| Conventional Long Name: | Cook Islands Federation |
| Common Name: | Cook Islands |
| Era: | New Imperialism |
| Status: | Colony |
| Empire: | United Kingdom |
| Year Start: | 1891 |
| Year End: | 1901 |
| P1: | Kingdom of Rarotonga |
| Flag P1: | Flag of Rarotonga 1888-1893.svg |
| S1: | Cook Islands |
| Flag S1: | Flag of New Zealand.svg |
| Symbol: | Coat of arms of the Cook Islands |
| Capital: | Avarua (presumed) |
The Cook Islands Federation was created in 1891,[1] after the Kingdom of Rarotonga was given the island of Aitutaki. It lasted until 1901, when it was given to New Zealand.[2]
The Cook Islands Federation was made up of the islands of the southern group of the Cook Islands - Rarotonga, Mangaia, and Aitutaki - and the Nga-Pu-Toru - Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro.
The laws of the Cook Islands Federation were made by the local parliament, however, they had to receive approval from a Resident from Britain.[3] In 1894, the Parliament pronounced a declaration on land, detailing Māori custom on land tenure, and stating that those customs could only be changed by each island's respective council.[4]
In 1899, the Parliament of Cook Islands ruled that the high court of the Cook Islands Federation could not give any punishment worse than those outlined by the Criminal Code Act of 1893, and The Summary Jurisdiction Act of 1894, which were both laws of New Zealand, and that both acts of New Zealand were to be adopted entirely.
In 1892, the island of Takutea was set up as a penal colony, but in 1899 its use ceased, and the island of Manuae was used instead.[5]