1.
Cook Islands
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The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands whose total area is 240 square kilometres. The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone, however, covers 1,800,000 square kilometres of ocean, the Cook Islands defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, but they are exercised in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, the Cook Islands main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga, where there is an international airport. There is a population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand. In the 2006 census,58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Islands Māori descent, the Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and American Samoa. There are 15 major islands spread over 2,200,000 km2 of ocean, the islands were formed by volcanic activity, the northern group is older and consists of six atolls, which are sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth. The climate is moderate to tropical, palmerston Island sometimes grouped with the Northern Group. Manuae Winslow Reef The Cook Islands were first settled in the 6th century by Polynesian people who migrated from Tahiti, in 1813 John Williams, a missionary on the Endeavour made the first recorded sighting of Rarotonga. The first recorded landing on Rarotonga by Europeans was in 1814 by the Cumberland, the islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in 1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and many continue to be Christian believers today. The Cook Islands became a British protectorate in 1888, due largely to community fears that France might occupy the territory as it had Tahiti, on 6 September 1900, the leading islanders presented a petition asking that the islands should be annexed as British territory. These instruments did not include Aitutaki and it appears that, though the inhabitants regarded themselves as British subjects, the Crowns title was uncertain, and the island was formally annexed by Proclamation dated 9 October 1900. The islands were included within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand in 1901 by Order in Council under the Colonial Boundaries Act,1895 of the United Kingdom. The boundary change became effective on 11 June 1901 and the Cook Islands have had a relationship with New Zealand ever since. When the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect on 1 January 1949, the country remained a New Zealand dependent territory until 1965, when the New Zealand Government decided to offer self-governing status to its colony. In that year, Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party was elected as the first Premier, Henry led the country until he was accused of vote-rigging
2.
Pacific Ocean
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The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the Earths oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south and is bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, the Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific is the deepest point in the world, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres. Both the center of the Water Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are in the Pacific Ocean, the oceans current name was coined by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan during the Spanish circumnavigation of the world in 1521, as he encountered favourable winds on reaching the ocean. He called it Mar Pacífico, which in both Portuguese and Spanish means peaceful sea, important human migrations occurred in the Pacific in prehistoric times. Long-distance trade developed all along the coast from Mozambique to Japan, trade, and therefore knowledge, extended to the Indonesian islands but apparently not Australia. By at least 878 when there was a significant Islamic settlement in Canton much of trade was controlled by Arabs or Muslims. In 219 BC Xu Fu sailed out into the Pacific searching for the elixir of immortality, from 1404 to 1433 Zheng He led expeditions into the Indian Ocean. The east side of the ocean was discovered by Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1513 after his expedition crossed the Isthmus of Panama and he named it Mar del Sur because the ocean was to the south of the coast of the isthmus where he first observed the Pacific. Later, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sailed the Pacific East to West on a Castilian expedition of world circumnavigation starting in 1519, Magellan called the ocean Pacífico because, after sailing through the stormy seas off Cape Horn, the expedition found calm waters. The ocean was often called the Sea of Magellan in his honor until the eighteenth century, sailing around and east of the Moluccas, between 1525 and 1527, Portuguese expeditions discovered the Caroline Islands, the Aru Islands, and Papua New Guinea. In 1542–43 the Portuguese also reached Japan, in 1564, five Spanish ships consisting of 379 explorers crossed the ocean from Mexico led by Miguel López de Legazpi and sailed to the Philippines and Mariana Islands. The Manila galleons operated for two and a half centuries linking Manila and Acapulco, in one of the longest trade routes in history, Spanish expeditions also discovered Tuvalu, the Marquesas, the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands, and the Admiralty Islands in the South Pacific. In the 16th and 17th century Spain considered the Pacific Ocean a Mare clausum—a sea closed to other naval powers, as the only known entrance from the Atlantic the Strait of Magellan was at times patrolled by fleets sent to prevent entrance of non-Spanish ships. On the western end of the Pacific Ocean the Dutch threatened the Spanish Philippines, Spain also sent expeditions to the Pacific Northwest reaching Vancouver Island in southern Canada, and Alaska. The French explored and settled Polynesia, and the British made three voyages with James Cook to the South Pacific and Australia, Hawaii, and the North American Pacific Northwest, one of the earliest voyages of scientific exploration was organized by Spain in the Malaspina Expedition of 1789–1794. It sailed vast areas of the Pacific, from Cape Horn to Alaska, Guam and the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific. Growing imperialism during the 19th century resulted in the occupation of much of Oceania by other European powers, and later, Japan, in Oceania, France got a leading position as imperial power after making Tahiti and New Caledonia protectorates in 1842 and 1853 respectively. After navy visits to Easter Island in 1875 and 1887, Chilean navy officer Policarpo Toro managed to negotiate an incorporation of the island into Chile with native Rapanui in 1888, by occupying Easter Island, Chile joined the imperial nations
3.
