Cook Islands calling cards and Cook Islands International phone cards

slanders continue to be Christian believers today. The Cook Islands became a British protectorate at their own request in 1888, mainly to thwart French expansionism. They 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. In that year, Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party was elected as the first Prime Minister. Sir Albert Henry led the country until he was accused of vote-rigging. He was succeeded in 1978 by Tom Davis of the Democratic Party. Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent ("self-governing in free association with New Zealand") but New Zealand is tasked with overseeing the country's defence. On 11 June 1980, the United States signed a treaty with the Cook Islands specifying the maritime border between the Cook Islands and American Samoa and also relinquishing its claim to the islands of Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Manihiki, and Rakahanga.[13] In 1990 the Cook Islands signed a treaty with France which delimited the boundary between the Cook Islands and French Polynesia.[14] Economy Main article: Economy of the Cook Islands Culture Float parade during the annual Maeva Nui celebrations. See also: Music of the Cook Islands Language The languages of the Cook Islands include English, Cook Islands Maori, or "Rarotongan," and Pukapukan. Dialects of Cook Islands Maori include Penrhyn; Rakahanga-Manihiki; the Ngaputoru dialect of Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke; the Aitutaki dialect; and the Mangaian dialect. Cook Islands Maori and its dialectic variants are closely related to both Tahitian and to New Zealand Maori. Pukapukan, by contrast, is considered closely related to the Samoan language. Both English and Cook Islands Maori are considered official languages of the Cook Islands. Holidays Date Name 1 January New Year's Day 2 January Day after New Year's Day The Friday before Easter Sunday Good Friday The day after Easter Sunday Easter Monday 25 April ANZAC Day The first Monday in June Queen's Birthday during July Rarotonga Gospel Day 4 August Constitution Day (Te Maevea Nui Celebrations) 26 October Gospel Day 25 December Christmas 26 December Boxing Day Art Carving - Woodcarving is a common art form in the Cook Islands. Sculpture in stone is much rarer although there are some excellent carvings in basalt by Mike Tavioni. The proximity of islands in the southern group helped produce a homogeneous style of carving but which had special developments in each island. Rarotonga is known for its fisherman's gods and staff-gods, Atiu for its wooden seats, Mitiaro, Ma'uke and Atiu for mace and slab gods and Mangaia for its ceremonial adzes. Most of the original wood carvings were either spirited away by early European collectors or were burned in large numbers by missionary zealots. Today, carving is no longer the major art form with the same spiritual and cultural emphasis given to it by the Maori in New Zealand. However, there are continual efforts to interest young people in their heritage and some good work is being turned out under the guidance of older carvers. Atiu, in particular, has a strong tradition of crafts both in carving and local fibre arts such as tapa. Mangaia is the source of many fine adzes carved in a distinctive, idiosyncratic style with the so-called double-k design. Mangaia also produces food pounders carved from the heavy calcite found in its extensive limestone caves. Weaving - The outer islands produce traditional weaving of mats, basketware and hats. Particularly fine examples of rito hats are worn by women to church on Sundays. They are made from the uncurled immature fibre of the coconut palm and are of very high quality. The Polynesian equivalent of Panama hats, they are highly valued and are keenly sought by Polynesian visitors from Tahiti. Often, they are decorated with hatbands made of minuscule pupu shells which are painted and stitched on by hand. Although pupu are found on other islands the collection and use of them in decorative work has become a speciality of Mangaia. The weaving of rito is a speciality of the northern island of Penrhyn. Tivaevae - A major art form in the Cook Islands is tivaevae. This is, in essence, the art of making of tropical Island scenery handmade patchwork quilts. Introduced by the wives of missionaries in the 19th century, the craft grew into a communal activity and is probably one of the main reasons for its popularity. The Cook Islands make some of the most beautiful displays of tivaevae the eye can see. Contemporary Art - The Cook Islands has produced notable and internationally recognised contemporary artists and the main island of Rarotonga has an exceptionally vibrant contemporary arts scene. Artists include painter (and photographer) Mahiriki Tangaroa, sculptors Eruera (Ted) Nia (originally a film maker) and master carver Mike Tavioni, painter (and Polynesian tattoo enthusiast) Upoko�ina Ian George, Aitutakian-born painter Tim Manavaroa Buchanan, Loretta Reynolds, Judith Kunzl�, Joan Rolls Gragg, Kay George (who is also known for her exquisite fabric designs), Apii Rongo, and multi-media, installation and community-project artist Ani O'Neil, all of whom currently live on the main island of Rarotonga. Atiuan-based Andrea Eimke is an artist who works in the medium of tapa and other textiles, and also co-authored the book 'The Art of Tivaivai' with British academic Susanne Kuechler. Many of these artists have studied at university art schools in New Zealand and continue to enjoy close links with the New Zealand art scene. New Zealand-based Cook Islander artists include Michel Tuffrey, print-maker David Teata, Richard Shortland Cooper, Sylvia Marsters, and Jim Vivieaere, who has mentored many of his compatriots and is a well-known curator and installation artist. On Rarotonga, the main commercial galleries are Beachcomber Contemporary Art (Taputapuatea, Avarua) run by Ben Bergman, and The Art Gallery ('Arorangi), run by Kay and Ian George. The Cook Islands National Museum also exhibits art. Biology The National Flower of the Cook Islands is the Tiare maori or Tiale maoli (Penrhyn, Nassau, Pukapuka).[15] The Cook Islands are infested with Polynesian rats.[16] The infestation has devastated the bird population on the islands.[17] Sport Main article: Sport in the Cook Islands Rugby union is the most popular sport in the Cook Islands with association football (soccer) and rugby league also popular.[citation needed] See also Main article: Outline of the Cook Islands Index of Cook Islands-related articles Demographics of the Cook Islands References ^ World fact book : Cook Islands ^ A View from the Cook Islands SOPAC ^ "QuickStats About Culture and Identity - Pacific Peoples". 2006 Census. Statistics New Zealand. http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/quickstats-about-culture-identity/quickstats-about-culture-and-identity.htm?page=para016Master. Retrieved 2007-06-12. ^ "Cook Islands Travel Guide" (with description), World Travel Guide, Nexus Media Communications, 2006. Webpage: WTGuide-Cook-Islands. ^ http://www.transparency.org.au/documents/cookislands.pdf ^ RAROTONGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT (REPEAL) BILL TO BE TABLED, Cook Islands Government and HERALD WEEKLY ISSUE 393 :09 February 2008 ^ Cook Islands Samoa2007.com ^ European discovery of the Cook Islands by Brian Hooker ^ Cook : the extraordinary voyages of Captain James Cook, 2003, by Nicholas Thomas, page 310-311. ^ Cook Islands Government website ^ TEN DECADES: The Australasian Centenary History of the London Missionary Society, Rev. Joseph King (Word document) ^ History of the Cook Islands ^ "Treaty Between the United States of America and the Cook Islands on Friendship and Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary Between the United States of America and the Cook Islands (and Exchange of Notes)". Pacific Islands Treaty Series. University of the South Pacific School of