Standard

CK

Cook Islands

Summary

Official Name
Sovereignty Status
Self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand
Population
15,300
General Remarks
15 islands including the northern islands of Pukapuka, Nassau, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Penrhyn (Tongareva), and Palmerston
Principal Languages
English
International Conventions
CSICH (2012), UNCRPD (2006)
General References
Besnier 1992, Wurm 2007, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Cook Islands is 5. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional and 4 are in trouble.

Languages

Cook Islands Maori rar
Widespread. Users: 13,100 in Cook Islands (2011 census), decreasing. 2,035 Aitutaki, 481 Atiu, 573 Mangaia, 307 Mauke, 189 Mitiaro (2011 census). Speaker numbers rapidly decreasing, especially in the diaspora (Wurm 2007). Total users in all countries: 26,910. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1965, Constitution, Article 35), limited use in higher government domains. Alternate Names: Cook Island, Kuki Airani, Māori Kūki ’Āirani, Maori, Rarotongan Autonym: Te Reo Maori Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
English eng
Widespread. Users: 17,680 in Cook Islands, all users. L1 users: 680 in Cook Islands (2011 SIL). L2 users: 17,000 (2012 M. Salisbury). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1965, Constitution, Article 35). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Penrhyn pnh
Penrhyn. Users: 200 (2011 census). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Penrhynese Autonym: Mangarongaro, Tongareva Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic
Pukapuka pkp
Nassau, Pukapuka, and Rarotonga. Users: 700 in Cook Islands (2011 census), decreasing. 451 Pukapuka, 73 Nassau Island (Census), plus approximately 200 L1 speakers on Rarotonga (Pue village), less a few non-Pukapukan spouses most of whom speak Pukapuka as L2 (2015 M. Salisbury). Ethnic population: 700 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 3,100. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Te Reo Maori Act, Articles 2(b) and 4), Te Reo Maori is deemed to include Pukapukan as spoken or written in Pukapuka. Alternate Names: Bukabukan, Pukapukan Autonym: Te Leo Wale Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, Samoic-Outlier, Pukapuka
Rakahanga-Manihiki rkh
Manihiki and Rakahanga. Users: 320 in Cook Islands (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 2,820. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Manihiki-Rakahanga Autonym: Rakahanga-Manihiki Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Eastern Malayo-Polynesian, Oceanic, Central-Eastern Oceanic, Remote Oceanic, Central Pacific, East Fijian-Polynesian, Polynesian, Nuclear, East, Central, Tahitic

Languages by Status

    English
    [eng] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1965, Constitution, Article 35). 17,680 in Cook Islands, all users. L1 users: 680 in Cook Islands (2011 SIL). L2 users: 17,000 (2012 M. Salisbury).
    Cook Islands Maori
    [rar] 6b* (Threatened). Statutory language of national identity (1965, Constitution, Article 35), limited use in higher government domains. 13,100 in Cook Islands (2011 census), decreasing. 2,035 Aitutaki, 481 Atiu, 573 Mangaia, 307 Mauke, 189 Mitiaro (2011 census). Speaker numbers rapidly decreasing, especially in the diaspora (Wurm 2007). Total users in all countries: 26,910.
    Pukapuka
    [pkp] 6b* (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Te Reo Maori Act, Articles 2(b) and 4), Te Reo Maori is deemed to include Pukapukan as spoken or written in Pukapuka. 700 in Cook Islands (2011 census), decreasing. 451 Pukapuka, 73 Nassau Island (Census), plus approximately 200 L1 speakers on Rarotonga (Pue village), less a few non-Pukapukan spouses most of whom speak Pukapuka as L2 (2015 M. Salisbury). Ethnic population: 700 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 3,100.
    Penrhyn
    [pnh] 7 (Shifting). 200 (2011 census).
    Rakahanga-Manihiki
    [rkh] 7 (Shifting). 320 in Cook Islands (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 2,820.

Maps

  • Cook Islands

Graphs

  • Language Vitality Profile

  • Language Status Profile