Pacific Islands ForumIntergovernmental organisation of island nations in the Pacific OceanThe Pacific Islands Forum (PIF; French: Forum des îles du Pacifique; Fijian: Bose ni Yatu Pasifika; Māori: Te Huinga Moutere o Te Moananui-a-Kiwa; Samoan: Fono a Atumotu o le Pasefika; Tahitian: Te mau motu no Patitifa; Tok Pisin: Pasifik Ailan Forum; Tongan: Fakataha 'a e Ngaahi 'Otu Motu Pasifiki) is an inter-governmentalorganisation which aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania, including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations.
New ZealandNew Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa, pronounced [aɔˈtɛaɾɔa] ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu)—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country by area and lies east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga.
Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It stretches from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the continents of Asia and Australia in the west and the Americas in the east.
RarotongaRarotonga (sometimes abbreviated Raro) is the largest and most populous island of the country of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of 67.39 km2 (26.02 sq mi), and is home to 72% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040. Avarua, on the north coast, is the location of the Parliament buildings and the capital of the Cook Islands.
PolynesiaPolynesia (UK: POL-in-EE-zee-ə, US: -EE-zhə) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are called Polynesians. They have many things in common, including linguistic relations, cultural practices, and traditional beliefs.
Island countryAn island country, island state, or island nation is a country the primary territory of which consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. Approximately 25% of all independent countries are island countries. Island countries are historically more stable than many continental states but are vulnerable to conquest by naval superpowers. Indonesia is the largest and most populated island country (and the fourth most populated country overall).
OceaniaGeographical region in the Pacific OceanOceania is a geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern and Western hemispheres, at the centre of the water hemisphere, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of about 9,000,000 square kilometres (3,500,000 sq mi) and a population of around 46.3 million as of 2024, when including Australia but excluding the Malay Archipelago.
AvaruaAvarua (meaning "two harbours" in Māori) is a district and township in the north of the island of Rarotonga, the largest island of the Cook Islands. It serves as the capital of the country and is divided into 19 tapere (sub-districts). It is an important commercial and economic centre, with the country's main airport (Rarotonga International Airport) and harbour (Avatiu) here. The district had a population of 5,120 in the 2021 census.
Henry PunaMember of the Cook Islands Parliamentfor ManihikiIn office17 November 2010 – 24 March 2021Preceded byApii PihoSucceeded byAkaiti PunaIn office8 February 2005 – 27 September 2006Preceded byRobert WoontonSucceeded byApii PihoPersonal detailsBorn (1949-07-29) 29 July 1949Aitutaki, Cook IslandsPartyCook Islands PartySpouseAkaiti PunaChildren5EducationUniversity of AucklandUniversity of TasmaniaHenry Tuakeu Puna (born 29 July 1949) is a Cook Islands politician.
Associated stateMinor partner in a formal, free relationship with a typically larger state An associated state is the minor partner (some of them dependent territories, some of them fully sovereign) in a formal free relationship with a major party—usually a larger state—that allows the former to share aspects of governance, such as defense, foreign policy, and economy, with the latter.
CIPPB Te Kukupa IITe Kukupa II is a Guardian-classpatrol boat built in Australia for the Cook Islands. It replaced the original Te Kukupa, supplied to the Cook Islands three decades earlier. Her crew is drawn from the Cook Islands Police Service. At the farewell of Te Kukupa I, Australian High Commissioner Christopher Watkins noted the original Te Kukupa had been a gift from Australia at a time when Australia and the Cook Islands "were united in our anger at French nuclear testing."
Exclusive economic zoneAn exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as prescribed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is an area of the sea in which a sovereign state has exclusive rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. It stretches from the outer limit of the territorial sea at 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) from the coast to 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) from the coast of the state in question.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.