The Cook Islands were annexed to New Zealand in June 1901. Resident Agents, responsible to the Resident Commissioner in Rarotonga, were appointed in each of the islands in the Cook Islands group. Resident Agents chaired the Island Council meetings. The Resident Agent also had judicial powers under island ordinances, heard criminal matters cases, except murder and manslaughter, and civil cases, except divorce suits, where the consideration was no more than 50 pounds.

Cook Islands Resident Commissioner’s general correspondence to and from the Aitutaki Resident Agent, 1908-1911, 1914-1967.
See Finding aids for details.