Avarua is a town on Rarotonga Island and the national capital of Cook Islands. The town is located at 21°12′S 159°46′W at sea level, below the towering peaks of Rarotonga (altitude 208 m or 682 ft). The area of Rarotonga is 67.2 square kilometres (25.9 sq. mi). The town is served by Rarotonga International Airport (IATA Airport Code: RAR).

There is no direct reciprocal health agreement with the UK, but such an agreement exists with New Zealand which may, in some circumstances, also apply to the Cook Islands; enquire at the Cook Islands Representative (see General Info section). There is one government hospital (on Rarotonga).

Valid passport by all , including nationals of New Zealand. Passports should be valid for six months after the initial 31-day stay in the Cook Islands.

VISAS

1. Not required by visitors for tourist stays of up to 31 days and they are issued on arrival. Confirmed onward/return tickets and documentation are required, as are accommodation arrangements and proof of adequate finances for duration of stay.
2. All nationals arriving in the Cook Islands for business purposes or sourcing investment possibilities do require a 21-day work visa and this can be issued on arrival. Business must be completed within that period.

Validity

Visitors can extend length of stay on a monthly basis up to an additional five months, providing they have sufficient funds, use licensed accommodation and are not taking up employment. A fee is payable with each application within 14 days before the expiry of the permit. Three-month extensions cost NZ$70 and five-month extensions may be obtained for a fee of NZ$120. For visitors wanting to stay longer than six months, a visa must be applied for from their country of residence. There is no fee for applicants aged under 15 years.

Application to Cook Islands Representative (see General Info section) or the Principal Immigration Officer (see Temporary residence below).

Application requirements

A return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are required for those wishing to extend their stay in the Cook Islands.

Temporary residence

Applicants should refer to the Principal Immigration Officer, PO Box 105, Rarotonga (tel: 29347; fax: 21247; e-mail: tutai@immigration.gov.ck; website: www.mfai.gov.ck).

Health

Typhoid immunizations should be up-to-date.

Food and drink

Tap water is relatively safe but may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks

Hepatitis A occurs in the region and hepatitis B is endemic. Inoculation against Tetanus is recommended.
Bathers should be aware of the possible hazard caused by sharp coral reefs.

Best buys are woodcarvings, pearls, shell craft, woven products, pottery, hats and baskets made out of coconut fiber. Coins and stamps are considered to be valuable collectors’ items. Another popular buy is a brightly colored, all-purpose wrap-around cloth garment worn by both men and women called a Pareu, and ideal for casual wear in the hot climate. Island Craft has factories in Avarua where hand-carved items can be purchased. The art of carving may be observed in Punanganui Market Place.

There is also a wide range of duty-free items.

Shopping hours
Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1200. Some stores near tourist areas remain open for longer.

Currency Information:

Currency

New Zealand Dollar (NZD; symbol NZ$) = 100 cents, supplemented by notes and coins minted for local use which are not negotiable outside the Cook Islands. Notes are in denominations of NZ$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of NZ$2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

Currency exchange

Exchange facilities are available at the airport, banks and in some larger stores and hotels. EFTPOS and ATM machines are available at both ANZ and Westpac banks on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and also major stores and restaurants.

Credit and debit cards
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller’s cheques

Accepted in hotels and some shops.

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import of either local or foreign currency. Local currency can be exported up to NZ$250. Foreign currency can be exported up to the amount imported and declared subject to bank authorizationBanking hours
Mon-Thur 0900-1500; Fri 0900-1600. Some banks are open Sat 0900-1100.

There are restaurants in hotels, and a variety of independent eating places as well, as a result of the increasing tourist trade. Local produce includes a wide variety of citrus and tropical fruits, island chestnuts and garden vegetables.

Seafood features on many restaurant menus and so does coconut as the coconut palms produce an abundant supply of fruit all year round. Local meat and poultry are available. At larger resorts you can try the traditional Polynesian feast known as the ‘Umukai’, which involves baking food in an underground oven and is usually accompanied with traditional entertainment by local people.

Weather can be quite changeable from day to day and varies throughout the islands. It is generally hot throughout the year, although the trade winds provide some moderating influence. Rainfall is heaviest in Rarotonga, while the northern atolls tend to be drier. The coolest months are June to August, while November to March marks the warmer season, which also has the highest rainfall.

Required clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the year. Warmer clothes are advised for the evenings. Rainwear is advised in the rainy season.

Watersports

Scuba-diving and snorkeling are excellent in the clear waters of the islands’ many lagoons. Visibility is seldom less than 30m (100ft) and the scenery is quite varied, with canyons, caves, 73 types of live coral and a rich marine life. A maximum of 10 persons can dive at any one site at any one time.

