| Country Name Info : |
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 : |
Avarua |
| 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 |
| Executive Branch : |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since NA); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since NA), representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Robert WOONTON (since 12 February 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Ngamau MUNOKOA (since 5 November 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively responsible to Parliament
elections: none; 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 |
| Legislative Branch : |
unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 June 1999 (next to be held by NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CIP 12, DAP 12, NAP 1
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers |
| Judicial Branch : |
High Court |
| Political Parties and Leaders : |
Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER] |
| International Organization Participation : |
ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, WHO, WMO |
| Diplomatic Representation In The US : |
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
| Diplomatic Representation From The US : |
none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand) |
