About Cook Islands

The Cook Islands comprises 15 islands in the South Pacific located approximately half-way between New Zealand and the West Coast of the United States of America. It is in the same time zone as Hawaii and enjoys direct and regular international air services from New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America.

History and Government
In 1965 the New Zealand Parliament passed the Cook Islands Constitution Act and gave the Cook Islands self government founded upon its own written constitution. Today the Cook Islands has a Westminster Parliamentary system with democratic elections every five years. The Head of State is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Her representative in the Cook Islands.

Legal System
The legal system of the Cook Islands closely reflects that of New Zealand and most other English Common law jurisdictions. There is a High Court and a Court of Appeal of the Cook Islands which is presided over predominantly by current or former New Zealand High Court Judges. The ultimate appellate court is the Privy Council in London.

International Financial Services Centre
In 1981 the Cook Islands' Government and the Cook Islands' financial services industry embarked on a legislative and infrastructural programme to create the pre-eminent offshore centre of the South Pacific. Their mission was to create an offshore jurisdiction internationally recognised for its technical innovation, service and professionalism and not to merely emulate the technical achievements of other jurisdictions.

A common misconception about the Cook Islands is that its offshore jurisdiction is a newcomer to the offshore financial scene. This is definitely not the case as it is now over 20 years since the Cook Islands passed its centrepiece corporate legislation, the International Companies Act 1981-82. This was one of the earliest examples of what is today commonly known as International Business Company ("IBC") type legislation. The IBC concept of simplicity, ease of administration and a familiar corporate entity, clearly found favour with the international financial community. Since that time, several other jurisdictions have enacted IBC type legislation.

The Cook Islands' offshore jurisdiction is well established and has the characteristics necessary to meet the offshore corporate, trustee and financial requirements of the international business community.

The more significant of these characteristics are:

• Political stability and independence.
• Tax neutrality.
• English widely spoken
• Professional and international trustee companies.
• Professional legal and accountancy firms.
• The legal system closely reflects that of New Zealand and other British Common Law countries.
• Respect for rule of law.
• Technical and innovative legislation which has been duly tested.
• Cook Islands government is approved under the Hague convention to legalise and apostille documents.
• Notary services readily available for same day notarising of documents.
• International flights direct to and from New Zealand and Los Angeles which provide access to United Kingdom, South East Asia, Australia and Europe. 
• Direct dialing phone/facsimile system to and from all countries in the world. Internet and email freely available at a broadband level. Limited roaming facilities offered.