New Flags Flying - Pacific Leaders Remember
Part 3 Cook Islands
Background
Settlement of the Cook Islands began around 800AD with migrations from French Polynesia, Samoa and Tonga. For centuries, the 15 Cook Islands - seven northern atolls and eight larger, southern islands running along longitude 160 degrees - were separate entities governed by Ariki (high chiefs). The first European visitor was Portuguese explorer, Pedro Fernandes de Queirós in 1606, followed by Captain James Cook in 1773 (whose name was given to the Islands by Russian navigators although Cook himself named them the Hervey Islands), Captain William Bligh of the Bounty in 1789, and shortly afterwards, the Bounty mutineers. In the 1820s Protestant missionaries arrived and by 1840 many Ariki and their subjects had adopted Christianity.
In 1888 six of the larger islands became a British Protectorate with Frederick Moss as British Resident. He persuaded the ariki to set up a Federal Government, headed by Queen Makea, which created an identity as Cook Islanders but little more.
Transferred to New Zealand
After NZ Premier Richard Seddon's visit in 1900, Arikis from Rarotonga, Atiu, Mauke and Mitiaro asked to join the British Empire, signing a deed of cession. The other 11 islands followed and NZ sent Major WE Gudgeon to be Resident Commissioner. NZ had effectively annexed the Cook Islands. Within 10 years the authoritarian Gudgeon had replaced Ariki leadership with colonial control.
The next fifty years saw improvements in social and economic infrastructure but political development was neglected.
Political developments
After World War Two, local participation in government was increased. In 1946, half of the new Legislative Council was elected, although the Resident Commissioner still controlled public works and spending. During the 1950s and 1960s, as more Cook Islanders went overseas and learned about democracy and de-colonisation, dissatisfaction grew with low wages and slow political progress at home. Leading that dissent was Albert Henry, an Auckland waterfront Trade Unionist who'd been born in Aitutaki. Demanding better pay and representation for Cook Islanders at home, he set up and led the Cook Islands Party, which dominated politics for the next 15 years.
Self-determination
In 1962, Cook Islanders were asked to choose either independence, integration with New Zealand, self-government in association with New Zealand or federation with other Polynesian groups.
Facts
British protectorate 1888
New Zealand territory 1901
Self-governing 1965
Official name: Cook Islands
Capital: Avarua
Population: 18,700 inhabitants
Area: 236 km²