COOK ISLANDS FACT FILE
IN A TUITUI SHELL*
IN A TUITUI SHELL*
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Rarotonga and Aitutaki have reticulated water supply systems. On the other islands of the Southern Group limited reticulation is provided and augmented by rainwater catchment and storage. The atolls of the Northern Group rely on rainwater from roof catchments and groundwater. The main water supply on Rarotonga is not potable (not yet certified as safe for drinking) but many resorts have their own filtration systems and there are also water refill stations on Rarotonga and Aitutaki which will have signs saying whether the supply has been treated for drinking. There's a map HERE showing the location of the refill stations on Rarotonga. If you're in any doubt about a supply check first that it's safe. Water is precious in the islands, so please use it thoughtfully
Solar panels have replaced diesel generators and that should mean all of the islands now have a continuous supply of electricity (previously some only had it available for around 12 hours a day). However, on many of the outer islands solar energy storage is failing and this is affecting supplies. Output is 240 volts-50 hertz cycle which is the same as the UK, Australia and New Zealand
PLUGS AND PLUG SOCKETS...look like this. They're the same type as in Australia and New Zealand. Sometimes the plug has only two pins and that means there is no earth (otherwise described as "ungrounded")
GOVERNMENT
The Islands are a Parliamentary democracy based on the UK model. Officially the Islands are "an independent nation in free association with New Zealand". They gained independence on 4 August, 1965. The free association agreement means:
The nation is not a UN or British Commonwealth member in its own right; New Zealand represents it. But the country became a member of individual United Nations Partner agencies in the 1980s and, through the years, these partner agencies have continued to provide support to the Cook Islands for various programmes
His Majesty King Charles III. He's represented in the Islands by former deputy prime minister, Sir Tom Marsters. His official title is "His Majesty The King's Representative in the Cook Islands". The Cook Islands remains part of the Realm of New Zealand and His Majesty is thereby Head of State of the Cook Islands
The Constitution of the Islands explains the flag:
BLUE - is the colour most expressive of our Nation, it is representative of the vast area of the Pacific Ocean in which the islands of the Cook Islands are scattered. Blue also depicts the peaceful nature of the inhabitants of our islands.
THE UNION JACK indicates our historical association with and membership* of the British Commonwealth.
The 15 WHITE STARS represent the 15 islands of the group
(*not a member in its own right)
"Te Atua Mou E" which translates literally as "God is/of truth". It replaced in 1982 "God Defend New Zealand". Twice Prime Minister, Sir Tom Davis wrote the music and his wife wrote the lyrics. The literal translation of the words is: "God of truth, you are the ruler of our country. Please listen to our voices as we call to you. Protect us and guide us and give us your crown of truth so we can be successful and so that love and peace will rule forever over our beloved country" There's a beautiful rendition of the anthem here
In a tuitui shell?
* The tuitui is the fruit of the candlenut tree which was introduced to the Islands by the early Polynesians. It's nearly as prolific as the coconut palm. The nut is inside a very hard shell. Before candles, Islanders pierced the nuts with wooden skewers and set light to them. They burn very slowly and last for hours. Well, I thought it was more interesting than saying "in a nutshell"! Photo: Gerald McCormack/Cook Islands Biodiversity Database