New Zealand has had some big ambitions in the Pacific and mixed relations with our neighbours.

Watch the video version of the episode here

Through much of the 19th century NZ politicians and administrators dreamed of running a vast empire in the Pacific. Parts of that dream came true - although for some, it was more like a nightmare.

Today, Aotearoa has fewer Pacific possessions that it once had, but the history of our attempts at colonial expansion has effects which continue to reverberate throughout the Pacific.

In this episode we discuss:

• Where the idea of a NZ run Pacific Empire came from.
• How competition with France contributed to the push for NZ to colonize other pacific islands.
• Why British authorities were often reluctant to go along with the plan.
• How NZ eventually came to control Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau.
• The 1918 flu outbreak in Samoa and the rise of the Mau movement.
• Samoan resistance to NZ control, including the "Black Saturday" killing of Samoan protesters by NZ police.
• The killing of Cecil Hector Larsen in Niue.
• Decolonisation and independence of some of NZs Pacific territories post WWII.

For more on this subject:

• Boyd, Mary. 'New Zealand and the other Pacific Islands.' In The Oxford illustrated history of New Zealand,
• Crocombe, Ron. Pacific neighbours: New Zealand's relations with other Pacific islands.
• Henderson, John. 'New Zealand and Oceania.' In New Zealand in world affairs IV, 1990-2005.
• Howe, K. R., Robert C. Kiste, and Brij V. Lal, eds. Tides of history: the Pacific Islands in the twentieth century.
• Ross, Angus. New Zealand aspirations in the Pacific in the nineteenth century.
• Salesa, Damon. 'New Zealand's Pacific.' In The new Oxford history of New Zealand.
• NZ and the Pacific Islands - Te Ara

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details