Editing Cook Islands (section)

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of the Cook Islands}}

=== Newspapers ===
Newspapers in the Cook Islands are usually published in English with some articles in [[Cook Islands Māori]].<ref name=":1" /> The ''[[Cook Islands News]]'' has been published since 1945, although it was owned by the government until 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Late Cooks PM a Free Press Leader: PFF - Solomon Times Online|url=https://www.solomontimes.com/news/late-cooks-pm-a-free-press-leader-pff/6958|access-date=16 September 2020|website=SolomonTimes.com|language=en}}</ref> Former newspapers include [[Te Akatauira]], which was published from 1978 to 1980.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Dawrs|first=Stu|title=Research Guides: Pacific Islands Newspapers : Cook Islands|url=https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/c.php?g=105813&p=819105|access-date=16 September 2020|website=guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu|language=en}}</ref>[[File:Rarotonga-8-Maeva-Nui.jpg|thumb|Float parade during the annual Maeva Nui celebrations]]

===Language===
The languages of the Cook Islands include English, [[Cook Islands Māori]] (or "Rarotongan"), and [[Pukapukan language|Pukapukan]]. Dialects of Cook Islands Māori include [[Penrhyn language|Penrhyn]]; [[Rakahanga-Manihiki language|Rakahanga-Manihiki]]; the [[Nga-Pu-Toru|Ngaputoru]] dialect of [[Atiu]], [[Mitiaro]], and [[Mauke]]; the [[Aitutaki]] dialect; and the [[Mangaia]]n dialect. Cook Islands Māori and its dialectic variants are closely related to both [[Tahitian language|Tahitian]] and to New Zealand [[Māori language|Māori]]. [[Pukapukan]] is considered closely related to the [[Samoan language]]. English and Cook Islands Māori are [[official language]]s of the Cook Islands; per the [http://www.paclii.org/ck/legis/num_act/trma2003130/ Te Reo Maori Act]. The legal definition of Cook Islands Māori includes Pukapukan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/CK/languages|title=Cook Islands|website=Ethnologue|language=en|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Main|Music of the Cook Islands}}
Music in the Cook Islands is varied, with Christian songs being quite popular, but traditional dancing and songs in Cook Islands Maori and Pukapukan remain popular.

[[File:Narrative of Missionary Enterprises engraving.jpg|thumb|Confiscation and destruction of idol gods by European missionaries in Rarotonga, 1837]]
[[File:Cook Islands IMG 5905 (8451965559).jpg|thumb|The Cook Islands Christian Church]]

===Public holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in the Cook Islands}}

===Art===
{{Main|Art of the Cook Islands}}

====Carving====

[[Woodcarving]] is a common art form in the Cook Islands. The proximity of islands in the southern group helped produce a homogeneous style of carving but that had special developments in each island. Rarotonga is known for its fisherman's gods and staff-gods, [[Atiu]] for its wooden seats, [[Mitiaro]], [[Mauke]] and Atiu for mace and slab gods and [[Mangaia]] for its ceremonial adzes. Most of the original wood carvings were either spirited away by early European collectors or were burned in large numbers by missionaries. Today, carving is no longer the major art form with the same spiritual and cultural emphasis given to it by the Maori in New Zealand. However, there are continual efforts to interest young people in their heritage and some good work is being turned out under the guidance of older carvers. Atiu, in particular, has a strong tradition of crafts both in carving and local fibre arts such as tapa. Mangaia is the source of many fine adzes carved in a distinctive, idiosyncratic style with the so-called double-k design. Mangaia also produces food pounders carved from the heavy calcite found in its extensive limestone caves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ck/culture.htm#visual |title=Lords of the Dance : Culture of the Cook Islands|publisher=Ck|date=12 November 2013|access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>

