The Human Truth Foundation

Cook Islands

https://www.humantruth.info/cook_islands.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Cook Islands
StatusSelf-governing in Free Association with New Zealand
CapitalAvarua
Land Area
LocationAustralasia, Polynesia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population
GNI
ISO3166-1 CodesCK, COK, 1841
Internet Domain.ck2
CurrencyDollar (NZD)3
Telephone+6824

1. Overview

#new_zealand #UK

Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965, residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)5

Book CoverFifteen droplets of land cast across 2 million sq km of wild Pacific blue, the Cook Islands are simultaneously remote and accessible, modern and traditional. With a hip cafe culture, fine restaurants and funky nightlife, Rarotonga lives confidently in the 21st century. But beyond the island´s tourist buzz and contemporary appearance is a robust culture, firmly anchored by traditional Polynesian values and steeped in oral history.North of `Raro´, the sublime lagoon of Aitutaki is ringed with tiny deserted islands and is one of the Pacific´s most improbably scenic jewels. Venture further and robust Polynesian traditions emerge nearer the surface. Drink home brew at a traditional `Atiuan tumunu (bush-beer drinking club), explore the ancient makatea (raised coral cliffs) and taro fields of Mangaia, or swim in the underground cave pools of Mitiaro and Ma´uke. The even more remote Northern Group is a sublime South Seas idyll experienced only by a lucky few.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)6

As a territory of New Zealand I do not have many specific statistics for this territory in its own right.

2. Cook Islands's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Australasia (2020)7
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank7
1New Zealand17.3
2Australia23.9
3Fiji102.1
...
7Palau130.6
8Tonga132.6
9Marshall Islands134.2
10Samoa135.9
11Vanuatu137.8
12=Kiribati138.0
13Cook Islands144.5
14Tuvalu158.4
15Solomon Islands166.2
Australasia Avg119.7
q=15.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)7
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank7
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
189Pakistan141.3
190Swaziland141.8
191Mauritania144.4
192Cook Islands144.5
193N. Korea146.5
194Brunei147.1
195Sudan148.6
196Vatican City154.0
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark8. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu8.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe8, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia8.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
9
Pos.2009
Treaties9
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
168Iran9
169=St Kitts & Nevis9
169=Comoros9
169=Cook Islands9
172Guinea-Bissau8
173=USA8
173=Somalia8
173=Eritrea8
Australasia Avg8.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
10
Pos.2017
Score10
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
127=Namibia-5
127=Kiribati-5
127=Jamaica-5
127=Cook Islands-5
127=Guyana-5
132St Lucia-9
133=India-10
133=Samoa-10
Australasia Avg07.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.

3. Cook Islands's Health

#alcohol #health #obesity #vaccines

Compared to Australasia (2020)11
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank11
1Solomon Islands82.0
2Australia84.6
3Kiribati87.0
...
8=Tonga104.1
9Samoa107.8
10Tuvalu112.5
11Micronesia114.2
12Papua New Guinea120.8
13Cook Islands123.7
14Nauru134.8
15Palau146.0
16Marshall Islands158.3
Australasia Avg109.4
q=16.
Health (2020)11
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank11
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
182Papua New Guinea120.8
183Mali122.1
184Congo, (Brazzaville)123.4
185Cook Islands123.7
186Namibia125.9
187Iraq130.9
188Gabon131.3
189Ivory Coast132.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives12. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau12.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean12, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa12.

For more, see:

Health:

The Cook Islands does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. The Cook Islands does better than average in its immunizations take-up13 (one of the best in Australasia). And finally, it does worse than average in terms of its alcohol consumption rate14 (one of the worst in Australasia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years.

Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per Capita14
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
153=Laos10.4
153=Greece10.4
153=Denmark10.4
156Cook Islands10.6
157=Australia10.6
158New Zealand10.7
159=Finland10.7
160Uruguay10.8
Australasia Avg4.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
%15
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
184Tonga78.5
185Kiribati78.7
186Niue80.0
187Tuvalu81.9
188Marshall Islands83.5
189Cook Islands84.7
190Palau85.1
191Nauru88.5
Australasia Avg73.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
13
Pos.2015
Avg %13
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
23Kuwait97.5
24Morocco97.5
25=Monaco97.3
25=Cook Islands97.3
27Greece97.3
28=Turkmenistan97.2
28=St Vincent & Grenadines97.2
30Dominica97.1
Australasia Avg86.4
World Avg88.3
q=194.

4. Cook Islands's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

This rank is derived from 2 data sets. The Cook Islands performs the best in terms of how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It does better than average when it comes to its forested percent change 2000-202016.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
16
Pos.Total16
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
84Wallis & Futuna0.3%
85Japan0.2%
86Niue0.2%
87Cook Islands0.1%
88New Caledonia0.0%
89=Qatar0.0%
89=Marshall Islands0.0%
89=Norfolk Island0.0%
Australasia Avg0.1%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
1=Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
1=Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Mexico1993 Dec 29
1=Armenia1993 Dec 29
1=Ecuador1993 Dec 29
1=Fiji1993 Dec 29
1=Canada1993 Dec 29
1=Monaco1993 Dec 29
1=Maldives1993 Dec 29
Australasia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

5. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below17:

Christian96%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated3.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 69.6% (Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7.9%, other Protestant 5.8%), Roman Catholic 16.8%, Mormon 3.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)18.

The Lonely Planet travel guide points out with joyful glee the historical situation of the Cook Islands Christian Church. It...

Book Cover... was built by two villages, Areora and Ngatiarua, in 1882. When the outside was completed, there was disagreement between the villages about how the inside should be decorated so they built a wall down the middle. The wall has since been removed, though the interior is decorated in markedly different styles. Each village has its own entrance, sits at its own side and takes turns singing the hymns. The minister stands astride the dividing line down the middle of the pulpit.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)6

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