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|- style="border-top: 2px solid gray;" | Official Language | English , Cook Islands Maori |- | Capital | Avarua |- | Head Of State | Queen Elizabeth II (as Queen in right of New Zealand) |- | Queen's Representative | Sir Frederick Goodwin KBE |- | Prime Minister | Jim Marurai |- | Area | 240 km&2 (92.7 sq. mi) |- | Population (July 2005 Estimate) | 21,388 |- | Independence – Date | None (the Cook Islands is not independent); became self-governing in free association with New Zealand August 4 , 1965 . |- | National Anthem | ''Te Atua Mou E'' (God is Truth) |- | Currency | New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Also, have local $5, $2 and $1 coins that can't be used elsewhere. |- | Time Zone | UTC -10 |- | Calling Code | 682 |- | Internet TLD | .ck |- | colspan=2 align=center | |- | colspan=2 align=center | Map of The Cook Islands |- | colspan=2 align=center | |- | colspan=2 align=center | The Matavera Christian Church in Rarotonga |} The Cook Islands ( with New Zealand . The 15 small islands in this South Pacific Ocean have a total land area of 240 Square Kilometre s (92.7 Sq. mi ). Tourism is the country's number one industry, the leading element of the Economy , far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports. A popular art form on the islands is Tivaivai , often likened to Quilting . Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand , in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request. The Cook Islands has adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy, particularly after the adoption of an Isolationist and Non-aligned policy by New Zealand in the 1980s. Geography Geography Of The Cook Islands
;Northern Cook Islands
History The Cook Islands became a British Protectorate at their own request in 1888 , then 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. Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent, but are still officially placed under New Zealand Sovereignty . New Zealand is tasked with overseeing the country's foreign relations and defence, but may not impose legislation on the Cook Islands without the latter's consent. The Cook Islands are one of three New Zealand Dependencies , along with Tokelau and Niue . After achieving autonomy in 1965, the Cook Islands elected Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party as their first Prime Minister . He was succeeded in 1978 by Tom Davis of the Democratic Party . On June 11, 1980 , the USA 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, Pukapuka (Danger), Manihiki, and Rakahanga. Culture ''See also:'' Music Of The Cook Islands See also
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