Southern Cook Islands Customary Law

Akapapa‘anga, Kōrero Tupuna, e te Ākono‘anga Ture ‘Enua o te Pā ‘Enua Tonga i te Kūki ‘Airani. The customary law, history and land of the Southern Cook Islands, from the records and from the people who kept them: the four volumes of Southern Cook Islands Customary Law, History and Society, the courts’ own decisions reported in full, and the manuscripts, journals and papers behind them.

This site exists to make that knowledge available to Cook Islanders, to the judges and lawyers who decide and argue questions of custom and land, and to researchers, so that the evidence can be read by everyone rather than repeated from memory. The law reports and the research library are free to read and to cite.

The books The law reports The research library

On this page What is on this site The printed set Why this exists Latest from Kōrero

Cover of Volume One: an engraved portrait of a Cook Islands man
Cover of Volume Two: a large group of Rarotongans in traditional dress
Cover of Volume Three: an engraving of a mission house among palms
Cover of Volume Four: Pa Ariki, Queen Makea, Hon C H Mills and Tinomana Ariki, photographed by G A Read
Volume OneVolume TwoVolume ThreeVolume Four

What is on this site

Every page, in the order of the site, and what it holds. Each page opens with its own index of what is on it.

PageWhat is there
Southern Cook Islands Customary Law, History and SocietyThe four volumes, second edition, chapter by chapter: Volume One, the settlement of the islands and the custom; Volume Two, Rarotonga before Christianity; Volume Three, the Europeans and the mission, 1773 to 1888; Volume Four, the courts and the land, 1888 to the present. Previews, free chapters and the shop; the printed first edition set.
The volume archivesOne page for each volume, Volume One to Volume Four: the quotations in full, the charts and tables, and the documents particular to each chapter, with the chapter pages as doorways.
Cook Islands Law ReportsFour series, each report with a headnote and the judgment: AMB, the Cook Islands Appellate Court Reports, 1948 onward, with the evidence the court heard; CILCR, the Land Court Reports; CIATR, the Ariki Title Reports; UKPC, the Privy Council decisions. With the courts and their records 1888 to the present, how a report reads, citing the reports, and the indexes of cases, lands, titles, parties, statutes and subjects.
The Research LibraryThe sources behind the books, each in one place: the Journal of the Polynesian Society articles, the Appendices to the Journals of the House, the Gudgeon manuscripts, the documents of the Makea Nui Ariki title applications of 2026, the glossary, and the corrections and additions.
ManuscriptsHistories, genealogies and traditions written down by Cook Islanders, and the manuscripts of the Europeans who governed and converted them, transcribed or photographed in full, including the Archives series.
Journal of the Polynesian SocietyThe Rarotongan articles of 1892 to 1927 in Māori and English, transcribed whole where out of copyright; the later articles cited and linked.
Appendices to the Journals of the HouseNew Zealand’s parliamentary papers on the Cook Islands, the “A to Js”: the reports the series relies on, and the portal to the whole run, 1858 to 1950.
BibliographyEvery known book and manuscript about the Cook Islands, in alphabetical order of author, drawn from the chapters of the four volumes, with a link where the work is on this site.
GlossaryThe Cook Islands Māori words used in the books and the reports, explained in plain English.
The Land Court guideSuccession, occupation rights, leases and partitions in plain English, with the official forms, the Leases Approval Tribunal and the legislation. General information, not legal advice.
LegislationThe Acts, Ordinances and Rules on Cook Islands land and custom, from the Order in Council of 1902 to the present.
KōreroArticles on the custom and the cases, beginning with Custom before the Privy Council; and Have your say, for readers who can correct a reading or add to the record.
Corrections and additionsWhat the second editions change from the first editions, and the pages the printed set left out.
About, and contactWho made the site and the books, Ron Crocombe and Ross Holmes, and how to get in touch.
Delivery, refunds and privacyThe shop’s terms.
Search the siteEvery page, report and document on the site.

Latest from Kōrero

Custom before the Privy Council

What the five Cook Islands appeals to the Privy Council since 2012 decide about custom and land, and the question they leave open: whether a court today is bound by what an earlier court said the custom was.

Ross Holmes, 26 October 2026

Read more

The Makea Nui Ariki title applications, 2026: the documents

The records relied on in the High Court applications of 2026, each opening whole, in the order of the objectors’ affidavit: the genealogies, the minute books, the two manuscripts of the plot, the Journal, and the custom of succession as the ariki stated it and the courts have found it.

Research Library, 22 October 2026

Read more

Have your say

The minute books are handwritten and some names and words could not be read. Readers who can read a word marked [?], or who can add to the record, are asked to say so; the report is corrected and the reader thanked.

Open to all readers

Read more
All Kōrero

The printed first edition: Volumes One, Two and Three in their slipcase, with the books laid out on tapa

Opening special

The printed set of Volumes One, Two and Three

NZ$100 NZ$150

The hardcover first editions, as a set of three books. Free courier in New Zealand, or collect in Rarotonga or Auckland.

Buy the printed set

Why this exists

In 1902 a New Zealand judge opened a court at Avarua and began to decide who owned the land of the Cook Islands. The law that made the court told him to decide according to native custom. Nobody had written that custom down, and nobody was asked to.