Atiu
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Atiu, also known as Enuamanu, is an island 187 km northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago. Atiu is a volcanic island surrounded by a reef from which rise 6-metre-high cliffs of fossilized coral. The makatea cliff forms a ring round the island, creating a virtual plateau. Erosion at the innerside of the ring has formed dip of about 30 metres into fertile land, administratively, Takutea is considered part of Atiu. Atiuans trace their ancestry from Tangaroa, the god of Atiu. Atius area is about half that of Rarotonga, the low swampy land consists of taro plantations, marshes and a lake, Te Roto. This fertile area also grows bananas, citrus fruits, pawpaws, breadfruit, the ancient name of the island was Enuamanu, meaning the island of insects and animals, although there is some dispute over whether animals includes insects. The Atiuans understand it as meaning there were no previous inhabitants, the Atiuans call themselves worms of Enuamanu because they were born on Atiu and hope to be buried there. There was once a custom on Atiu similar to that of New Zealand Maori of burying a newborn childs placenta under a newly planted tree and this is the origin of the Atiuan saying, We come from the land and go back to the land. The first recorded European to arrive to Atiu was Captain Cook and he sighted the island on March 31,1777 and made tentative contact with some of the people over the next few days. In common with most islands in the group, Atiu has only a small. It compensates, however, with many picturesque, sandy beaches, as is usual with the makatea islands of the southern group, the fossilised coral limestone abounds with caves filled with stalactites and stalagmites. One in particular, the Anatakitaki Cave, is inhabited by tiny kopeka birds which navigate in the dark using sonar, male visitors can enjoy the esoteric delights of the tumunu or bush beer party. Technically illegal and banned ever since the missionaries arrived on these beautiful islands, however, they have survived and invitations can be arranged for visiting enthusiasts. When Ngakaara’s power had waned Ngamaru Povaru was the dominant of the three kings of Atiu. He was a pacifist and ruled with a hand and the people called his rule Te Au Maru. One of the first tasks he did was to build a wall around his part of the settlement, at the northern end of the wall he had three monuments built, each capped in a different fashion. These three monuments were to represent the three kings – Ngamaru, Rongomatane and Parua, beside his house he built a small marae at which he and his nine mataiapos conducted meetings
4.
