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The "old fashioned" printed word has been the most valuable source of information in the creation of this site. And top of the list of must haves if you're visiting the islands, or just want to know more is the COOK ISLANDS COMPANION by Elliot Smith (Pacific Publishing Company, Albany, California, USA). Sub-titled, "The Visitor's Guide to Rarotonga and the Outer Islands", there's a stunning amount of information crammed into its 176 pages. And it's a good read too. Sadly, the book is out of print, but you can certainly pick up a copy for less than NZ$20 at the Bounty Bookshop in Rarotonga. (For details of an in print guide which is widely available go to Cook Islands links)

And a bit of useless information for you...the two islanders featured on the cover are a Jeannine Tuavera, former Miss Cook Islands and dancer of the year, and Danny Mataroa. I saw both performing with the Tumutevarovaro Dance Troupe who feature in island nights at hotels in Avarua. Why not take along your copy of the book and get them to sign it?!

The seat pocket magazine that's "yours to keep" often isn't worth keeping...unless you're travelling with Air Rarotonga. Theirs is called Escape. It's well produced, well written and full of pictures and information about the islands. Some of that information has found its way on to this site. So, many thanks Air Rarotonga.

And last but definitely not least in the printed word section of the credits is the "Cook Islands Sun". This is a newspaper type visitor's guide produced by the tourism department. It's another of those "must haves" if you're in the islands...and it's free. A mine of information and again a help to me in creating this site. I have also used the tourism department's web site and that of the Government of the Cook Islands as my definitive sources when I wasn't sure of any information. Click on the underlined links to open those sites in a new window.

Most of all though...I'd like to say meitaki maata (thank you very much) to the people of the Cook Islands whose warmth, friendliness and fantastic home land inspired this site.

Kia Manuia
(May good fortune shine on you)

COOK ISLANDS WEB SITES

Typing "Cook Islands" into the Google search engine produces more than five million results. I've listed some of my favourite web sites under "My Links". But a few deserve a special mention here because I've been back to them time and again for information. I gratefully acknowledge them as sources and hope they don't mind me using them as such.

http://www.ck/ calls itself the definitive Cook Islands website. I wouldn't argue...go and have a look round. It's outstanding. There's everything from advice on getting married in the islands, to investment opportunities and bereavement notices! And that's on top of all the information about the islands themselves.

And the population information you see on each island page is derived from the 2001 census and is published on http://www.citypopulation.de/Cook.html