Monarchy in the Cook Islands facts for kids
The Cook Islands are a special kind of country called a constitutional monarchy. This means they have a king or queen as their Head of State, but the country is run by elected officials following a constitution. The Cook Islands are part of the Realm of New Zealand, which is like a family of countries connected to New Zealand.
Since August 4, 1965, the King or Queen of New Zealand has also been the Head of State for the Cook Islands. Currently, this is King Charles III. The King doesn't live in the Cook Islands, so he has a special helper there called the King's Representative. This person acts on behalf of the King. So, the King is the official (de jure) Head of State, but the King's Representative is the one who actually does the job day-to-day (de facto). The current King's Representative is Tom Marsters.
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How the Monarchy Started in the Cook Islands
In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II became the Head of State of the Cook Islands. This happened when the Cook Islands became a "free-association" state with New Zealand. This means they are independent but still have a close link to New Zealand, especially for things like defense and foreign affairs.
The Cook Islands Constitution, which is like the country's rulebook, says that "Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand shall be the Head of State of the Cook Islands." The phrase "in Right of New Zealand" means that the Queen's role comes from her position as Head of the wider Realm of New Zealand. This Realm includes New Zealand itself, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency.
So, Queen Elizabeth II was the Head of State for the Cook Islands because she was the Head of the entire Realm of New Zealand.
A special agreement between New Zealand and the Cook Islands says that the King or Queen, as Head of State of the Cook Islands, listens only to the Cook Islands government for decisions about the Cook Islands. But for things that affect the whole Realm of New Zealand, both countries talk closely together.
When Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, her son, King Charles III, immediately became the new Head of State of the Cook Islands.
The King's Official Title
The King's full official title is: King Charles the Third, By the Grace of God King of New Zealand and of His Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
Who Becomes King or Queen Next?
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The rules for who becomes the next King or Queen are set out in a law called the Royal Succession Act 2013. This law says that the Monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic. They must also be a member of the Church of England when they become King or Queen.
The person next in line to become King is King Charles III's oldest son, William, Prince of Wales.
The King's Representative
The King's duties in the Cook Islands are mostly carried out by the King's Representative. For example, when the Cook Islands Parliament passes new laws, the King's Representative usually gives the final approval, called Royal assent.
In the past, this representative was called the High Commissioner. They were chosen by the Governor-General of New Zealand. But in the early 1980s, the Cook Islands Constitution was changed. The representative's title became "Queen's Representative" (now King's Representative). Also, the King or Queen now appoints this person directly, not the Governor-General of New Zealand.
The Constitution says that the King's Representative must follow the advice of the Cook Islands government ministers. This means they act on the decisions made by the Cook Islands Cabinet or Prime Minister.
The King's Representative has the main power in the Cook Islands on behalf of the King. This means the Governor-General of New Zealand does not have a direct role in how the Cook Islands are run, except for some shared responsibilities like defense.
Royal Symbols in the Cook Islands
You can see signs of the monarchy everywhere in the Cook Islands. For example, legal documents often mention the "Crown." Important people like the King's Representative, Members of Parliament, and judges promise loyalty to the King when they take their jobs.
Unlike in the United Kingdom, the King's Official Birthday is a public holiday in the Cook Islands. It's celebrated on the first Monday in June. You can still see Queen Elizabeth II's picture on coins. Also, her portrait is on all banknotes as a watermark until new money with King Charles III's picture is printed. The Cook Islands use the New Zealand dollar.
Queen Elizabeth II visited the Cook Islands on a royal tour in January 1974.
List of Monarchs
Here are the monarchs who have been the Head of State for the Cook Islands. This includes the time when it was part of the British Empire, then part of the colony of New Zealand, and since it became self-governing in 1965.
| Portrait | Regnal name (Birth–Death) |
Reign | Full name | Consort | House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | |||||
 |
Victoria (1819–1901) |
9 October 1900 | 22 January 1901 | Alexandrina Victoria | Widowed | Hanover |
 |
Edward VII (1841–1910) |
22 January 1901 | 6 May 1910 | Albert Edward | Alexandra of Denmark | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
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George V (1865–1936) |
6 May 1910 | 20 January 1936 | George Frederick Ernest Albert | Mary of Teck | Windsor |
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Edward VIII (1894–1972) |
20 January 1936 | 11 December 1936 | Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David | None | Windsor |
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George VI (1895–1952) |
11 December 1936 | 6 February 1952 | Albert Frederick Arthur George | Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon | Windsor |
 |
Elizabeth II (1926–2022) |
6 February 1952 | 8 September 2022 | Elizabeth Alexandra Mary | Philip Mountbatten | Windsor |
| Queen's Representatives (from 1975): Sir Gaven Donne, Sir Graham Speight (acting), Sir Tangaroa Tangaroa, Sir Apenera Short, Laurence Greig (acting), Sir Frederick Tutu Goodwin, Sir Tom Marsters | ||||||
| Premiers (1965-1981) / Prime Ministers (from 1981): Albert Henry, Sir Thomas Davis, Sir Pupuke Robati, Sir Geoffrey Henry, Joe Williams, Sir Terepai Maoate, Robert Woonton, Jim Marurai, Henry Puna, Mark Brown | ||||||
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Charles III (born 1948) |
8 September 2022 | present | Charles Philip Arthur George | Camilla Shand | Windsor |
| King's Representatives: Sir Tom Marsters | ||||||
| Prime ministers: Mark Brown | ||||||
See also
