Story: Pacific Islands and New Zealand

Pacific Seddon

Pacific Seddon

This 1900 newspaper cartoon depicts New Zealand Premier Richard Seddon in mock Pacific Island dress, with a Union Jack flag on his waistband. The cartoon was a comment on Seddon’s enthusiasm for empire-building. That year he had toured the Pacific, visiting many of the islands, including Rarotonga in the Cooks, which New Zealand was annexing. Like many New Zealand politicians, he believed that the Pacific Islands were New Zealand’s first line of defence against hostile foreign powers.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: H-723-014
Cartoon by Scatz

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jon Fraenkel, 'Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Colonisation and trade in the Pacific', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/36858/pacific-seddon (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jon Fraenkel, published 20 Jun 2012