====Weaving====
The outer islands produce traditional [[weaving]] of mats, basketware and hats. Particularly fine examples of rito hats are worn by women to church. They are made from the uncurled immature fibre of the coconut palm and are of very high quality. The Polynesian equivalent of Panama hats, they are highly valued and are keenly sought by Polynesian visitors from Tahiti. Often, they are decorated with hatbands made of minuscule pupu shells that are painted and stitched on by hand. Although pupu are found on other islands the collection and use of them in decorative work has become a speciality of Mangaia. The weaving of rito is a speciality of the northern islands, Manihiki, Rakahanga and Penrhyn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ck/culture.htm#crafts |title=Lords of the Dance : Culture of the Cook Islands |publisher=Ck |date=12 November 2013|access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>

====Tivaevae====
A major art form in the Cook Islands is [[tivaevae]]. This is, in essence, the art of handmade Island scenery patchwork quilts. Introduced by the wives of missionaries in the 19th century, the craft grew into a communal activity, which is probably one of the main reasons for its popularity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ck/tivaevae.htm |title=Tivaevae – Quilts of the Cook Islands |publisher=Ck |date=15 July 2004 |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>

====Contemporary art====
The Cook Islands has produced internationally recognised contemporary artists, especially in the main island of Rarotonga. Artists include painter (and photographer) [[Mahiriki Tangaroa]], sculptors [[Eruera (Ted) Nia]] (originally a film maker) and master carver [[Mike Tavioni]], painter (and Polynesian tattoo enthusiast) Upoko'ina Ian George, Aitutakian-born painter Tim Manavaroa Buchanan, Loretta Reynolds, Judith Kunzlé, [[Joan Gragg]], Kay George (who is also known for her fabric designs), Apii Rongo, Varu Samuel, and multi-media, installation and community-project artist [[Ani O'Neill]], all of whom currently live on the main island of Rarotonga. Atiuan-based [[Andrea Eimke]] is an artist who works in the medium of tapa and other textiles, and also co-authored the book 'Tivaivai – The Social Fabric of the Cook Islands' with British academic [[Susanne Kuechler]]. Many of these artists have studied at university art schools in New Zealand and continue to enjoy close links with the New Zealand art scene.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Cook Islands Arts Community|url=http://cookislandsarts.com/|website=Cookislandsarts.com|access-date=8 April 2016|archive-date=23 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423145822/http://cookislandsarts.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

New Zealand-based Cook Islander artists include [[Michel Tuffery]], print-maker David Teata, Richard Shortland Cooper, [[Nina Oberg Humphries]], [[Sylvia Marsters]] and [[Jim Vivieaere]].

[[Bergman Gallery]] (formerly BCA Gallery) is the main commercial dealer gallery in the Cook Islands, situated in the main island of Rarotonga, and represents Cook Islands artists such as [[Sylvia Marsters]], [[Mahiriki Tangaroa]], [[Nina Oberg Humphries]], [[Joan Gragg]] and [[Tungane Broadbent]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=Gallery director cautious as global market 'fairly immune so far' ... |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/local/business/gallery-director-cautious-as-global-market-fairly-immune-so-far/ |access-date=1 October 2023 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref> The Art Studio Gallery in Arorangi, was run by [[Ian George (artist)|Ian George]] and [[Kay George]] is now Beluga Cafe.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2020 |title=Celebrating 30 years of colour |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/culture/celebrating-30-years-of-colour/ |access-date=1 October 2023 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tautai.org/artist/ian-george/ |title=Ian George – Tautai – Guiding Pacific Artstautai – Guiding Pacific Arts |publisher=TAUTAI |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=31 December 2016 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324203405/http://www.tautai.org/artist/ian-george/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> There is also Gallery Tavioni and Vananga run by [[Mike Tavioni]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2022 |title=New Zealand Foreign Minister visits Gallery Tavioni and Vananga |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/uncategorised/internal/national/culture/new-zealand-foreign-minister-visits-gallery-tavioni-and-vananga/ |access-date=1 October 2023 |website=Cook Islands News |language=en}}</ref>  and [[Cook Islands National Museum|The Cook Islands National Museum]] also exhibits art.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cook-islands-library-museum.org/ |title=Cook Islands Museum and Library Society &#124; Official Website of the Cook Islands Library & Museum Society |website=Cook-islands-library-museum.org |date=22 December 1964 |access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref>