The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14, 153 as of 2006), where there is an international airport. There is also a much larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. In the 2006 census, 58, 008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Island Māori descent.
With over 90, 000 visitors travelling to the islands in 2006, tourism is the country's main industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports.
Defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to all New Zealand citizens.
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