 - 19..              Makea Tupou Fairoa
19.. - 19 Oct 1996         Makea Inanui Love-Nia (f)          (d. 1996)
1996 -                     Makea Margaret Karika (f)