Editing Cook Islands (section)

==Administrative subdivisions==
There are island councils on all of the inhabited outer islands (Outer Islands Local Government Act 1987 with amendments up to 2004, and Palmerston Island Local Government Act 1993) except [[Nassau (Cook Islands)|Nassau]], which is governed by [[Pukapuka]] ([[Suwarrow]], with only one caretaker living on the island, also governed by Pukapuka, is not counted with the inhabited islands in this context). Each council is headed by a mayor.

[[File:Cook Islands, administrative divisions - de - colored.svg|thumb|Location of the islands of Cook Islands]]

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+ Ten Island Councils in the Outer Islands
|-
|[[File:Aitutakitopo.png|70px]]
|[[File:AST-01-039 Aituctaki Atoll.jpg|70px]]
|[[Aitutaki]] (including uninhabited [[Manuae (Cook Islands)|Manuae]])
|-
|[[File:Atiumap.png|70px]]
|[[File:Atiu Aerial.jpg|70px]]
|[[Atiu]] (including uninhabited [[Takutea]])
|-
|[[File:Mangaia english version.png|70px]]
|[[File:Mangaia (Correct Orientation).JPG|70px]]
|[[Mangaia]]
|-
|[[File:Manihiki.jpg|70px]]
|[[File:Manihiki Aerial.jpg|70px]]
|[[Manihiki]]
|-
|[[File:Mauke map.jpg|70px]]
|[[File:Mauke Aerial.jpg|70px]]
|[[Mauke]]
|-
|[[File:Mitiaro Island map.jpg|70px]]
|[[File:Mitiaro Aerial.jpg|70px]]
|[[Mitiaro]]
|-
|[[File:Palmerston Island map.jpg|70px]]
|[[File:Palmerston Aerial.jpg|70px]]
|[[Palmerston Island|Palmerston]]
|-
|[[File:Penrhyn.png|70px]]
|[[File:Penhryn atoll.jpg|70px]]
|[[Penrhyn atoll|Penrhyn]]
|-
|[[File:Pukapuka.png|70px]]
|[[File:Pukapuka Atoll.jpg|70px]]
|[[Pukapuka]] (including [[Nassau (Cook Islands)|Nassau]] and [[Suwarrow]])
|-
|[[File:Rakahanga.jpg|70px]]
|[[File:ISS002-E-10047rakahanga.jpg|70px]]
|[[Rakahanga]]
|}

[[File:Rarotopo.png|thumb|Former Three Vaka Councils of [[Rarotonga]]]]
[[File:Rarotaperedistrict.png|thumb|Five Districts of [[Rarotonga]], with subdivision into 54 traditional [[Tapere]]]]

The three ''Vaka'' councils of [[Rarotonga]] established in 1997 (''Rarotonga Local Government Act 1997''), also headed by mayors,<ref>Larmour, Peter and Barcham, Manuhuia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090324214201/http://www.transparency.org.au/documents/cookislands.pdf Cook Islands 2004], [[Transparency International]] Country Study Report.</ref> were abolished in February 2008, despite much controversy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=990 |title=Rarotonga Local Government (Repeal) Bill To Be Tabled, Cook Islands Government |publisher=Cook-islands.gov.ck |access-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017220610/http://www.cook-islands.gov.ck/view_release.php?release_id=990 |archive-date=17 October 2013  }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090102015825/http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h392b.htm Minister asked to answer queries over abolition of Vaka Councils]. ''The Cook Islands Herald'', No. 393 (9 February 2008)</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;"
|+Three former Vaka Councils on Rarotonga
|-
|[[Puaikura]]
|Arorangi
|-
|[[Takitumu]]
|Matavera, Ngatangiia, Takitumu
|-
|[[Te-Au-O-Tonga]]
|(equivalent to [[Avarua]], the capital of the Cook Islands)
|}

On the lowest level, there are village committees. [[Nassau (Cook Islands)|Nassau]], which is governed by [[Pukapuka]], has an island committee (Nassau Island Committee), which advises the Pukapuka Island Council on matters concerning its own island.