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The Cook Islands (Cook Islands Maori : Kuki Airani) are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand. The 15 small islands have a total land area of 240 km². Tourism is the country's number one industry, the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports. A popular art form on the islands is tivaivai, often likened to quilting.

The population is 21,388 (July 2005 est). The capital is Avarua on Rarotonga. Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand. List of daily articles