Rarotonga
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Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 10,572, out of the countrys total resident population of 14,974. Captain John Dibbs, master of the colonial brig Endeavour, is credited as the European discoverer on 25 August 1823, the Cook Islands Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga. Because it is the most populous island, Cook Islanders may often be referred to as Rarotongan, Rarotonga is a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels. The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is the capital of the Cook Islands, the volcanic island of Rarotonga stands over 14,750 feet above the ocean floor. It is 32 km in circumference and has an area of 67.19 km2, at a depth of 4,000 m the volcano is nearly 50 km in diameter. Te Manga, at 658 m above sea level, is the highest peak on the island, the island is surrounded by a lagoon, which often extends more than a hundred metres to the reef, then slopes steeply to deep water. This part of the island is the most popular with tourists for swimming, snorkelling and boating, agricultural terraces, flats and swamps surround the central mountain area. Along the southeast coast off Muri Beach are four small islets within a few hundred metres of the shore. Paved and unpaved roads allow access to valleys but the interior of the island remains largely unpopulated due to forbidding terrain and lack of infrastructure. A large tract of land has set aside in the south east as the Takitumu Conservation Area to protect native birds and plants, especially the endangered kakerori. On May 30,1965, five sounding rockets were launched from Rarotonga for studying a solar eclipse, Rarotonga is divided into three main districts or vaka. Te Au O Tonga on the side of the island, Takitumu on the eastern and southern side. On the other hand, the island is divided into five Land Districts. In 2008, the three councils of Rarotonga were abolished. It passes the Te Rua Manga, the prominent needle-shaped rock visible from the air, hikes can also be taken to the Raemaru, or flat-top mountain. Other stops should include Wigmore Falls and the ancient marae, Arai te Tonga, there are many churches open for service on Sunday, with a cappella singing. The pace of life is so relaxed that at night people congregate at the sea wall that skirts the end of the runway to be jetblasted by incoming planes. Large cruise ships have to anchor off shore, Rarotonga is encircled by a main road, Ara Tapu, that traces the coast
5.
Aitutaki
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Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000, Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The main village is Arutanga on the west side and it has a maximum elevation of approximately 123 metres with the hill known as Maunga Pu close to its northernmost point. The land area of the atoll is 18.05 km2, the Ootu Peninsula, protruding east from the main island in a southerly direction along the eastern rim of the reef, takes up 1.75 km2 out of the main island. For the lagoon, area figures between 50 and 74 km2 are found, satellite image measurement suggests that the larger figure also includes the reef flat, which is commonly not considered part of a lagoon. The barrier reef forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides 12 kilometres in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the side is composed of a string of small islands including Mangere, Akaiami. The western side of the atoll contains many of Aitutakis important features including a passage through the barrier reef allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. Towards the south of the side is a break in the barrier reef. Further to the north is the bulk of the main island and its fertile volcanic soil provide tropical fruits and vegetables. Two of Aitutakis 15 islets are also volcanic, the rest are made of coral. Aitutaki Airport is located close to the northern point. There is an area suitable to flying boats in the southeastern part of the lagoon. Aitutaki is subdivided in 8 districts, the districts are further subdivided into 19 tapere. The first known European contact was with Captain Bligh and the crew of the HMS Bounty when they discovered Aitutaki on April 11,1789, Aitutaki was the first of the Cook Islands to accept Christianity, after London Missionary Society missionary John Williams visited in 1821. The oldest church in the country, the Cook Islands Christian Church in Arutanga, was built by Papeiha and Vahapata, uniquely, these instruments did not include Aitutaki. It appears that, though the inhabitants of Aitutaki regarded themselves as British subjects, the Crowns title was uncertain, and it was the only island in the Cook Islands that was annexed rather than ceded. In 1942 New Zealand and American forces were stationed on the island and this airport, and one on the northernmost Penrhyn Island, were to be used as bases by the Allies during World War II
6.
Takutea
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Takutea, in the Cook Islands, is a small uninhabited island 21 kilometres northwest of Atiu in the southern Cook Islands. Administratively, the island is considered part of Atiu, the closest island and it is owned equally by all inhabitants of Atiu and not allocated to one specific village or district of Atiu. The wildlife sanctuary is administered by a Trust and special permission for visits is needed from the Trust Chairman, High Chief Rongomatane Ariki. Alternatively, it is possible join the research vessel Bounty Bay for an eco tour, run by Pacific Expeditions Ltd. out of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands. Copra cutters from Atiu visit once a year to cut coconuts from the trees, the conservation service, made up of local residents from other islands, makes regular trips to the island to monitor the conservation. In 2004 a television episode of Survivorman was filmed on Takutea Island, the original name of the island was Areuna until it was renamed by Mariri, one of Atius ancestors. When Mariri returned for the time from Avaiki to Atiu together with his wife, he landed on the small islet. While fishing, he caught a “white Ku”, that is “Ku tea”, another name for the island is Enua-iti. Takutea is the island in the Cook Islands that never had a permanent population. When Captain James Cook sighted the island on 4 April 1777, and some members went ashore, they found some huts. Commander Nicolls of H. M. S “Cormorant” declared the island to be under British protection in June 1889, discoverers of the Cook Islands and the Names they Gave. p.53. Important Bird Areas factsheet, Takutea Wildlife Sanctuary, britannica Online Encyclopedia Atiu Island, About Takutea Takutea, Pictures and information
7.
