lynesian and
European 7.7%, Polynesian and other 7.7%, European 2.4%, other 0.9%

Religions: Christian (majority of populace members of Cook Islands
Christian Church)

Languages: English (official), Maori

Literacy: NA%

Labor force: 5,810
by occupation: agriculture 29%, government 27%, services 25%, industry
15%, other 4% (1981)

@Cook Islands:Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands

Digraph: CW

Type: self-governing parliamentary government in free association with
New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs;
New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs, in
consultation with the Cook Islands

Capital: Avarua

Administrative divisions: none

Independence: none (became self-governing in free association with New
Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full
independence by unilateral action)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 4 August

Constitution: 4 August 1965

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: universal adult at age NA

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Representative of the Queen Apenera SHORT (since NA); Representative
of New Zealand Adrian SINCOCK (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister Geoffrey HENRY (since 1 February
1989); Deputy Prime Minister Inatio AKARURU (since 1 February 1989)
cabinet: Cabinet; collectively responsible to the Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament: elections last held 24 March 1994 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) Cook Islands
Party 20, Democratic Party 3, Alliance Party 2
note: the House of Arikis (chiefs) advises on traditional matters, but
has no legislative powers

Judicial branch: High Court

Political parties and leaders: Cook Islands Party, Geoffrey HENRY;
Democratic Party, Sir Thomas DAVIS; Cook Islands Labor Party, Rena
JONASSEN; Cook Islands People's Party, Sadaraka SADARAKA; Alliance
Party, Norman GEORGE

Member of: AsDB, ESCAP (associate), ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, INTELSAT
(nonsignatory user), IOC, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing in free
association with New Zealand)

US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing in free association
with New Zealand)

Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
and a