Abstract:
The idea of this thesis arose initially out of a suggestion made by Messrs. W. Gregg and Co.Ltd. (Dunedin) who, through their operations in the Cook Islands, became aware of the complete lack of any accurate and comprehensive system of economic data for these islands. The present study, in the form of a national income survey of the Cook Islands for the year ended 31 March 1964, aims to establish the foundation for such a system of date. Although the extreme scarcity of existing data imposed certain limits on the scope of the survey (e.g. only one year period could be covered), it was possible to assimilate a considerable amount of other information not normally included with national income estimates (especially Chapter 7 and Appendix B). The study as a whole is therefore considered to be an important contribution to the objective analysis of the Cook Islands economy.
Field work for this study covered a period of seven months, from February to August 1964. Of this time, five weeks were spent on the island of Aitutaki, four weeks on a trip to some of the Northern Group islands (mainly Manihiki), and about three weeks on the island of Mangain (as well as a few days on the islands of Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiare); the remaining four months were spent on Rarotonga.
