Polynesian History

Tonga and Samoa settled

1500 BCE

The Lapita people settled Tonga and Samoa. The Lapita people came from South-East Asia.

Aotearoa settled

1200 BCE

Aotearoa (New Zealand) settled by Polynesian people.

Fiji settled

1000 BCE

Fiji settled by the Lapita people.

'The Long Pause'

900 BCE

'The Long Pause' was a period of time when large-scale Polynesian migration suddenly stopped

Lapita Pottery

900 BCE

Pottery related to Lapita people found in Tikopia.

Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui, Tuamotus and Hiva settled

300 BCE

Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui, Tuamotus and Hiva (Marquesas islands) settled by seafarers.

Easter Island settled

300

Around 300 A.D., voyagers from central Polynesia discovered and settled Easter Island

Land spotted near Tuvalu

1568

Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña Neira spots land near Tuvalu - European contact.

Maori Land Wars

1642

The Maori Land Wars were battles between government forces and some iwi Māori.

European Sighting of Tokelau

1765

John Byron sights Tokelau, New Zealand.

Tahiti Claimed by France

1768

Tahiti is claimed by France

European Arrival at Tahiti

Mar 13, 1769

James Cook arrives at Tahiti.

European Arrival near Samoa Island

1772

Jacob Roggeveen arrives near the shore of Samoa island.

Aotearoa Annexed by Britain

1840

Aotearoa (New Zealand) is annexed by Britain.

Tahiti Becomes a French Colony

1880

Tahiti becomes a French Colony.