Cook Islands

American  

plural noun

1. a group of islands in the South Pacific belonging to New Zealand. 99 square miles (256 square kilometers).

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Cook Islands British  

plural noun

1. a group of islands in the SW Pacific, an overseas territory of New Zealand: consists of the Lower Cooks and the Northern Cooks Capital: Avarua, on Rarotonga. Pop: 10 447 (2013 est). Area: 234 sq km (90 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Cook Islands

First recorded in 1875–80 as Cook's Islands; named after Captain James Cook

Example Sentences

Pasifika heritage encompasses the indigenous peoples of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, with Upper Hutt-born Rennie having Cook Islands links through his mother.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Places such as the Cook Islands are doing everything they can to play the two sides off against one another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

“Inevitably it will happen,” said Mike Tavioni, who runs a carving and arts workshop dedicated to preserving Cook Islands Maori life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

The self-governing Cook Islands remain in "free association" with former colonial ruler New Zealand, which is still involved in areas such as defence and foreign affairs.

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

Cook Islands:   Named after Captain Cook, who sighted them in 1770,   the islands became a British protectorate in 1888.

From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency