History and Government
History
The islands were named after Captain James Cook, who became the first European to sight them in 1733. However, credit for the first discovery of these islands must go to the Polynesians who discovered them during their great migratory journeys across the Pacific in the seventh and eighth centuries. The main island, Rarotonga, was rediscovered by the Bounty Mutineers in 1789. In 1888 they became a British protectorate, and in 1901 became part of New Zealand.
In 1965, the islands achieved self-government as a New Zealand Dependency. There are no plans and little pressure to change this status. Domestic politics since then have been dominated by the Cook Islands Party (CIP). However, at the most recent poll held in June 1999, the CIP lost the overall majority that it had held for a decade. The largest single party is now the CIP’s main rival, the Democratic Party, which forms the government in coalition with the small centrist New Alliance party. In 2002, Robert Woonton took over the Premiership.
Government
The Cook Islands are an internally self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. Executive power is formally held by the New Zealand High Commissioner (High Commissioner Rob Moore-Jones since 1998) but effectively devolved to the Cabinet. This, in turn, is responsible to the 25-member Parliament, directly elected every five years. The House of Ariki, which is composed of all the paramount chiefs of the Cook Islands, serves as an advisory body. Advice is given on legislation concerning customs and traditions, though the House of Ariki has no powers of legislation itself. New Zealand is responsible for defence and foreign affairs.
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