There are four dive companies operating in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, usually offering two diving trips a day. Divers must have a recognized diving certificate. Some of the best dive sites include the Matavera Drop-off; the Ngatangiia Swimthroughs (particularly well-known for its unusual and rare fish species); Koromiri Coral Garden; Mataora Wreck (purposely sunk in December 1990); Papua Canyon (known for its eagle ray population); and Sand River.

Whale watching can also be practiced in the Cook Islands: the humpback whale season is from July to October. In addition to observing the whales from a boat, it is possible to swim with them wearing a snorkel; for details, contact local operators. Game fishing excursions (usually five-hour trips) are available. Visitors can also watch flying fish being netted at night in outrigger canoes equipped with bright lights.

Aitutaki’s magnificent 50 sq km- (19 mile-) lagoon is suitable for fly and bait fishing. It holds the world all-tackle record for Hump Head Maori Wrasse. Windsurfing at Muri beach is the center for windsurfing and sailing. Visitors are welcome at Rarotonga Sailing Club, where sailing races are held on Saturday afternoons from October to May. Kayaking tours in the lagoon are also available, as are lagoon cruises to the coral reefs in glass-bottomed boats or in a semi-submersible vessel.

Walking

The island of Rarotonga offers a wide range of walks for all ages and fitness levels. There are 13 marked trails, and guides should be hired for all routes leading into the inland area of Rarotonga. Details are available from hotels and other tourist establishments.

The most popular trails include the Cross Island Trek (a four-and-a-half-hour trek through the center of the island on paths known to be historical war paths of ancestral warriors); Pa’s Mountain Walk (a four- to five-hour walk through the lush interior); Te Kou Trek (a five-hour trek with steep ascents and good views); and the Ikurangi Trek (a four-hour trek for experienced hikers only, also providing the opportunity for rock climbing around the top of the mountain). The Takitumu Conservation Area Walk also offers birdwatching. Guided lagoon reef walks are possible at low tide along Rarotonga’s coral fringe.

Other

The Rarotonga Golf Club has a nine-hole golf course. In addition, lawn bowls has an enthusiastic following and is a long-established sport in Rarotonga. Two-and-a-half-hour pony treks to Wigmores Waterfall leave twice daily with a maximum of six people per trip (advance booking is recommended).

The developed resorts are situated on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and provide various amenities (see Activities section). The best swimming beaches are at Muri Lagoon and Titikaveka.

A variety of tours are available, including lagoon cruises, inland trekking, historical tours, guided walking trips, sightseeing by air, and horse-drawn and motorized drives around the islands. A scenic drive into the Takuvaine/Avatiu Valleys offers a panorama of lush tropical scenery. Papua (Wigmore’s) Waterfall, the only waterfall on the island, is located at Vaimaanga.

The museum at Takamoa has excellent examples of Cook Islands handicrafts.
The three-hour ‘cultural village tour’ offers the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations in weaving, coconut husking, fire making, carving and other Cook Islands traditions.
During the year, various festivals take place. These are generally celebrated with singing and dancing, often with a strange mixture of traditional ritual grafted on to the somewhat later Christian music and ceremony.

The choirs of the Cook Islands are renowned. Places of historical interest include: the Takamoa Mission House, built in 1842, and believed to be the second-oldest building in the South Pacific; the old Palace of Makea at Taputapuatea; Pa’s Palace in Takitumu, which is built of coral and lime; and Arai-Te-Tonga (Marae), consisting of stone structures which, in the islands’ pre-European history, formed a koutu, or royal court, where the investiture of chiefs took place. This spot is still regarded as sacred.

This article describes the economy of the Cook Islands. Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands’ economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit.

Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit-processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are made up for by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. Efforts to exploit tourism potential, encourage offshore banking, and expand the mining and fishing industries have been partially successful in stimulating investment and growth.

Politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic associated state, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The Islands are self-governing in free association with New Zealand and are fully responsible for internal affairs.

New Zealand retains some responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent years the Cook Islands has taken on more of its own external affairs and as of 2005 has diplomatic relations in its own name with 18 other countries. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of the Cook Islands. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

The monarch is hereditary; her representative is appointed by the monarch. The New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government. The cabinet is chosen by the prime minister and collectively responsible to Parliament. Ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe Williams.

Williams had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Party (DAP). On 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai Maoate was sworn in as prime minister. He was succeeded by his co-partisan Robert Woonton. When he lost his seat in the 2004 elections, Jim Marurai took over.

Legislative branch

The Parliament of the Cook Islands has 25 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.