Penrhyn (atoll)
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Penrhyn is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. The northernmost island in the group, it is located at 1,365 km north-north-east of the island of Rarotonga,9 degrees south of the equator. Its nearest neighbours are Rakahanga, and Manihiki, approximately 322 kilometres to the southwest, Penrhyn is a roughly circular coral atoll with a circumference of approximately 77 km, enclosing a lagoon with an area of 233 square kilometres. The atoll is atop the highest submarine volcano in the Cook Islands, the atoll is low-lying, with a maximum elevation of less than 5 metres. The total land area was 9.84 square kilometres, the population according to the 2001 census was 351 inhabitants, with a decrease by 2011 to only 213 inhabitants. Academic research published by the Cook Islands Library and Museum says this is translated as Tonga floating in space, Tonga-in-the-skies. However, the most commonly used name in English is Penrhyn after the Lady Penrhyn commanded by Captain William Crofton Sever, another European name was Bennett Island. Lady Penrhyn was one of a fleet of 11 ships which sailed from the Isle of Wight to found the earliest convict colony in Australia. The main village of Omoka, seat of Penrhyn Island Council, is on Moananui Islet, on the rim of the atoll. The village of Te Tautua is on Pokerekere Islet, on the eastern rim, the inhabitants of the island are Christian, with 92% of the population belonging to the Cook Islands Christian Church while the remaining 8% adhere to the Roman Catholic Church. Polynesians are believed to have lived on Penrhyn since at least 900 or 1000 AD, following its discovery by Europeans, the Russian explorer Otto von Kotzebue visited the island in April 1816. He was followed by the American brig USS Purpose, under command of Lieutenant Commander Cadwalader Ringgold as part of the United States Exploring Expedition in February 1841, the brig Chatham under command of Edward Henry Lamont, ran aground at Penrhyn during a storm in January 1853. The London Missionary Society, which had begun missionary activities in the Cook Islands from 1821, robert Louis Stevenson visited Penrhyn in May 1890. In 1864, Penrhyn was almost completely depopulated by Peruvian expeditions, an estimated 1,000 men, women and children were taken to South America. Native pastors of the London Missionary Society had introduced Christianity from Rarotonga in 1854, the new religion had been accepted enthusiastically, and the villagers immediately started to build churches. Promises from the slavers of good pay and safe return offered a way to obtain money for churches, the missionaries accompanied the slaves to Peru as their interpreters, none of the stolen people ever returned. Penrhyn was officially annexed for Great Britain by Captain Sir William Wiseman of the HMS Caroline on 22 March 1888, the island was considered to have a strategic location on the route of a proposed Trans-Pacific telegraphic connection between Canada and Australia. The Cook Islands were a British protectorate 1888 to 1900, when annexed to New Zealand, from 1856 to 1980, the United States claimed sovereignty over the island under the Guano Islands Act
8.
