Pacific history By hayleymcquade 1500 BCE fiji was first settled 1300 BCE Tonga was first settled 1000 BCE Samoa was first settled 500 BCE Nuie was first settled 200 BCE Tokalau was first settled Jan 1, 800 cook islands was first settled Jan 1, 800 New Zealand was first settled 950 Tonga becomes empire of the Tui tonga 1250 Samoa threw out tongan invaders 1840 New zealand became brittish colony and settelment 1874 Fiji was taken over by British government 1879 Fijis first indian labourers arrive 1899 Germany takes over western samoa Jan 1, 1900 Cook islands taken over by New Zealand 1900 Nuie was taken over by New Zealand 1900 USA takes over Easten Samoa 1900 Tonga becomes a British Protectorate 1907 New Zealand became fully self governing 1914 New Zealand takes over Western Samoa 1916 Tokalau taken over by United Kingdom 1948 Tokalau taken over by New Zealand 1950 New Zealand pacfic island immigration begins 1963 Main mirgartion form Tokalau to New Zealand begins 1963 Western Samoa becomes self governing 1965 Cook island became fully self-governing 1970 Fiji became fully self governing 1970 Tonga becomes fully self-Governing 1974 Rarotonga international airport opened 1974 Nuie becomes self governing 1985 Only 20% of all nuieans left on Nuie 1987 Coup by Fiji army 1991 New Zealand pacfic islanders become 4% of the population