Debt - external:
$141 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater
part (1995)
Currency:
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.3535 (January 2002), 2.3776
(2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Cook Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (1994)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of
satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF
radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small
exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and
fiber-optic cable
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)