Pukapuka
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Pukapuka is a coral atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is the one of most remote island of the Cook Islands, on this small island an ancient culture and distinct language has been maintained over many centuries. The traditional name for the atoll was Te Ulu-o-Te-Watu, and the northern islet where the people normally reside is affectionately known as Wale, the modern name of Pukapuka usually said to derive from the puka tree, however, Puka-Puka itself also means land of little hills. Pukapuka is shaped like a three bladed fan, there are three islets on the roughly triangular reef, with a total land area of approximately 3 square kilometres. Motu Kō, the biggest island is to the southeast, Motu Kotawa is to the southwest, ko and Motu Kotawa are uninhabited and are used for growing food. The three villages are located on the bay of the northernmost islet of the atoll, Yātō, Loto. Loto is host to Island Administration, the traditional names for these villages are Takanumi, Kotipolo and Te Lāngaikula. In daily life, the islanders frequently call them Tiapani, Malike or Amelika, especially in sports competitions between the villages, the villagers use the names and flags of these countries. Although the island features an airstrip, flights from Rarotonga are very infrequent. The five-hour flight from Rarotonga via Air Rarotonga now operates when there is a Government charter once every six weeks or so. The island is closer to Samoa than to the rest of the Cook Islands and transport via Samoa is becoming an option for Pukapukans visiting in organised groups from New Zealand. The submerged Tima Reef is situated 23 km southeast of Pukapuka, about 60 km away is Nassau which is owned by the people of Pukapuka and considered part of it administratively. Since the 1950s it has been governed by the Council of Chiefs of Pukapuka, the Nassau Island Committee advises the Pukapuka Island Committee on matters relating to its own island. In the 1990s Japanese archaeologists discovered evidence of settlement dating back 4,000 years. The remnants include the bones of dogs that were dated to 2130 BC. Pukapukas closest prehistoric associations appear to be with Tonga and other islands to the west, Pukapuka was the first of the Cook Islands that Europeans sighted. The Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña saw it on the feast day of Saint Bernard, on Sunday 20 August 1595, on 21 June 1765 the British Naval expedition under Commodore John Byron, consisting of HMS Dolphin and HMS Tamar, sighted the island. Byron gave the name Islands of Danger because of the reefs, the name Danger Island still appears on some maps
9.
Mangaia
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Mangaia is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga. Geologists estimate the island is at least 18 million years old and it rises 4750 m above the ocean floor and has a land area of 51.8 km2. It has a volcanic plateau and, like many of the southern Cook Islands, it is surrounded by a high ring of cliffs of fossil coral 60 m high. The highest point is Rangi-motia,169 m above sea level, lake Tiriara is a body of fresh water in the south. The population of Mangaia comprises about 700 people, the capital is the village of Oneroa, on the west coast, containing about half the population. There are two villages, Tamarua in the south and Ivirua in the northeast. After Pangemiro secured the power, the districts and sub-districts were distributed among the Manaune and Ngati-Tane tribes. The distribution on the right was supposed to favor Ngati-Tane, in actual fact, the Manaune received a greater number of sub-districts than the Ngati-Tane. The districts are, as on other islands of the Lower Cook Islands. In the Cook Islands constitution however, the six districts are listed as Tapere, the Districts clockwise, starting in the south, with their Sub-Districts and Chiefs, are, Note, The first three Tapere in Tamarua were awarded to Ngati-Tane, and the remaining six to Manaune. The Ngati-Tane gave one and the Manaune gave two to members of other tribes, parima, the Pava, had no Tapere. Note, Three sub-districts above went to Ngati-Tane, of which Arokapiti was the leader, motuanga was Pava and held a sub-district. Note, Mamae states, Eia tuanga e ono nei, tei a Pangemiro te akaaere and this seems to mean that Pangemiro appointed the sub-district chiefs, but Arokapiti selected the District Chief. Note, The six sub-districts above were shared equally between Ngati-Tane and the Manaune, Note, In another manuscript the word Teia in the third, fourth, and fifth sub-districts is spelled Te-ii-a and is followed by the same endings. Pangemiro, the Temporal Lord, lived in Karanga, and all the sub-districts went to the Manaune, though there are only five Tapere, the Manaune say there are six with the wood. The story is that Vairoto, who belonged to Karanga, was indicated as a sacrifice to Rongo. It was evidently left to the Manaune to bring the sacrifice to the marae in Keia, thereupon Tuarau and Tumutoa of Ivirua carved a figure to represent Vairoto, and Pangemiro sent it in to the marae. The Manaune were strong enough to carry off this disobedience to the high priest, Note, Mamae gave no details and omitted the sixth sub-district of Avarari
10.
