Cook Islands Paper Money Collection

Cook Islands Notes

[ Last Update: Thursday, 01-Oct-2009 19:29:00 EDT ]

	New Zealand Administration, Government of the Cook Islands 1987 ND Issue 3 Dollar Note, Pick# 3 Obverse: Ina and the shark at left Reverse: Fishing canoe and statue of the god of Te-Rongo Size: 150 x 75 mm Ina was the love of Tinirau, the god of the ocean who lived on a floating island. One day Ina jumped into the sea in search of Tinirau, but since the sea was so big, she was continually tossed back to shore by its gigantic waves. She enlisted in some fish to help her swim, but they were too small to carry her, so in her frustration, she beat them with a stick, permanently marking their bodies. This is how the angelfish got their black stripes. Eventually a shark agreed to carry her on his back. For the journey she took some coconuts with her, for food and drink. After some time, Ina became thirsty, so the shark raised his dorsal fin so that she could crack a coconut and partake of its milk. This she did and it satisfied her thirst. She then relieved herself on the shark, who wasn't too happy about that and warned her not to do this again. This is why islanders complain that the shark meat smells of urine. Again Ina became thirsty and this time she cracked the coconut on the shark's head. One version of the story says that this is how the hammerhead shark came about. Another story says that this is why there is a bump on a shark's head, which is to this day called Ina's bump. Reeling from the pain, the shark tossed Ina off his back dived below the waters, leaving her to flounder in the sea (one version says he ate her, but that isn't the nicest end to the story). Finally Tekea the Great, the king of all sharks rose from the bottom of the sea and rescued Ina, He then carried her to Tinirau's island where they were finally reunited.
	New Zealand Administration, Government of the Cook Islands 1987 ND Issue 10 Dollar Note, Pick# 4 Obverse: Ina and the shark at left Reverse: Pantheon of gods Size: 150 x 75 mm
	New Zealand Administration, Government of the Cook Islands 1987 ND Issue 20 Dollar Note, Pick# 5 Obverse: Ina and the shark at left Reverse: Cinch shell, turtle shell, and drum Size: 150 x 75 mm