In 1941 the ariki of Rarotonga asked the New Zealand Parliament for an inquiry into the custom before any more land cases were heard. In 1949 the Native Appellate Court itself said one was needed:

“The whole matter appears to us to call for a full and complete enquiry as to Customs and Usages of the Rarotonga people as to land titles.”

Native Appellate Court, Tereora section 106B, Nikao, Avarua, 15 August 1949, (1949) 1 AMB 266

No such enquiry was ever held. This site, and the books behind it, set out what the record shows: the custom as the people stated it and as the courts found it, the decisions themselves with the evidence given at the hearings, and the manuscripts and papers from which the history is written, so that Cook Islanders, the judges and lawyers who must decide questions of custom and land, and researchers can read the evidence for themselves.

The books, and how to read them

Second edition, October 2026. Each volume is sold as a PDF through the store, and a volume gives the buyer all of its chapters. Volume One is available now; Volume Two from 9 November 2026; Volume Three from 1 December 2026; Volume Four in January 2027. The Preface to Volumes One, Two and Three, the Preface to Volume Four, and Chapter 1 of Volume One can be read free of charge. Every other chapter has a preview, its opening pages, watermarked and read-only. A volume is NZ$57.50 (NZ$50 plus GST). The passages each chapter rests on are in full on its volume’s archive, reached from the chapter’s page. If you find any typographical errors please let us know so that we can correct them.

Volume One: Pre-European Southern Cook Islands Customary Law, History and SocietyTe au Peu Tupuna, Te au Papa Ture, Te au Papa‘anga Kōrero e te ‘Akaruruanga ‘Okota‘i i roto i te Pā ‘Enua Tonga o te Kūki ‘Airani i te Tuātau Ta‘ito i mua ake tae mai ei te papa‘ā

ChapterTitle, in English and Cook Islands MāoriPreview or download
The whole volume, all chapters, as one PDFBuy the volume NZ$57.50
Preface to Volumes One, Two and ThreeManuko MuaDownload (PDF)
1Introduction‘Akamārama‘angaDownload (PDF)
2The evolution of, and sources of, material dealing with Southern Cook Islands customary law, history and societyTe akamata‘anga e te ngai i rauka mai ei te Papa korero e te peu tupuna o te Pa Enua Tonga o te Kūki AiraniPreview (PDF)
3Southern Cook Islands oral traditionsTe au kōrero o te Pa Enua Tonga i te Kūki AiraniPreview (PDF)
4The discovery and early settlement of the Southern Cook IslandsTe kitea‘anga e te no‘oia‘anga o te Pa Enua Tonga o te Kūki AiraniPreview (PDF)
5The discovery and early settlement of RarotongaTua taito no te au tangata tei no‘o mua ki Tumu-te-varovaroPreview (PDF)
6Southern Cook Islands customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te Kūki AiraniPreview (PDF)
7The importance of customary lawsTe puapinga o te Ākono‘angaPreview (PDF)
8The acquisition of customary rights to landTe rauka’anga mai o te au tika’anga enuaPreview (PDF)
9Conquest and warfare in the Southern Cook Islands before ChristianityTe au tuātau tamaki e te ‘ōnure‘au i mua ake ka tae mai ei te EvangeliaPreview (PDF)
10Rights to landTe au tika‘anga ki te ‘enuaPreview (PDF)
11The utilisation and role of land in the Southern Cook IslandsTe ta‘anga‘anga‘anga e te tūranga o te ‘enua i te Pā ‘Enua Tonga o te Kūki ‘ĀiraniPreview (PDF)
12Aitutakian customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te AitutakiPreview (PDF)
13Atiuan customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te AtiuPreview (PDF)
14Mangaian customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te MangaiaPreview (PDF)
15Ma‘ukean customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te Ma‘ukePreview (PDF)
16Mitiaran customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te MitiaroPreview (PDF)

Volume Two: Pre-European Southern Cook Islands Māori Society‘Ākaruruanga o te iti tanga o te Pā ‘Enua Tonga o te Kūki ‘Airani i te Tuātau Ta‘ito

