History of the Cook Islands History of the Cook Islands The Cook Islands are named after Captain James Cook, who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777. The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, the islands were annexed as British territory. In 1901, the islands were included within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand. The Cook Islands contain 15 islands in the group spread over a vast area in the South Pacific. The majority of islands are low coral atolls in the Northern Group, with Rarotonga, a volcanic island in the Southern Group, as the main administration and government
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