The first people who came to the Cook Islands were most likely part of the Polynesian migration that settled much of the South Pacific, and the indigenous people are closely related to those of Tahiti and New Zealand. One local legend dates the occupation of the island of Rarotonga to a Tahitian navigator around 1200, but archeological research has uncovered fire remains from much earlier - about 5,000 years ago. The first recorded sighting of the islands by a European was by the Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana in 1595.

More recent history saw Captain James Cook coming across the islands on two different trips in the 1770's. Perhaps more fascinating was a visit to Aitutaki in 1789 by Captain Bligh of the Bounty prior to the mutiny, and a possible visit to Rarotonga by the mutineers later in the year. A Russian cartographer first attached Cook's name to the Islands in 1824.

Further awareness of the islands in Europe brought Christian missionaries to the Cooks starting around 1821. That year, missionaries from Tahiti began conversions on Aitutaki, followed in 1823 by Rev. John Williams of the London Missionary Society landing a group of missionaries on Rarotonga. The influence of the missionaries on the Cooks has been great, changing the belief system from the animistic worship of tribal gods and idols to Christianity. Along with the new religion came new language, schools, some changes in gender roles, and movement from a tribal to a centralized governmental system. Day-to-day life also changed with replacement of a barter system to a cash-based one, the introduction of cotton textiles, and improved agricultural practices.

Later in the century, the British turned away the French and, in 1888, declared the Islands a British protectorate. 1901 saw the Cook Islands included in the boundaries of newly independent New Zealand. The Cooks became self-governing in association with New Zealand in 1965 with the right to move to full independence by unilateral action.

Nowadays, the Cooks are responsible for their internal affairs while New Zealand takes care of external affairs and defense in consultation with the Cooks. Because of this close association with New Zealand and the greater work opportunities available there, more than 50,000 Cook Islanders have taken up residence in the Kiwi country.

The current day Cook Islands are a mixture of both Polynesian and European influences. The population itself is over 90% Cook Island Maori or part Cook Islands Maori.