ChapterTitle, in English and Cook Islands MāoriPreview or download
The whole volume, all chapters, as one PDFBuy the volume NZ$57.50 (coming 9 November 2026)
Preface to Volumes One, Two and ThreeManuko MuaDownload (PDF)
17The division of Rarotonga after Karika Tara‘ape and Tangi‘ia-nuiTe Ve‘e ia‘anga a Rarotonga i muri ake i te tuatau o Karika Tara‘ape e Tangi‘ia-nuiPreview (PDF)
18Southern Cook Islands social stratificationAkapapa‘anga ta‘ongaPreview (PDF)
19Pre-European Southern Cook Islands social organisationTūranga ora‘anga tangata i te tuatau taitoPreview (PDF)
20Religion and gods in Southern Cook Islands societyTe au atua e te akono‘anga atua i te Pā ‘Enua TongaPreview (PDF)
21The “fearful season” in Rarotonga, 1700 to 1823, Part 1Te tuatau mataku i Rarotonga, 1700 ki 1823, Tu‘anga 1Preview (PDF)
22The “fearful season” in Rarotonga, 1700 to 1823, Part 2Te tuatau mataku i Rarotonga, 1700 ki 1823, Tu‘anga 2Preview (PDF)
23The “fearful season” in Rarotonga, 1700 to 1823, Part 3Te tuatau mataku i Rarotonga, 1700 ki 1823, Tu‘anga 3Preview (PDF)
24Succession to chiefly titles in the Southern Cook Islands, Part 1Te mono‘anga te taonga ‘Ariki i te Pā ’Enua Tonga, Tua 1Preview (PDF)
25Succession to chiefly titles in the Southern Cook Islands, Part 2Te mono‘anga te taonga ‘Ariki i te Pā ’Enua Tonga, Tua 2Preview (PDF)
26Succession to chiefly titles in the Southern Cook Islands, Part 3Te mono‘anga te taonga ‘Ariki i te Pā ’Enua Tonga, Tua 3Preview (PDF)
27Rarotonga in 1823, before ChristianityRarotonga i te mata‘iti 1823, i mua ake i te EvangeliaPreview (PDF)

Volume Three: The Impact of Europeans upon Southern Cook Islands Māori Society, Customary Law and Land Tenure Law 1595-1888Te Turanga o te Iti Tangata Māori i te Pā ‘Enua Tonga o te Kūki ‘Airani i muri ake i te tae‘anga mai o te papa‘ā, e te au Papa Ture Tupuna e te au Papa Ture ‘Enua 1595-1888

ChapterTitle, in English and Cook Islands MāoriPreview or download
The whole volume, all chapters, as one PDFBuy the volume NZ$57.50 (coming 1 December 2026)
Preface to Volumes One, Two and ThreeManuko MuaDownload (PDF)
28The first Europeans to visit the Southern Cook IslandsTe au Papa‘ā mua ki te Pā ’Enua TongaPreview (PDF)
29The Mission era, 1822 to 1888Te tuatau Evangelia, 1822 ki 1888Preview (PDF)
30The impact of the Mission era upon Southern Cook Islands customary law, history and society, 1822 to 1888Te tuatau Evangelia, e tana akatūkē‘anga i te ture peu tupuna, te kōrero tupuna e te orā‘anga o te Pā ‘Enua TongaPreview (PDF)
31The acquisition of land by the ariki of Rarotonga in the Mission period, 1823 to 1888Te rauka‘anga mai o te ‘enua ki te au ariki o Rarotonga i te tuatau EvangeliaPreview (PDF)

Volume Four: Silenced Custom. The impact of the New Zealand Colonial era on Southern Cook Islands Customary Law, History and SocietyTe Ākono‘anga Tupuna tei ‘Akamū‘ia. Te tupu‘anga mai o te Tuatau ‘Au Niu Tireni ki runga i te Akapapa‘anga, Kōrero Tupuna, e te Ākono‘anga Ture ‘Enua o te Pā ‘Enua Tonga i te Kūki ‘Airani

ChapterTitle, in English and Cook Islands MāoriPreview or download
The whole volume, all chapters, as one PDFComing January 2027
Preface: The silenced customManuko MuaDownload (PDF)
1The dream of a South Pacific empireTe moemoeā nō tēta‘i patireia i te Pa ‘Enua TongaPreview (PDF)
2The bureaucratic cleansing of the landTe tāmā‘anga a te kavamani i te ’enuaPreview (PDF)
3The shadow of the protectorateTe ata o te paruru‘anga PeritāneComing January 2027
4The iron fist of the British ResidentTe rima ’auri o te ‘Akava nui PeritāneComing January 2027
5The annexationTe ’apai‘anga ki raro ake i a Nū TīreniComing January 2027
6The iron hand of the Resident CommissionerTe rima ’auri o te ‘Aka‘aere o te ‘Akava nui PeritāneComing January 2027
7The Land Titles Court arrivesTe tae‘anga mai o te ‘Akavā‘anga ‘EnuaComing January 2027
8The Tākitumu Court decisionsTe au tuku‘anga tika a te ’akava‘anga no te enua i TākitumuComing January 2027
9The Avarua Court decisionsTe au tuku‘anga tika a te ’akava‘anga no te enua i AvaruaComing January 2027
10How the ariki of Rarotonga acquired land in the colonial periodTe rauka‘anga mai o te ’enua ki te au ariki o Rarotonga i te tuatau ‘au papa‘āComing January 2027
11The Cook Islands Act 1915 and afterTe Ture o te Kūki ‘Airani mei te mataiti 1915 e aera uatauComing January 2027
12Southern Cook Islands customary lawĀkono‘anga Pa Enua Tonga o te Kūki AiraniPreview (PDF)
13Did the Land Court work?Kua anga‘anga ainei te ’Akavā‘anga ’Enua?Coming January 2027
14What Ron Crocombe proposedTā Ron Crocombe i tuku maiComing January 2027
15ConclusionsTe au ’akaoti‘angaComing January 2027

© Ross Holmes 2026. Previews of the second edition are supplied for reading only; they may not be copied, reproduced or cited without the author’s permission.