Cook Islands, New Zealand
https://www.rozen-bakher.com/blog/16032025/cook-islands
Published Date: 16 March 2025
Blog on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher to Identify Risks versus Opportunities at the Country Level
Blog on FDI and International Trade by Alphabetical Order https://www.rozen-bakher.com/search-blog-1
This blog focuses on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade in a certain country or territory in terms of how the Location Factors (Political, Economic, Technological, Ecological, Legal and Cultural) and Entry Modes (e.g. M&As, Export and Greenfield) impact the attractiveness - or vice versa - the risks of FDI and International Trade in the certain country or territory, still, keep in mind that each risk may lead to an opportunity for resolving problems via suitable FDI and International Trade, while each opportunity for FDI and International Trade may involve risks.
Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher
A Researcher in International Relations with a Focus on Security, Political and Economic Risks for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade
Cook Islands, New Zealand
Distance from Cook Islands to New Zealand: 3,269 Km (Straight line distance Capital-to-Capital in Km, Map Developers)
Since the start of 20th century, Cook Islands is a colony of New Zealand, first when New Zealand was a British colony and after that, when New Zealand became an independent country, still, the sovereignty status of Cook Islands was evolved over the years namely, from dependent colony to self-governing status and to the current formal status of Free-Association with New Zealand, still, it can be argued that currently, Cook Islands has an informal status as an independent country, which has led to conflict and stress between New Zealand and Cook Islands. More specifically, according to the Free-Association with New Zealand, New Zealand should be responsible for the foreign relations and defence of Cook Islands, but over the years (see below UN reparatory), Cook Islands took charge over its foreign relations, defence and trade policy, which has led to contradiction with the Free-Association with New Zealand, resulting in stress between Cook Islands and New Zealand about the independent foreign and defence policy of Cook Islands, especially regarding the international treaties that Cook Islands entered into with other countries (e.g. China (see below)). Importantly, Cook Islands has already engaged with the prospect of submitting an application to UN to become a full UN member state (Independent Country), which will be likely decided via referendum, because one of the main obstacles is the demand of New Zealand that if the Cook Islands joins the United Nations as a separate member to New Zealand, then it should revoke the New Zealand citizenship rights that currently the citizens of Cook Islands have. Considering the above, currently, USA has already recognized Cook Islands as an Independent country, while Cook Islands has diplomatic relations with more than 60 countries. Besides, Cook Islands is a member in many international bodies. Although, Cook Islands does not make yet a self-declaration of an independent country, still, Cook Islands acts as an informal independent country.
Action Plan 2025 -2030 for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Cook Islands and the People’s Republic of China https://mfai.gov.ck/sites/default/files/2025-02/2025-2030%20-%20Action%20Plan%20for%20Strategic%20Partnership_0.pdf
Continuing hysteria in NZ over Cook Islands' deal with China World Socialist Web Site
China-Cook Islands deal raises security concerns for NZ The New Zealand Herald
United States to recognise Cook Islands as a sovereign state Cook Islands News
U.S confirms recognition of the Cook Islands as a sovereign state PINA
Cook Islands 'not qualified' for UN membership, says prime minister Asia Pacific Report
Cook Islands considers UN membership, faces citizenship dilema Fiji One News
Referendum needed to decide UN membership, says Elikana Cook Islands News
Cook Islands not qualified for UN membership, says prime minister RNZ
Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs Supplement No. 8
Governor of Cook Islands: Sir Tom John Marsters (since July 2013)
PM of Cook Islands: Mark Brown (since October 2020)
Cook Islands Statistics Office Website https://stats.gov.ck/
Cook Islands Government Website http://www.cookislands.gov.ck/
Population
One of the Prominent Religious Sites
Arutanga, Aitutaki Island, Cook Islands
Key Figures of the Territory, Global Position, Alliances, and 2024 Global Survival Rank (GSR)
Global Survival Rank by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher: Yearly Rank to Compare the Global Political Power among Countries to Survive Long Conflicts and Wars at the Military Level and Economic Level Global Survival Rank by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher https://www.rozen-bakher.com/global-survival-rank-zrb
Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher: Monitoring Military, Political, Economic and Trade Alliances that Have an Impact on Global Order and Geopolitics Monitoring Alliances by Dr. Ziva Rozen-Bakher https://www.rozen-bakher.com/monitoring-alliances
Key Figures of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and International Trade
Major Exports: Copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing
Major Imports: Foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods
Source: CountryReports
Source: UNCTAD
Profile
Cook Islands - BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-16495238
Cook Islands - Britannica https://www.britannica.com/place/Cook-Islands
Cook Islands - UNCTAD https://unctadstat.unctad.org/CountryProfile/GeneralProfile/en-GB/184/index.html
PM of Cook Islands - Interview and Speech
Research Papers and Research Books
Nation and destination: creating Cook Islands identity Sissons, J. (1999). Nation and destination: creating Cook Islands identity.
