"Deity Figure from Rarotonga The Deity Figure from Rarotonga is an important wooden sculpture of a male god that was made on the Pacific island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The idol was given to English missionaries in the early nineteenth century as the local population converted to Christianity. It was eventually bought by the British Museum in 1911. The wooden figure was made on the island of Rarotonga in the late eighteenth century or early nineteenth century. After Captain James Cook's first sighting of the archipelago in 1773, Europeans began to visit the Cook Islands in the early"
"Walker sighted the island in 1813 on the ship ""Endeavour"". The first recorded landing by a European was Captain Philip Goodenough with William Wentworth in 1814 on the schooner ""Cumberland"". On 30 May 1965, five sounding rockets were launched from Rarotonga for studying a solar eclipse. Rarotonga is divided into three main districts or ""vaka"" (tribes). Te Au O Tonga on the northern side of the island (Avarua is the capital), Takitumu on the eastern and southern side and Puaikura on the western side. On the other hand, the island is also divided into five Land Districts. The Land District"
"of the group. Surprisingly, Cook never sighted the largest island, Rarotonga, and the only island that he personally set foot on was tiny, uninhabited Palmerston Atoll. The first recorded landing by Europeans was in 1814 by the Cumberland; trouble broke out between the sailors and the Islanders and many were killed on both sides. The islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in 1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and remains the predominant religion today. In 1823, Captain John Dibbs of the colonial barque Endeavour made the first official sighting of the island Rarotonga. The"
"stamps of French West Africa. Aitutaki is part of the Cook Islands, and lies about north of Rarotonga. It consists of many volcanic and coral islets around a lagoon. The total land area is only . Access by sea is via an offshore anchorage with boat passage to Arutunga. There is also an airstrip which was built in WW2 by American forces. The population, less than 2500, is mainly Polynesian. The 1903–1932 issues were New Zealand stamps with an overprint of AITUTAKI. Stamps of the Cook Islands were used 1932–1972 without overprint. Local issues began in 1972. Early stamp issues"
"number of the Polynesian island chains, sometimes with Mr and Mrs Ellis and other London Missionary Society representatives. Landing on Aitutaki in 1821, they used Tahitian converts to carry their message to the Cook islanders. One island in this group, Rarotonga (discovered by Captain John Dabs of the colonial schooner ""Endeavour"" in August 1823, with Rev. Williams on board), rises out of the sea as jungle-covered mountains of orange soil ringed by coral reef and turquoise lagoon; Williams became fascinated by it. John and Mary had ten children, but only three survived to adulthood. The Williamses became the first missionary"
"against their main rivals Rarotonga. The main island of Aitutaki occupies the northern part of the atoll, which is roughly triangular in shape. The minor islands form part of the perimeter of the lagoon. All islands, including the main island and its peninsula Ootu, are listed starting clockwise from the northernmost point of the atoll: Ootu Peninsula is of coral formation, but attached to the main volcanic island, thus a peninsula. If it were an island, it would be the largest of the minor islands. Ootu Peninsula does belong to tapere and district of ""Vaitupa"". The minor islands are not"
"Raratoka Island Raratoka Island (also known as Centre Island) is a small island in Foveaux Strait off the coast of Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand. It is located north of Stewart island's northernmost point, Black Rock Point, and southwest of the Southland town of Riverton on the South Island mainland. Several small reefs surround the island, notably Escape Reefs, to the east, and Hapuka Rock, to the southwest. The island was named by Māori after the Island of Rarotonga, and is the Southern Māori form of the same word, meaning ""beneath the south"" or ""south wind"". Raratoka Island is"
"Papa-i-oea) is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. An inland city with a population of 81,600 (June 2010 estimate).[1] Palmerston North is New Zealand's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area.[2] Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank of the Manawatu River. The city covers an area of 325.94 square kilometres (126 sq mi) and one million people live within a two-hour drive (200 km/120 mile radius). It is about 140 km (87 mi) north of the capital, Wellington. The city is 35 km (22"
