Culture of the Cook Islands Culture of the Cook Islands The culture of the Cook Islands reflects the traditions of its fifteen islands as a Polynesian island country, spread over in the South Pacific Ocean. It is in free association with New Zealand. Its traditions are based on the influences of those who settled the islands over several centuries. Polynesian people from Tahiti settled in the Cook Islands in the 6th century. The Portuguese captain, Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, made the first recorded European landing in the islands in the early 17th century, and well over a hundred years later, in the 18th century, the
History of the Cook Islands in 1862 and 1863. 1888 — Cook Islands are proclaimed a British protectorate and a single federal parliament is established. 1900 — The Cook Islands are ceded to the United Kingdom as British territory, except for Aitutaki which was annexed by the United Kingdom at the same time. 1901 — The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the United Kingdom to include the Cook Islands. 1924 — The All Black "Invincibles" stop in Rarotonga on their way to the United Kingdom and play a friendly match against a scratch Rarotongan team. 1946 — Legislative Council is