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.
AitutakiAitutaki, also traditionally known as Araʻura and Utataki, is the second most-populated island in the Cook Islands, after Rarotonga. It is an "almost atoll", with fifteen islets in a lagoon adjacent to the main island. Total land area is 18.05 km (6.97 sq mi), and the lagoon has an area of between 50 and 74 km (19 and 29 sq mi). A major tourist destination, Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands archipelago. Aitutaki had a population of 1,782 in 2021.
Rarotonga International AirportSources: DoD FLIPRarotonga International Airport (IATA: RAR, ICAO: NCRG; Cook Islands Māori: Papa Rererangi o Rarotonga) is the Cook Islands' main international gateway, located in the Avarua district on the northern coast of Rarotonga, 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the Avarua downtown area. The airport was built in 1944, then expanded in the early 1970s, and officially opened for jets in January 1974.
Volcanic islandGeologically, a volcanic island is an island of volcanic origin. The term high island can be used to distinguish such islands from low islands, which are formed from sedimentation or the uplifting of coral reefs (which have often formed on sunken volcanoes).
Parliament of the Cook IslandsThe Parliament of the Cook Islands (Cook Islands Māori: Te Marae Akarau Vānanga o te Kuki Airani) is the legislature of the Cook Islands. Originally established under New Zealand administration, it became the national legislature upon independence in 1965. The Parliament consists of 24 members directly elected by universal suffrage from single-seat constituencies.
AvatiuAvatiu is a settlement in the Avarua district on the north coast of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, immediately west of Avarua township. Avatiu Stream flows through it. Avatiu Harbour is the location of Rarotonga's main port and a fishing port. Buildings include a (CITC) supermarket, which is the biggest supermarket on Rarotonga, and a Mormon church and family history centre. The settlement's sports ground is known as "The Swamp" after the adjacent .
TākitimuTākitimu was a waka (canoe) with whakapapa throughout the Pacific particularly with Samoa, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand in ancient times. In several Māori traditions, the Tākitimu was one of the great Māori migration canoes that brought Polynesian migrants to New Zealand from Hawaiki. The canoe was said to have been captained by Tamatea.
TongaCountry in OceaniaTonga, officially known as the Kingdom of Tonga, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country has 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about 750 km (290 sq mi), scattered over 700,000 km (270,000 sq mi) in the southern Pacific Ocean. As of September 2026, Tonga has a population of 103,291, 70% of whom live on the main island, Tongatapu. The country stretches approximately 800 km (500 mi; 430 nmi) north-south.
Cook IslandsCountry in the South Pacific OceanFlag Coat of armsAnthem: Te Atua mou ē (Māori)"God of Truth"Capitaland largest cityAvarua21°12′S159°46′W / 21.200°S 159.767°W / -21.200; -159.767Official languagesEnglishCook Islands MāoriPukapukanSpoken languagesEnglish (86.4%)Cook Islands Māori (76.2%)other (8.3%)Ethnic groups (2016 census)78.2% Cook Island Māori7.6% part-Māori14.2% otherDemonymCook IslanderGovernmentConstitutional monarchy• MonarchCharles III• King's RepresentativeSir Tom Marsters• Prime MinisterMark Brown• President of the House of ArikiTou Travel ArikiLegislatureParliamentFree association with New Zealand• Self-governance4 August 1965• UN recognition of independence in foreign relations 1992Area• Total236.7 km (91.4 sq mi) (unranked)Population• 2021 census15,040 (223rd)• Density63.3/km (163.9/sq mi) (138th)GDP (nominal)2020 estimate• TotalUS$384 million (not ranked)• Per capitaUS$21,994 (not ranked)CurrencyNew Zealand dollar (NZD)Cook Islands dollarTime zoneUTC–10 (CKT)Calling code+682ISO 3166 codeCKInternet TLD.ck^ As per the Te Reo Maori Act.The Cook Islands is an island country and associated state of New Zealand in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean.
Cook IslandersCook Islanders are residents of the Cook Islands, which is composed of 15 islands and atolls in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. Cook Islands Māori are the indigenousPolynesian people of the Cook Islands. Only 15–17% of Cook Islands Māori people live in the Cook Islands now, with New Zealand and Australia each having larger populations.
PlioceneSecond epoch of the Neogene PeriodSubdivision of the Neogene according to the ICS, as of 2024.Vertical axis scale: Millions of years agoEtymologyName formalityFormalUsage informationCelestial bodyEarthRegional usageGlobal (ICS)Time scale(s) usedICS Time ScaleDefinitionChronological unitEpochStratigraphic unitSeriesTime span formalityFormalLower boundary definitionBase of the Thvera magnetic event (C3n.4n), which is only 96 ka (5 precession cycles) younger than the GSSPLower boundary GSSPHeraclea Minoa section, Heraclea Minoa, Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, Italy37°23′30″N13°16′50″E / 37.3917°N 13.2806°E / 37.3917; 13.2806Lower GSSP ratified2000Upper boundary definitionBase of magnetic polarity chronozone C2r (Matuyama)Extinction of the HaptophytesDiscoaster pentaradiatus and Discoaster surculusUpper boundary GSSPMonte San Nicola Section, Gela, Sicily, Italy37°08′49″N14°12′13″E / 37.1469°N 14.2035°E / 37.1469; 14.2035Upper GSSP ratified2009 (as base of Quaternary and Pleistocene)The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58 million years ago (Ma).
1st millenniumThe 1st millennium of the anno Domini or Common Era was a millennium spanning the years 1 to 1000 (1st to 10th centuries; in astronomy: JD 1721425.5 – 2086667.5). The world population rose more slowly than during the preceding millennium, from about 200 million in the year 1 to about 300 million in the year 1000. In Western Eurasia (Europe and Near East), the first millennium was a time of great transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.