Why did Cook Islands chiefs ask Britain to establish a protectorate in 1888?

In 1888, the ariki (chiefs) of the Cook Islands petitioned the United Kingdom to establish a protectorate primarily out of fear of a potential French takeover.1

This concern was driven by the precedent set in nearby Tahiti and other parts of the Society Islands, where France had already established control. By seeking British protection, the chiefs aimed to secure their sovereignty against such foreign intervention. The British government eventually complied with the request in 1888, which also led to the establishment of a single federal parliament for the islands—the first time they had been united under one government.1