Language: Cook Island Maori is widely spoken by locals, but English is in common use.
Currency: The currency of the Cook Islands is the
New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Foreign currency exchange is available at the airport and two banks in
Avarua, ATMs are also available in Avarua and are slowly becoming more widespread.
American Express, Visa and
MasterCard are accepted at restaurants and hotels in the main towns, and travelers cheques in small denominations as well as major foreign currencies can be exchanged at larger shops and hotels. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am
to 3pm. Australian dollars are the preferred currency for travelers cheques.
Time: Local time is GMT -10.
Electricity: Electrical current is 240 volts, 50Hz. The three-pin flat blade plug with two slanted pins are used.
Communications: The country code for the Cook Islands is +682, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the
United Kingdom). City codes are not required. International Direct Dialling is available, but operator assistance may be required. In the main town of Avarua there is a telecommunications office (Telecom Cook Islands) offering international telephone, fax, email, Internet connections and other services. GSM 900 cellular mobile services are only available on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.
Duty Free: The following goods may accompany travelers over 18 years to the Cook Islands: 2 liters of spirits; 2 liters of wine or 4 and a half liters of beer, 200 cigarettes; 20 cigars or 250g of tobacco. Only travelers from New Zealand are permitted to import fruit, meat and livestock. No firearms, cartridges or cartridge cases, gunpowder, bullets, and other forms of ammunition are allowed without prior permission from the Minister of Police.
Tourist OfficeCook
Islands Tourism Corporation, Rarotonga: +682 29 435 or www.cook-islands.com
EmergencyEmergencies: 999 (Police); 998 (Ambulance)
Embassies
Cook Islands Honorary Consul,
Los Angeles,
United States: +1 805 388 3751.
New
Zealand High Commission,
London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Cook Islands): +44 (0)20 7930 8422.
New Zealand High Commission,
Ottawa,
Canada (also responsible for Cook Islands): +1 613 238 5991.
Cook
Islands Consulate,
Sydney, Australia: +61 (0)2 9907 6567.
Cook
Islands High Commission,
Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 5126.
United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 462 6000.
British High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 924 2888.
Canadian
High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 9577.
Australian High Commission, Wellington, New Zealand (also responsible for Cook Islands): +64 (0)4 473 6411.
South African High Commission,
Canberra,
Australia (also responsible for Cook Islands): +61 (0)2 6272 7300.
New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga: +682 22 201.
