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Polynesian History

  • 1500 BCE

    Tonga and Samoa settled

    Tonga and Samoa settled
    The Lapita people settled Tonga and Samoa. The Lapita people came from South-East Asia.
  • 1200 BCE

    Aotearoa settled

    Aotearoa settled
    Aotearoa (New Zealand) settled by Polynesian people.
  • 1000 BCE

    Fiji settled

    Fiji settled
    Fiji settled by the Lapita people.
  • 900 BCE

    'The Long Pause'

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

    Lapita Pottery

    Lapita Pottery
    Pottery related to Lapita people found in Tikopia.
  • 300 BCE

    Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui, Tuamotus and Hiva settled

    Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui, Tuamotus and Hiva settled
    Cook Islands, Tahiti-nui, Tuamotus and Hiva (Marquesas islands) settled by seafarers.
  • 300

    Easter Island settled

    Easter Island settled
    Around 300 A.D., voyagers from central Polynesia discovered and settled Easter Island
  • 1568

    Land spotted near Tuvalu

    Land spotted near Tuvalu
    Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña Neira spots land near Tuvalu - European contact.
  • Maori Land Wars

    Maori Land Wars
    The Maori Land Wars were battles between government forces and some iwi Māori.
  • European Sighting of Tokelau

    European Sighting of Tokelau
    John Byron sights Tokelau, New Zealand.
  • Tahiti Claimed by France

    Tahiti Claimed by France
    Tahiti is claimed by France
  • European Arrival at Tahiti

    European Arrival at Tahiti
    James Cook arrives at Tahiti.
  • European Arrival near Samoa Island

    European Arrival near Samoa Island
    Jacob Roggeveen arrives near the shore of Samoa island.
  • Aotearoa Annexed by Britain

    Aotearoa Annexed by Britain
    Aotearoa (New Zealand) is annexed by Britain.
  • Tahiti Becomes a French Colony

    Tahiti Becomes a French Colony
    Tahiti becomes a French Colony.