Cook Islands Government Self-governing State in free association with New Zealand Capital Avarua Population 15 200 Land area 237 km² Max height above sea level 652 m EEZ 1 830 000 km² GDP Year 2016 Currency New Zealand dollar Languages Cook Islands Maori, English GDP per capita 19 183 USD Useful links Government of the Cook Islands The Cook Islands – Travel Pacific Community Membership 1980