Cook Islands Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Cook Islands

Type: self-governing in “free association” with New Zealand, Cook Islands Government fully responsible for internal affairs and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands Government

Capital Avarua, located on Rarotonga

Branches: New Zealand Governor General appoints Representative to Cook Islands, who represents the Queen and the New Zealand Government; Representative appoints the Prime Minister; popularly elected 24-member Parliament; 15-member House of Arikis (chiefs), appointed by Representative, is an advisory body only

Government leader· Sir Thomas DAVIS, Prime Minister (since July 1978)

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: every five years, latest in November 1983

Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Sir Thomas Davis; Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey Henry

Voting strength: (1983) Parliament—Democratic Party, 13 seats; Cook Islands Party, 11 seats

Member of: ADB, IDA, IFC, IMF, SPF, SPEC, ESCAP (associate member)

NOTE: The information regarding Cook Islands on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Cook Islands 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Cook Islands 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.