Captain Cook letter found
behind picture frame.
















Captain Cook Statue & Singage
in Christrchurch

In 1773, Captain James Cook sighted Manuae atoll which he named Hervey Island. On a later voyage he discovered Palmerston, Takutea, Mangaia, and Atiu.


The Cook Islands are made up of 15 distinct islands, a Northern group and a Southern Group. Rarotonga is the capital island. The islands of the Cook group have a total land area of about 92 sq. miles, scattered over a vast 2 million square kilometre area of Pacific Ocean.

A former British protectorate, the Cook Islands became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand on August 4, 1965. This day is now celebrated as Constitution Day.

Population: 18,000 (2004) - Source: United Nations. More than twice as many native Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than live in the islands themselves. As New Zealand citizens, they are free to live in both Australia and New Zealand.

Rarotonga is the international entry point for the Cook Islands. From Rarotonga international airport Cook Islands carrier Air Rarotonga flies to most of the other islands in the group.

There are no snakes and no poisonous insects or animals on the Cook Islands.

Leave nothing on the beach, except footprints.

Sir Tom Davis, former Cook Islands prime minister, famous voyager and academic, died at Rarotonga Hospital July 23 after a brief illness. E rere e te taura - Let the totem fly Written by Mike Tavioni as a tribute to Tom Davis reprinted with written permission from Mike Tavioni

Once an island boy Then the taunga With his itchy feet Became the wanderer Then an icon of Avaiki And in Avaiki, few could match Back home once again An island boy still But this time Like a treasure chest Bursting at the seams With korero and knowledge He touched all facets Of the island's breath and life With the determination of a warrior The stubbornness of a karikao But with the patience of the one who sees It was not what he earned Or what he was gifted with Or what mistakes he made And or what he failed to achieve But... rather Praise the island boy For what he left behind Island boy : an autobiography by Thomas R. A. H. Davis Vaka : saga of a Polynesian canoe by Thomas R. A. H. Davis Related Site Pacific Voyaging Society: http://pvshawaii.squarespace.com [be sure to see the stories] Related Site Traditional Pacific Navigation: http://www.museum.upenn.edu

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Dive Rarotonga information

See UPDATED Population figures
Island Information.


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Site Updated September 3, 2007






Coming VERY soon now that my computers are newly replaced!
LOTS of new Cook Islands Images including Island Nights dance
in Raro and Aitutaki,, and MORE, (above is carved shell by Tokerau Jim)

Palmerston, Penrhyn & Rakahanga
Newly updated - MORE Palmerston Pages & Images!