"after William Marsters died, disputes arose about the succession of the leader. In 1901, Colonel Walter Edward Gudgeon, the British Resident in Rarotonga, appointed William’s eldest son, Joel, agent to the British Resident and Magistrate for the Island. In 1992 the Palmerston Act was passed, and today Palmerston is governed by this Act, along with the Outer Island Act. Before William Marsters died, he organized the island so that each of the three wives and their descendants had a share of the main island and each of the atolls. This arrangement still stands. Today the Island has its own council,"
"the shore and within the fringing coral reef. From north to south, the islets are: The interior of the island is dominated by eroded volcanic peaks cloaked in dense vegetation. 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 been set aside in the south east as the Takitumu Conservation Area to protect native birds and plants, especially the endangered ""kakerori"", the Rarotonga flycatcher. Fletcher Christian visited the island in 1789 on but did not land. Captain Theodore"
"Rarotonga, taking with him two Tahitians he picked up from Tahiti. One of the Tahitians, named Papehia, was used as intermediaries to convince local chiefs to join the new gospel. 1830 – John Williams sighted the coast of Savai'i in Samoa and landed on August 24, 1830 at Sapapali'i village in search of Malietoa Vai‘inupo, a paramount chief of Samoa. John Williams was greeted by his brother Taimalelagi. Upon meeting Malietoa at a large gathering in Sapapali'i, the LMS mission was accepted and grew rapidly throughout the Samoan Islands. The kingdom of Manu'a also became a LMS island kingdom. 1832"
"did not land on the island until 13 April 1777. He found it uninhabited, though some ancient graves were discovered. Cook named the island after Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston, then Lord of the Admiralty. The ancient name of the island was supposedly ""Avarau"", meaning ""two hundred harbour entrances"". In 1863 William Marsters, a ship's carpenter and barrel maker, arrived on Palmerston from Manuae with two Polynesian wives and annexed the island from the British government. He added a third wife and sired a large family of some 23 children, whose descendants now inhabit Palmerston. Thus, Palmerston Island is the"
"Polynesian Triangle The Polynesian Triangle is a region of the Pacific Ocean with three island groups at its corners: Hawaii (formerly ""the Sandwich Islands""), Easter Island (""Rapa Nui"") and New Zealand (""Aotearoa""). It is often used as a simple way to define Polynesia. Outside the triangle, there are traces of Polynesian settlement as far north as Necker Island (""Mokumanamana""), as far east as Salas y Gómez Island (""Motu Motiro Hiva""), and as far south as Enderby Island (""Motu Maha""). There was also once Polynesian settlement on Norfolk Island and Kermadec Island (""Rangitahua""). However, by the time the Europeans first arrived,"
"used as an island sanctuary, with the Department of Conservation releasing 15 captive bred birds in 2006 after eradicating the population of Polynesian rats. The island contains a lighthouse and a small airstrip. Raratoka Island Raratoka Island (also known as Centre Island) is a small island in Foveaux Strait off the coast of Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand. It is located north of Stewart island's northernmost point, Black Rock Point, and southwest of the Southland town of Riverton on the South Island mainland. Several small reefs surround the island, notably Escape Reefs, to the east, and Hapuka Rock, to"
"Palmerston, New Zealand The town of Palmerston, in New Zealand's South Island, lies 50 kilometres to the north of the city of Dunedin. It is the largest town in the Waihemo Ward of the Waitaki District, with a population of 890 residents. Palmerston grew at a major road junction: State Highway 1 links Dunedin and Waikouaiti to the south with Oamaru and Christchurch to the north, while State Highway 85 (known colloquially as ""The Pigroot"") heads inland to become the principal highway of the Maniototo. The Main South Line railway passes through the town and the Seasider tourist train travels"
"of Avarua is represented under vaka Te Au O Tonga, the Land Districts of Matavera, Ngatangiia and Titikaveka are represented under vaka Takitumu and the Land District Arorangi is represented under vaka Puaikura. In 2008, the three vaka councils of Rarotonga were abolished. Palm-studded white sandy beaches fringe most of the island, and there is a popular cross-island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of the island. It passes the Te Rua Manga, the prominent needle-shaped rock visible from the air and some coastal areas. Hikes can also be taken to the Raemaru, or flat-top mountain. Other"
"the main island of Aitutaki. There were three reward trips to the neighboring islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, and Rarotonga. The decision to divide the teams by race and ethnicity has made this series of Survivor controversial even before airing. Members of the New York City Council's Black, Latino and Asian Caucus have called on CBS to dump ""Survivor"". Those who work with the show indicate that as divisions by age, gender, or gender and age combined, have been accepted this should not be treated much different or it would set race apart. Host Jeff Probst conceded, by implication, a small"
