Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770, the Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888.

By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand.

The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

The Cook Islands has fifteen islands in the group spread over a vast area in the South Pacific. The majority of islands are low coral atolls in Northern Group, with Rarotonga, a volcanic island in the Southern Group, as the main administration and government centre. The main Cook Islands language is Rarotongan Maori. There are some variations in dialect in the 'outer' islands.