Why did New Zealand annex the Cook Islands in 1901?

New Zealand’s annexation of the Cook Islands in 1901 was driven primarily by the imperialist ambitions of New Zealand’s prime minister at the time, Richard John Seddon.1

While New Zealand had long been interested in incorporating the islands, the United Kingdom initially refused to grant this request unless the local leadership formally petitioned for it. To overcome this, New Zealand officials persuaded the chiefs of the largest islands to request annexation. This move aligned with Seddon’s broader foreign policy, which sought to expand New Zealand's influence in the Pacific—an effort that also included an unsuccessful attempt to incorporate Fiji. Following this successful petition, the annexation was finalized in 1901.21