Cook Islands comprises 15 small islands, spread over 2.2 million square kilometres, between American Samoa and French Polynesia, South of Hawaii. Avrarua, on the island of Rarotonga, is the national capital. The islands are home to a population of approximately 17,000 people. There are at least seven times as many Cook Islanders living in New Zealand (over 94,000 as of 2023 census) and Australia (28,000 as of 2021 census).
Cook Islands is self-governing in ‘free association' with New Zealand, an arrangement dating from August 1965. Under the terms of the free association, Cook Islanders hold New Zealand citizenship and enjoy the right of free access to New Zealand and by extension Australia.
Australia shares strong cultural, historical, and people-to-people ties with the Cook Islands, underpinned by shared values and regional priorities. Australia's relationship with Cook Islands focuses on shared membership of regional organisations, trade and investment, people-to-people links, and security cooperation. Cook Islands was a founding member of the Pacific Islands Forum and served as Chair in 2012 and 2023.
Australia has a modest trade and investment relationship with Cook Islands. Two-way goods and services trade was valued at over AUD212 million in 2024. Australia’s key exports were recreational and business-related travels, and alcoholic beverages; and likewise, the key import from Cook Islands was recreational and business travels.
Australian High Commission, Rarotonga
1st Floor, Philatelic Bureau Building
Takuvaine Rd
Avarua, Rarotonga
Phone: +682 22223
Email: ahcrarotonga@dfat.gov.au
For more information on Australia and Cook Islands’ diplomatic relations, see the DFAT website.