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
Renewable energy in the Cook Islands Renewable energy in the Cook Islands The Cook Islands is a Large Ocean State with an Exclusive Economic Zone spanning approximately 2 million km2. It extends from latitude 8° to 23° South, longitude 156° to 167° West. The nation is divided into a northern group of six islands and a southern group of nine islands. Three are uninhabited (Suwarrow, Manuae and Takutea). Rarotonga is the most populated island with about 85% of the national population; the outer islands are remote and sparsely populated. Electrical power has been provided by generators on each island, but diesel fuel is sourced from Auckland