Cook Islands (Includes Rarotonga): Difference between revisions

The population is about 18,000. Another 37,000 Cook Islanders live in New Zealand. The people are ethnically related to the ''Maori of New Zealand, the Maori of Easter Island, and the Kanaka Maoli of Hawaii.''

''Maori, English and Pukapukan ''are spoken. Dialects are: ''Rakahanga Manihiki, Panrhyn, Mangala, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, and Atiu Mauke Mitiaro. Pukapukan is spoken in Pukapuka and Anassau.''

'''''Rarotonga''', the ''main island, is volcanic. It has a central volcanic pyramid with sawtooth peaks and ridges covered with tropical jungle. Streams run down the steep valleys. It is surrounded by a lagoon which goes several hundred yards to a reef which slopes to deep water.  

The island’s name stems from''raro,'' meaning ''“down,” ''and ''tonga,'' meaning “''south.” ''In 1997,''Japanese ''archaeologists unearthed a previously unknown ''marae'' (sacred site) on ''Motu Tapu'', an islet in the lagoon at ''Nagatangila.'' This is estimated to be 1500 years old (abt. 500 A.D.).  

Christianity is the dominant religion, brought by the ''London Missionary Society''. LDS Church membership in 2002 in the ''Cook Islands, ''including Rarotonga, was 1,236.  

'''500''' Expeditions to New Zealand by Maori begin from Rarotonga, probably from Ngatangila.<br>800 Expedition of Ru from Tubua`i in French Polynesia to Rarotonga, Aitutake, and Tangaia.<br>'''1600''' Spanish explorers sight Pukapuka and land on Rakahanga <br>'''1800''' British and French explorers and Australian and New Zealand expeditions seek sandalwood. They name Pukapuka “Danger Island” because they cannot land. Captain James Cook lands on several of the islands and a Russian map maker names them the “Cook Islands” after him.<br>'''1821''' London Missionary Society landed in Aitutaki. Islanders quickly converted to Christianity.&nbsp; Population around 6,500.<br>'''1850''' Peruvian slave traders kidnapped outer islanders, who were never seen again.<br>'''1860s''' Population diminished to 2,000 due to sickness<br>'''1861-1907''' London Mission Society gives births and death, civil registration<br>'''1870''' Queen Makea Tukau has government authority and petitions for British protection. <br>'''1888''' Became a British protectorate. Freedom of religion guaranteed.<br>'''1895''' First Roman Catholic Church dedicated<br>'''1896''' (some 1876) A large number of oral genealogies was recorded.<br>'''1901''' Annexed to New Zealand in a deed of cession signed by five ariki and seven lesser chiefs.<br>'''1946''' Large numbers of Cook islanders migrate to New Zealand for jobs.<br>1965 Became a Self-Governing Territory under New Zealand. Cook Islanders have automatic New Zealand citizenship.<br>'''1996''' Population is 19,103<br>'''2000''' Universal suffrage and self-government with an elected parliament and a House of Ariki (hereditary chiefs) with representatives from all of the Cook Islands brings a peaceful environment in the Cook Islands.  

*Go to the Internet at ''familysearch.org'' and click on the ''Library.''  

*From that tab, click on the ''Family History Library Catalog''.  

*To get to the genealogies, choose a ''Place'' search.  

*Type in '''Cook Islands'''.  

*Click on '''Cook Islands - Rarotonga - Genealogy'''.  

*A list of oral genealogies will come up with the names of the families listed. By clicking on the you are interested in you can get the microfilm number. Or, use a ''Film/fiche number search'' and look at the descriptions of the following microfilms, all of which contain information about Cook Island ancestors: '''795886, 795837, 795960, 795720, 108490, 108491, 108492, 108563, 112651, 865045, 1026227, 165044, 165045, 928558.'''