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People group profile · PG047297

The Cook Islands Maori of the United States

The Cook Islands Maori of the United States, numbering about 100 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Polynesian ethnic group indigenous to Rarotonga, the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands.

They are a diaspora people in the Polynesian people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Rarotongan.

Pray for the Cook Islands MaoriPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Cook Islands Maori people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Rarotongan

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
100
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Polynesian
Primary language
Rarotongan (rar)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
20% or Greater but Less than 30%
GSEC ?
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Significantly Reached People Group
Region
Northern America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Cook Islands Maori are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Cook Islands Maori

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

51% adherents

Primary language

Rarotongan · Austronesian family

100% speak Rarotongan

Gospel resources in Rarotongan

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

  • JESUS (Cook Islands Maori)

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Cook Islands Maori

  1. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  2. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  3. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  4. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.

Download a prayer guide

Cook Islands Maori in other countries

The same people is also reported in 3 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Cook Islands MaoriNew Zealand76,000No Longer Unreached
Cook Islands MaoriCook Islands12,500No Longer Unreached
Cook Islands MaoriFrench Polynesia1,800No Longer Unreached

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