Annexation
The British were reluctant administrators and continued pressure was applied to them from New Zealand and from European residents of the islands to pass the Cook Islands over to New Zealand. Ill feeling between the islanders and New Zealand reached a point where two ariki told the New Zealand premier, Richard Seddon, that the traditional leaders wanted the Cook Islands to stay annexed to Great Britain. On 27 September 1900, the Parliament of New Zealand approved the annexation of the islands to New Zealand and the following month the New Zealand Governor, Lord Ranfurly, landed in Rarotonga. Without any discussion on its implications, the five ariki's and seven lesser chiefs signed a deed of cession and the Cook Islands were annexed by New Zealand on 7 October 1900 without any debate or examination of its ramifications or implications.
On 11 June 1901 the boundaries of New Zealand were extended to include the Cook Islands, and the power of the ariki was removed.
Read more about this topic: Kingdom Of Rarotonga
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