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The 15 volcanic islands and coral atolls of the Cook Islands are scattered over 1.9 sq km of the southern Pacific Ocean, between Tonga to the west and French Polynesia to the east.

Its economy centres on tourism; the territory's natural assets include fine beaches and volcanic mountains.

The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. Wellington provides it with aid and assistance and islanders have New Zealand citizenship.

Since 2001 it has taken charge of its own foreign and defence policy, though it relies on New Zealand for its defence.

More than twice as many Cook Islanders live in New Zealand than live in the islands themselves.

Named after Captain Cook, who explored them in 1773, the islands were once autonomous, home to tribes of mixed Polynesian ancestry.

Governments still seek advice on matters of culture, custom and land ownership from a council of hereditary leaders known as the House of Ariki.
Source: BBC.com