"small islet in the south-east of the lagoon, is often said to be the most important attraction. It is regarded as providing the visitor with the best views of the Aitutaki lagoon and, depending on the tide, one is able to walk on a sandbank a decent distance away from Tapuaetai. The trip to this island is the most frequented trip available on Aitutaki. One Foot Island was awarded ""Australasia's Leading Beach"" at the World Travel Awards held in Sydney in June 2008. Air Rarotonga offers daily flights and a day tour from Rarotonga. Government jobs are the source of"
"westward between the two mountain ranges (Tararua Range to the south and Ruahine Range to the north) via the Manawatu Gorge, to pass through Palmerston North and reach the west coast of the North Island. The east coast contains settlements such as Tinui, Castlepoint, and Riversdale Beach, while the main southern rivers drain through or past Lake Wairarapa to discharge into Palliser Bay east of Cook Strait. The name means ""Glistening Waters"", and is said to have been applied by an early Māori explorer, Haunui, who saw the rivers and lake from the mountains to the west. During colonial times"
"island councils on all of the inhabited outer islands (Outer Islands Local Government Act 1987 with amendments up to 2004, and Palmerston Island Local Government Act 1993) except Nassau, which is governed by Pukapuka (Suwarrow, with only one caretaker living on the island, also governed by Pukapuka, is not counted with the inhabited islands in this context). Each council is headed by a mayor. The three ""Vaka"" councils of Rarotonga established in 1997 (""Rarotonga Local Government Act 1997""), also headed by mayors, were abolished in February 2008, despite much controversy. On the lowest level, there are village committees. Nassau, which"
"The Sisters (New Zealand) The Sisters, or Rangitatahi in Maori, is a group of three islands located north of Cape Pattison, Chatham Island. They are the northernmost members of the Chatham Archipelago, located east of New Zealand's South Island. The islands are: The islands have the second largest breeding colony of the northern royal albatross, and provide breeding sites for Buller's albatross, northern giant petrel, fairy prion, broad-billed prion, sooty shearwater, common diving petrel, grey-backed storm petrel, white-faced storm petrel, pitt shag, subantarctic skua, red-billed gull, and white-fronted tern. The site has been identified as an Important Bird Area by"
"belonging to the Tahitic subgroup, which includes Cook Islands Māori, spoken in the southern Cook Islands, and Tahitian, spoken in Tahiti and the Society Islands. Other major Eastern Polynesian languages include Hawaiian, Marquesan (languages in the Marquesic subgroup), and the Rapa Nui language of Easter Island. While the preceding are all distinct languages, they remain similar enough that Tupaia, a Tahitian travelling with Captain James Cook in 1769–1770, communicated effectively with Māori. Speakers of modern Māori generally report that they find the languages of the Cook Islands, including Rarotongan, the easiest amongst the other Polynesian languages to understand and converse"
"villages have essentially grown together into one since 1823. They represent the tapere subdivisions prior to European contact. With their traditional names, the villages are: Of special interest to tourists are the Kopeka caves deep in the makatea, the Atiuan 'jungle'. The Atiu swiftlet nests inside Anatakitaki cave. Because the island is free of black rats, it was chosen as a site for reintroduction of Kuhl's lorikeet in 2007. Atiu Atiu, also known as Enuamanu (meaning ""land of the birds""), is an island 187 km northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago. Atiu is"
"order of land area the territorial authority districts are Ruapehu, the major parts of Tararua and Rangitikei, Manawatu, Whanganui, Horowhenua, and small parts of Stratford, Waitomo, and Taupo. The largest city is Palmerston North, with a population of 85,300 (June 2012 estimate). It is the only territorial authority in the region to be administered by a city council. The governing body of the regional council consists of 12 councillors from 6 constituencies across the region, elected by the public; from the north: Ruapehu (1 councillor), Whanganui (2), Manawatu-Rangitikei (2), Palmerston North (4), Horowhenua-Kairanga (2), Tararua (1). It sits in Palmerston"
"Rarotonga, in Aitutaki and in New Zealand. However, the cost of freight is very exorbitant and there is little being sold overseas. When island visitors come to Atiu they delight in being able to go back home with a bag of taro. Because of the large numbers of wild pigs in Atiu, no person is able to grow taro or any other crop without fencing. In 2005, the growers of Mapumai were able to get overseas aid to get materials for fencing. Working for one day each week for a whole year the men of the village completed the fence,"