Law. http://www.paclii.org/pits/en/treaty_database/1980/6.html. Retrieved 2009-05-18. ^ "Agreement on Maritime Delimitation Between the Government of the Cook Islands and the Government of the French Republic". Pacific Islands Treaty Series. University of the South Pacific School of Law. http://www.paclii.org/pits/en/treaty_database/1990/4.html. Retrieved 2010-03-04. ^ www.govisitcookislands.com "Cook Islands Wildlife" ^ cookislands.bishopmuseum.org "Rattus exulans Kiore Toka Pacific Rat" ^ cookislands.bishopmuseum.org "The Status of Cook Islands Birds - 1996" External links Find more about Cook Islands on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity Cook Islands Government Cook Islands Government (summary) Chief of State and Cabinet Members Cook Islands Tourism Corporation Cook Islands travel guide from Wikitravel Cook Islands entry at The World Factbook Cook Islands from UCB Libraries GovPubs Cook Islands at the Open Directory Project Comprehensive Cook Islands site with news section Detailed and non-commercial website Cook Islands National Environment Service Cook Islands Biodiversity Database Photographs of CI banknotes including unique 3 dollar bill Topographic maps of all the Cook Islands Geographic locale v � d � e Realm of New Zealand Cook Islands � New Zealand � Niue � Ross Dependency � Tokelau v � d � e Polynesia Polynesian triangle Austral Islands � Cook Islands � Easter Island � Gambier Islands � Hawaiian Islands � Marquesas � New Zealand � Pitcairn Islands � Sala y G�mez � Samoan Islands � Society Islands � Tokelau � Tonga � Tuamotus � Tuvalu � Wallis and Futuna Islands Polynesian outliers and peripheral cultures Anuta � Emae � Futuna � Kapingamarangi � Loyalty Islands � Mele � Nuguria � Nukumanu � Nukuoro � Ontong Java � Ouv�a � Pileni � Rennell � Rotuma � Sikaiana � Takuu � Tikopia v � d � e Countries and territories of Oceania Sovereign states Australia � Fiji � Indonesia1 � Kiribati � Federated States of Micronesia � Marshall Islands � Nauru � New Zealand � Palau � Papua New Guinea � Samoa � Solomon Islands � Tonga � Tuvalu � Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories Australia Christmas Island � Cocos (Keeling) Islands � Norfolk Island France French Polynesia � New Caledonia � Wallis and Futuna New Zealand Cook Islands � Niue � Tokelau United Kingdom Pitcairn Islands United States American Samoa � Guam � Hawaii � Northern Mariana Islands � U.S. Minor Islands Chile Easter Island Fiji Rotuma 1 Transcontinental country v � d � e Culture of Indigenous Oceania List of resources about traditional arts and culture of Oceania Art ahu � Australia � Austronesia � Cook Islands � Hawai?i � kapa (Hawai?i) � lei (Hawaii) � magimagi � Maori � moai � New Zealand � Oceania � Papua New Guinea � reimiro � ta moko � tapa ["masi" (Fiji), "ngatu" (Tonga), "siapo" (Samoa), " ?uha" (Rotuma)] � tabua � ta'ovala � tattoo � tefui � tivaivai Broad culture areca nut � Kava culture � kava, [" ?awa" (Hawaii), " ?ava" (Samoa), "yaqona" (Fiji), or "sakau" (Pohnpei)] � Lapita � Maori � Polynesia � Polynesian navigation � wood carving Geo-specific, general Australia � Australian Aboriginal astronomy � Austronesia � Caroline Islands, -Pwo � Chatham Islands � Cook Islands � Easter Island � Fiji, -Lau Islands, -traditions and ceremonies � Guam � Hawai?i, -Lomilomi massage � Kiribati � French Polynesia's Marquesas Islands � Marshall Islands, -Stick charts of � Federated States of Micronesia � Nauru � New Caledonia � New Zealand � Niue � Norfolk Island � Palau � Papua New Guinea � Pitcairn Islands � Samoa � Solomon Islands � Tonga � Torres Strait Islands � Tuvalu � Vanuatu � Wallis and Futuna � Yap, -navigation, -Weriyeng navigation school Canoes Aboriginal Dugout � Alingano Maisu � Drua � Dugout (boat) � Hawai?iloa � Hokule?a � Modern Hawaiian outrigger � Maori migration � Outrigger � Polynesian sailing � Proa � Waka,-List of � Walap Dance 'aparima � cibi � fara � fire dancing � firewalking � haka � hivinau � hula � kailao � kapa haka � Kiribati � meke � 