Raro history

During the 16th century, Spanish ships visited the islands but the first recorded landing, on Rarotonga, by Europeans (the crew of the Cumberland) was in 1814.

However, the 'Cook Islands' were later named in his honour and first appeared on a naval chart published in the 1820s.

Aitutaki was the first island of the Cook Islands to accept Christianity so in 1823 a limestone coral rock church was built in Arutanga and is the oldest church in the Cook Islands.

France's armed takeover of Tahiti in 1843 had caused alarm among the Cook Islands' chiefs.

In 1888 they became a part of the British Dominion, due to fears France may seize the islands first.

With some persuasion from New Zealand, chiefs of the largest islands petitioned for annexation, which was undertaken in 1901.

In 1940, Laborer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Raro.

The change in status in 1965 brought greater autonomy, and the Cook Islands began developing relationships with the countries of the region.

A treaty was signed in June 1980 with the United States in which all claim to the islands of Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Manihiki and Rakahanga was relinquished by the Americans.

A treaty with France delimited the boundary between the Cooks and French Polynesia in 1990.