Island group (pop., 1998 est.: 17,100), southern Pacific.
Located 2,000 mi (3,000 km) northeast of New Zealand, the 15 islands, scattered from north to south over 900 mi (1,450 km) of ocean, are divided into a southern group of eight islands, including Raratonga (the seat of government), and a northern group of seven. All of the northern Cooks are true atolls; most of the southern group have volcanic interiors. They were probably settled by Polynesians from Tonga and Samoa ; there is evidence of a highly organized society с AD 1100. Capt. James Cook explored many of them during the 1770s. Established as a British protectorate in 1888, they were annexed by New Zealand in 1901. Self-government in free association with New Zealand was achieved in 1965.