'ote'a � pa'o'a � poi � Rotuma � siva � Tahiti � tamure � tautoga � Tonga � 'upa'upa Festivals Australia's Garma Festival � Hawai?i's Aloha Festivals, Merrie Monarch Festival, and World Invitational Hula Festival � Fiji � New Zealand's Pasifika Festival � The Pacific Community's Festival of Pacific Arts � Festivals in Papua New Guinea Languages by area v � d � e Languages of Oceania Sovereign states Australia � East Timor1 � Fiji � Indonesia1 � Kiribati � Papua New Guinea � Marshall Islands � Federated States of Micronesia � Nauru � New Zealand � Palau � Samoa � Solomon Islands � Tonga � Tuvalu � Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories American Samoa � Christmas Island � Cocos (Keeling) Islands � Cook Islands � French Polynesia � Guam � Hawaii � New Caledonia � Niue � Norfolk Island � Northern Mariana Islands � Pitcairn Islands � Rotuma � Tokelau � Wallis and Futuna 1 Transcontinental country. by category Languages of Oceania Literature v � d � e Literature of Oceania Sovereign states Australia � East Timor1 � Fiji � Indonesia1 � Kiribati � Papua New Guinea � Marshall Islands � Federated States of Micronesia � Nauru � New Zealand � Palau � Samoa � Solomon Islands � Tonga � Tuvalu � Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories American Samoa � Christmas Island � Cocos (Keeling) Islands � Cook Islands � French Polynesia � Guam � Hawaii � New Caledonia � Niue � Norfolk Island � Northern Mariana Islands � Pitcairn Islands � Rotuma � Tokelau � Wallis and Futuna 1 Transcontinental country. Music Austral Islands (French Polynesia) � Australia � Austronesia � Cook Islands � didgeridoo � Easter Island � Fiji � Guam � Hawai?i � Kiribati � Lali � Maori � Melanesia � Northern Mariana Islands � Micronesia � Federated States of Micronesia � Nauru � New Caledonia � New Zealand � Niue � Palau � Papua New Guinea � Polynesia � Samoa � Slit drum � Solomon Islands � Tahiti � Tokelau � Tonga � Tuvalu � Vanuatu � Wallis and Futuna Mythology Australian Aboriginal � Fijian � Maori � Melanesian � Menehune � Micronesian � Oceanian legendary creatures � Polynesian � Rapa Nui � Vanuatu People Indigneous Australian � Austronesian � Chamorro � Chatham Islander (Moriori or Rekohu) � Fijian � Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) � Maori � Marshallese � Melanesian � Micronesian � Negrito � Norfolk Islander � Papuan � Polynesian � Indigenous Polynesian (Ma�ohi) � Rapanui � Rotuman � Samoan � Tahitian � Tongan � Torres Strait Islander Religion v � d � e Religion in Oceania Sovereign states Australia � East Timor1 � Fiji � Indonesia1 � Kiribati � Papua New Guinea � Marshall Islands � Federated States of Micronesia � Nauru � New Zealand � Palau � Samoa � Solomon Islands � Tonga � Tuvalu � Vanuatu Dependencies and other territories American Samoa � Christmas Island � Cocos (Keeling) Islands � Cook Islands � French Polynesia � Guam � Hawaii � New Caledonia � Niue � Norfolk Island � Northern Mariana Islands � Pitcairn Islands � Rotuma � Tokelau � Wallis and Futuna 1 Transcontinental country. Not included: Oceanian: cinema, (indigenous) currency, dress, folkore, cuisine. Also see Category:Oceanian culture. Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Islands" Categories: Cook Islands | Freely associated states | New Zealand � Pacific relations | Former British colonies | Polynesia | English-speaking countries and territories | States and territories established in 1965 | Island countriesHidden categories: Articles including recorded pronunciations | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from August 2007 Views Article Discussion Edit this page History Personal tools Try Beta Log in / create account if (window.isMSIE55) fixalpha(); Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Search Interaction About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Donate to Wikipedia Help Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent linkCite this page Languages Ac�h ??????? 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