Manihiki
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Manihiki is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands known informally as the Island of Pearls. It is approximately 1,299 kilometres north of the island of Rarotonga. The second interpretation is that the discoverers were from Manihi. Manihiki is a roughly triangular-shaped coral atoll, consisting of approximately 43 islets surrounding a deep, nine kilometer wide lagoon, the atoll is located on top of an underwater mountain rising 4000 meters from the ocean floor. The inhabitants are divided between the two islets of Tauhunu on the west coast and Tukao in the north, (where Manihiki Island Airport is located. Each settlement has a school, churches, stores and a few pickup trucks, the total land area is approximately 4 square kilometres, and population is less than 500 persons. Polynesians are believed to have lived on Manihiki since at least 900 or 1000 AD, according to local folklore, Kupe was the first to explore Aotearoa. Kupe came from Manihiki, also known as Fakahotu Nui, or Niiva Nui and his canoe was named by the ancient name of Tukao Village known as Te Matafourua. On his return from Aotearoa he renamed the Marae in the Village of Tukao Te Puna Ruki o Toi Tu Rahui Te Rautea as Te Hono O Kupe Ki Aotea, the only food available on the island at the time was coconut. This meant that inhabitants traveled by boat between Manihiki and the nearby atoll Rakahanga to obtain food and it is believed that Pedro Fernandes de Queirós discovered the island in 1606 and called it Gente Hermosa. However, on 13 October 1822, when it was sighted by the U. S. ship Good Hope it was named Humphrey Island by Captain Patrickson. In 1928 the whale ship Ganges spotted the island and named it Great Ganges Island, as other ships named it Liderous, Gland, Sarah Scott. Despite repeated renaming by explorers, the island now retains its aboriginal name, in 1889, a portion of the population opposed missionaries and made an agreement with French colonial authorities stationed in Tahiti to annex the island. In response a ship was sent, but the missionaries on Manihiki hoisted the British flag, clarke, captain of the HMS Espiegle on 9 August 1889. It was placed under the administration of New Zealand with the rest of the Cook Islands in 1901, per the 1980 a treaty the United States recognized Cook Islands sovereignty over Manihiki and three other islands. In August 1963, a boat, the Tearoha, set sail from Manihiki to Rakahanga for food. On leaving Rakahanga on 15 August 1963, the boat was blown off course in a storm, four of the seven men on board survived to arrive at Erromango, but one of them died soon after. Teehu Makimare, of Tauhunu village, was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand for his leadership
11.
