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[[File:Flag of the Cook Islands.svg|thumb|Atu Kuki]]

The '''Cook Islands''' ([[Cook Islands Māori]]: ''Kūki 'Āirani'')<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=AT2ENAHoS28C ''Cook Islands Maori dictionary''] by Jasper Buse & Raututi Taringa, Cook Islands Ministry of Education (1995) page 200</ref> are a self-governing [[island country]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific Ocean]] in [[Associated state|free association]] with [[New Zealand]]. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is {{convert|240|km2|sqmi|0}}. The Cook Islands' [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] (EEZ) covers {{convert|1,960,027|km2|sqmi|abbr=}} of ocean.<ref>[http://www.seaaroundus.org/data/#/eez/184?chart=catch-chart&dimension=taxon&measure=tonnage&limit=10 Fisheries, Ecosystems and Biodiversity]. Sea Around Us</ref>

New Zealand is responsible for the Cook Islands' defence and foreign affairs, but these responsibilities are exercised in consultation with the Cook Islands.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cook Islands push for independence from NZ |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/68986939/cook-islands-push-for-independence-from-nz |access-date=26 July 2020 |work=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |date=30 May 2015 |language=en}}</ref> In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web|quote=Since 2001, the Cook Islands have complete sovereignty in managing their Foreign affairs according to the common declaration of 6 April 2001.|url=http://www.ambafrance-nz.org/Cook-Islands|title=Cook Islands|website=France in New Zealand|access-date=October 30, 2015|date=March 13, 2014|archive-date=Pipiri 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627174702/http://www.ambafrance-nz.org/Cook-Islands|dead-url=yes}}</ref> [[Cook Islanders]] are [[New Zealand nationality law|citizens of New Zealand]], but they also have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens. The Cook Islands have been an active member of the [[Pacific Community]] since 1980.

The Cook Islands' main population centres are on the island of [[Rarotonga]] (13,007 in [[2016 Cook Islands Census|2016]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mfem.gov.ck/census|title=Census 2016 - Cook Islands - Ministry of Finance and Economic Management|website=www.mfem.gov.ck|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828062044/http://www.mfem.gov.ck/census|archive-date=28 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> where there is an [[Rarotonga International Airport|international airport]]. There is also a larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand itself: in the 2013 census, 61,839 people said they were Cook Islanders, or of Cook Islands descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx?request_value=24709&parent_id=24706&tabname=#24709|title=2013 Census ethnic group profiles|publisher=Statistics NZ|access-date=2017-11-11|archive-date=2017-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112021636/http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/ethnic-profiles.aspx?request_value=24709&parent_id=24706&tabname=#24709|dead-url=yes}}</ref>

With over 168,000 visitors travelling to the islands in 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/382353/cook-islands-welcome-more-visitors|title=Cook Islands welcome more visitors
|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=February 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908142453/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/382353/cook-islands-welcome-more-visitors|archive-date=8 September 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref> tourism is the country's main industry, and the leading element of the economy, ahead of [[offshore banking]], pearls, and marine and fruit exports.

==Faasinomaga==
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[[Category:Niu Sila]]