Story: Empire and Commonwealth

Pacific empire

Pacific empire

In 1900 New Zealand annexed the Cook Islands. In this photograph, Cook Islands Queen Makea and British Resident Walter Gudgeon listen to the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Ranfurly, reading the annexation proclamation. In the background are British bluejackets and marines. From the 1880s islands within the Cooks group had been part of a British protectorate. Annexation meant that the boundaries of New Zealand were extended to include the Cook Islands, which were administered from Wellington until 1965. They then became self-governing in free association with New Zealand.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-4235

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

W. David McIntyre, 'Empire and Commonwealth - Expansion of the British Empire', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33216/pacific-empire (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by W. David McIntyre, published 20 Jun 2012