"locations of the first series of the UK reality television program ""Shipwrecked"" in 2000. More recently, in 2001, Steve Fossett passed over just south of Aitutaki in the balloon Solo Spirit during his round-the-world trip. In 2006, the island was used as the location for the tribal council in the US TV program """". Surrounding islands were used for tribal camps and crew locations. One of the tribes was named ""Aitutaki"" (or 'Aitu') after the island. Then, not long afterwards, ""Shipwrecked"" returned again, with """". This was filmed on the same islands as before. One year later, Aitutaki was the"
"become so popular people from Palmerston North and other townships close by come out to enjoy the show. Dates can vary but will happen no earlier than October but no later than December 25 There is also a parade named the 'Santa Parade'. Hence the name every year in December (dates can vary) a parade is run by the community, close to Christmas Day. Rongotea Rongotea is a small rural township in the Manawatu District of the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. Located on the western Manawatu Plains, approximately northwest of the region's main city, Palmerston North. Like most of the small settlements"
"of severe criticism in a 1994 book in which an American journalist visited Palmerston Island and reported on conversations he had had with many of the residents of the island. Marsters and his wife were the parents of 12 children. Marsters died in 2004 in Auckland, New Zealand. Bill Marsters William Fatianga ""Bill"" Marsters (26 November 1923 – 26 August 2004) was the first president of the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC), the largest religious denomination in the Cook Islands. Marsters was born on Palmerston Island. He is one of the 134 grandchildren of William Marsters, the English explorer who"
"Apataki Apataki is a coral atoll in the South Pacific Ocean, territorially part of French Polynesia. It is one of the Palliser Islands, a subgroup of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Apataki is located approximately northeast of the island of Tahiti, east of Arutua and northeast of Kaukura. The island is approximately rectangular; it is long and wide. It has a total area of approximately 706 km with a land area of approximately . Its wide lagoon has two navigable passes to enter it. , Apataki Atoll has 350 inhabitants, down from 492 in 2007. The main village is called Niutahi. The"
"be divided into inner and outer island groups. The inner islands comprise Mataora (Round Rock), Pararaki (Seagull Rock) and Motuotamatea (Snapper Rock). Mataora connects to the mainland at low tides, as does Motuotamatea on very low . Pararaki is separated from Mataora by a 20 meter wide channel. The outer islands comprise Motumahanga (Saddleback Island) and Moturoa. Several small rock outcrops are included in the island group. Waikaranga (Seal Rocks), and Tokatapu are several hundred meters offshore. Close to Moturoa lie Whareumu (Lion Rock),a vegetated stack and two barren rocks, and Tokomapuna (Barrett Reef). In 1986, an area encompassing the"
"North Island Main Trunk section between Wellington and Palmerston North. The line originally included the famous Rimutaka Incline, which used the Fell mountain railway system to cross the Rimutaka Range between Upper Hutt and Featherston. In the mid-1950s, the line between Petone and Featherston was substantially realigned, with the line diverted to the east of the Hutt River between Petone and Haywards to serve new housing developments in northern Lower Hutt, and the construction of the Rimutaka Tunnel to replace the Rimutaka Incline. Part of the former route west of the Hutt River has been retained as the Melling Branch."
"Robertson Islands The Robertson Islands or Robertsons Islands are a group of islands extending 6 km southward of the south-eastern extremity of Coronation Island in the South Orkney Islands of Antarctica. They were discovered and roughly charted by Captains George Powell and Nathaniel Palmer in December 1821 and named by James Weddell in 1823. The northern islands of the group (those north of Atriceps Island), including Matthews, Coffer, Steepholm and Skilling Islands with their associated islets and skerries, have been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because they support substantial breeding colonies, totalling about 35,000 pairs,"
"Rotoroa Island Rotoroa Island is an island to the east of Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf of New Zealand. It covers . The Salvation Army purchased it for £400 in 1908 from the Ruthe family to expand their alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility at nearby Pakatoa Island. Men were treated at Home Bay at Rotoroa, while women were treated at Pakatoa. This treatment facility was closed in 2005. The island was leased from the Salvation Army in February 2008 by Neal and Annette Plowman, who formed a trust to create a conservation park on the island. They have begun"