Local knowledge in climate change adaptation in the Cook Islands De Scally, D., & Doberstein, B. (2022). Local knowledge in climate change adaptation in the Cook Islands. Climate and Development, 14(4), 360-373.
Sustainable development opportunities in small island nations: A case study of the Cook Islands Tyedmers, E., Malik, A., Fry, J., Geschke, A., Yousefzadeh, M., & Lenzen, M. (2020). Sustainable development opportunities in small island nations: A case study of the Cook Islands. Journal of Cleaner Production, 277, 123045.
Cook Islands: 100% renewable energy in different guises Nikolic, D., Tereapii, T., Lee, W. Y., & Blanksby, C. (2016). Cook Islands: 100% renewable energy in different guises. Energy Procedia, 103, 207-212.
Cook Islands Pyle, R. L., Copus, J. M., & McCormack, G. (2019). Cook Islands. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, 409-423.
Experiencing and responding to extreme weather: lessons from the Cook Islands Clissold, R., McNamara, K. E., Westoby, R., & Wichman, V. (2023). Experiencing and responding to extreme weather: lessons from the Cook Islands. Local Environment, 28(5), 645-661.
What do remote outer island populations in the Pacific think about foreign aid? Insights from Mauke, Cook Islands Kessler, K. A. (2023). What do remote outer island populations in the Pacific think about foreign aid? Insights from Mauke, Cook Islands. Development policy review, 41, e12759.
Negotiating Wellbeing and Tourism: A Reorientation Process in the Cook Islands Becken, S., Tiraa, S., & Vada, S. (2025). Negotiating Wellbeing and Tourism: A Reorientation Process in the Cook Islands. Sustainability, 17(3), 1123.
The Health Impacts of the Climate Crisis in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau Tukuitonga, C. (2024). The Health Impacts of the Climate Crisis in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. In Climate Change and Global Health: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Effects (pp. 445-450). GB: CABI.
The Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau as parts of the realm of New Zealand Quentin-Baxter, A. (2021). The Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau as parts of the realm of New Zealand. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review, 52(3), 579-605.
New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and free association Marsters, E. (2016). New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and free association. Pacific Geographies, 46(5).
An Exemplary Leader?: New Zealand and Decolonization of the Cook Islands and Niue McDonald, C. J. (2020). An Exemplary Leader?: New Zealand and Decolonization of the Cook Islands and Niue. The Journal of Pacific History, 55(3), 394-417.
Historical Background and Historical Perspective
The Cook Islands, 1820-1950 Gilson, R. P. (1980). The Cook Islands, 1820-1950.
Geology of the Cook Islands Wood, B. L. (1967). Geology of the Cook Islands. New Zealand journal of geology and geophysics, 10(6), 1429-1445.
New Zealand and its small island neighbours: A review of New Zealand policy toward the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Kiribati and Tuvalu Bertram, I. G., & Watters, R. F. (1984). New Zealand and its small island neighbours: A review of New Zealand policy toward the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Social and Political Changes in the Cook Islands Beaglehole, E. (1948). Social and Political Changes in the Cook Islands. Pacific Affairs, 21(4), 384-398.
Land tenure in the Cook Islands Crocombe, R. G. (1964). Land tenure in the Cook Islands.
Self-determination in the Cook Islands Northey, J. F. (1965). Self-determination in the Cook Islands. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 74(1), 112-118.
Subtropical sea-level history from coral microatolls in the Southern Cook Islands, since 300 AD Goodwin, I. D., & Harvey, N. (2008). Subtropical sea-level history from coral microatolls in the Southern Cook Islands, since 300 AD. Marine Geology, 253(1-2), 14-25.
National Flower
Tiare Maori