Rakahanga
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Rakahanga is part of the Cook Islands, situated in the central-southern Pacific Ocean. The unspoilt atoll is 1,248 kilometres from the Cook Islands capital, Rarotonga and its nearest neighbour is Manihiki which is just 44 kilometres away. Rakahangas population is 127, and its area is 4 square kilometres, there are four main islands and seven motus or islets in the Rakahanga lagoon. The northern island is divided into three, Tetukono in the north and northeast, Tetaha Kiraro in the west, and Paerangi in the southwest, while the southern island is Rakahanga. The only village, Matara, also called Rakahanga, seat of the Rakahanga Island Council, is on the northwest side of the southern islet, Rakahanga. It is believed that Ferdinand Magellan discovered the island in 1521, one of the last great Spanish voyages of exploration, under the command of Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, came upon the island on 2 March 1606. He noted in a record of the voyage, The land is divided among owners, and is planted with certain roots. All the rest is a large and thick palm grove which is the sustenance of the natives. Some 500 inhabitants were assembled on the beach. A Franciscan friar, Fray Martin de Munilla, was so struck with admiration that he called it the island of beautiful people, de Quiros described the inhabitants as the most beautiful white and elegant people that were met during the voyage. Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen visited Rakahanga on August 8,1820, on ships Vostok and he took its coordinates and charted its position with accuracy, he named this atoll Grand Duke Alexander Island, after Grand Duke Alexander Nikolaievich who would later become tsar Alexander II. According to Bellingshausen, The inhabitants came out in canoes and challenged us to fight by throwing stones, commander A. C. Clarke of HMS Espiegle declared Rakahanga a British protectorate on 9 August 1889. It was included in New Zealands boundaries in 1901, the island was claimed under the Guano Islands Act for the United States, a claim which was ceded in a treaty between the U. S. and the Cook Islands in 1980. Coconut crabs are abundant in the lagoon, and the reef is a good fishing spot. Large sea turtles abound there too, each January, a tuna fishing contest takes place and boats return with 200 or more fish a day. Humpback whales have been confirmed on rare occasions, large breadfruit trees line village paths and coconut palms and pandanus trees thrive. Women weave fine rito hats, mats and baskets from the pandanus leaf fibres, formerly, Rakahanga did not have a well defined population because during depletions of the coconut and puraka supplies, the inhabitants moved between Rakahanga and Manihiki atolls. In 1852, the settlements on each atoll were defined, a 1916 decrease in population was caused by migrations to Rarotonga Atoll, where employment attracted the former inhabitants
12.
Suwarrow
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Suwarrow is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. It is about 1,300 kilometres south of the equator and 930 kilometres north-northwest of the island of Rarotonga. Suwarrow is a roughly quadrilateral-shaped coral atoll,80 kilometres in circumference, cyclones have often created storm surges which sweep over the atoll since its small component of land is extremely low-lying. It has been intermittently inhabited since. The atolls name has also been spelled variously as Souvorow, Souwaroff, Suwarrow is the official spelling adopted by New Zealand. The journal of Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson was published under the title The Cruise of the Janet Nichol, jack Buckland was also a passenger on Janet Nicoll, he later returned to Suwarrow to be the island trader. In the mid-19th century, a ship from Tahiti was carrying out salvage work when a box containing NZ$15,000 worth of coins was dug up, some years later, New Zealander Henry Mair found pieces of eight in a turtle nest. Mair became involved in a dispute, the find was covered up, in 1876 the atoll was leased to an Auckland firm who built a wharf, installed a light on a wooden pyramid, and commenced to gather mother of pearl. British sovereignty was proclaimed April 22,1889 and they maintained about thirty persons on the island until a cyclone in 1914 so severely damaged operations that the island was abandoned. During World War II, Robert Dean Frisbie and several coast watchers lived on the largest islet, Frisbie wrote about his experiences in The Island of Desire. In 1942, a washed away 16 of the 22 islets in the atoll. The coastwatchers left a hut with water tanks behind, and left wild pigs, New Zealander Tom Neale lived alone on Suwarrow for a total of 16 years in three periods between 1952 and 1977. He described his experience in the first two of those periods in An Island to Oneself, michael Swift lived alone on Suwarrow in 1965-66, but he was not familiar with survival techniques and had a hard time finding sufficient food. In 1978, the island was declared a National Park of the Cook Islands due to the plentiful marine, the island and surrounding water is Crown land. A proposal to establish an aquaculture operation to farm Tahitian pearls was successfully opposed by Cook Islands environmental NGO the Taporoporoanga Ipukarea Society, in October 2011, Russian politician Anton Bakov claimed to have purchased the atoll and declared it the capital of a new Russian Empire. The claim was denied by Prime Minister Henry Puna, at the end of the 20th century, 3% of all red-tailed tropicbirds in the world bred there, as well as 9% of the global population of the lesser frigatebird. Most of the islets have only herbs and shrubs, with Pemphis acidula. The larger islands have a dense vegetation of Cordia subcordata, indeed
Media related to Mauke at Wikimedia Commons
