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Years of the pooh-bah : a Cook Islands history
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March 5, 2025
Very informative and readable history of the Cook Islands, particularly the period in which it was ruled directly by New Zealand from 1901 to 1965. In light of the current hysteria about the Cook Islands signing an economic agreement with China, with the NZ media essentially treating the islands like a renegade province of NZ, Scott's history is worth reading.
For most of this period New Zealand's rule over the Cook Islands was brutal, racist and dictatorial (as it was in Niue and Samoa). The vast majority of the islanders lived in atrocious conditions, with terrible healthcare and education services. The sections of the book dealing with World War I and its aftermath, the Great Depression and World War II, are particularly interesting. Things began to improve slightly in the 1950s, in response to rising anti-colonial discontent in the Cook Islands, and in preparation for semi-independence.
For most of this period New Zealand's rule over the Cook Islands was brutal, racist and dictatorial (as it was in Niue and Samoa). The vast majority of the islanders lived in atrocious conditions, with terrible healthcare and education services. The sections of the book dealing with World War I and its aftermath, the Great Depression and World War II, are particularly interesting. Things began to improve slightly in the 1950s, in response to rising anti-colonial discontent in the Cook Islands, and in preparation for semi-independence.
Displaying 1 of 1 review