Our Ariki ceded our sovereignty in 1900 to a curious Great Britain and a sub-empire-building New Zealand colony for many reasons, and some suggest we should simply be grateful for this. Thomas Wynne writes.

My question is: despite what we believe we gained, what did we lose before having it returned fully 64 years later in 1965?

An examination of those 64 years between 1900 and 1965 would show a country ruled by Resident Commissioners, starting with Moss, then Gudgeon, and finally Nevill in 1961. Gudgeon, a colonel in the Māori land confiscations, facilitated our annexation to Britain then New Zealand. Playing a pivotal role with New Zealand Premier Richard Seddon aboard the warship Mildura sealing the agreement that federated us within the boundaries of colonial New Zealand in June 1901.

As Resident Commissioner, Gudgeon centralized authority during his 11-year tenure, assuming power as Chief Judge of the High Court and later as Chief Judge of the Cook and Other Islands Land Titles Court. He diminished the mana of the Ariki council, eliminated the Federal Court, and entrenched colonial governance. This shift stripped traditional leaders of their influence and set a precedent for colonial dominance.

Economically, Gudgeon drove development that increased export values fivefold by 1909, spurred by the establishment of a European business through the expansion of plantations. These plantations, worked by our people but owned by foreign interests, were supported by land allocated by Gudgeon in Titikaveka. While this growth brought material benefits to some locally, it entrenched economic inequalities, that eschewed the local Cook Island Progressive Association or CIPA in 1944 to 1964 fighting for local grower rights and equity.

We often consider individual land ownership as distinctly Māori, but I would argue this was never the case. A feudal system existed instead. Individual land ownership was a colonial innovation, where the Crown negotiated directly with individuals rather than collective entities such as Ariki, Mataiapo, kopu tangata, Ngāti, or iwi. This shift disrupted communal land stewardship, favoring private ownership to suit colonial interests.

Though few today would question the value of individual titles—whether freehold land, land by succession, or Taura Oire land granted by Ariki—these changes have had enduring negative effect also. Issues such as ownership disputes, fragmentation, and large Ariki holdings persist, leaving a legacy of division.

The scramble to declare land ownership in minute books and genealogies, signed off by Gudgeon, has cast families against each other since its inception. For some, like my own Ngāti Arera line, it led to complete disenfranchisement from the land, and this painful legacy of land, continues to shape our relationships with the land and each other.

So, when we consider what we should be grateful for, we must ask: what rights and privileges did our Ariki ceding sovereignty grant us? In 1901, Cook Islands Māori were not British citizens but classified as British subjects. This status did not equate to full citizenship or the rights enjoyed by residents of Britain or settler colonies like New Zealand. Travel to New Zealand, for instance, required written permission from the Resident Commissioner until the 1940s.

Our legal status was subordinate, with limited political representation or voice, and this would not change until 1948, when the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act established a distinct New Zealand citizenship. Transitioning us from British subjects with little say to full New Zealand citizens, granting us passports and the right of entry as equals - something we remain grateful for.

Alongside this came the formation of the Legislative Assembly in 1946 and then the Legislative Council in 1957, culminating in self-government in free association with New Zealand in 1965. These milestones symbolise our journey to statehood, land ownership and the resilience o our people and their enduring desire for self-determination.

So, looking back, yes, we have much to be grateful for, but gratitude should never diminish discussions about where our journey as a country has been stifled by the interests of others or by decisions by colonials and our leaders that continue to impact us negatively today. I am, however, grateful that we can discuss our journey as a nation to hopefully ensure we make better decisions today and secure a brighter future for our people in what promises to be a very uncertain tomorrow.