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Niue is a self-governing territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about 261 square kilometres (101 sq mi) and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. It is 604 kilometres northeast of Tonga. The island is commonly referred to as "The Rock", which comes from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia". Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. The terrain of the island has two noticeable levels. The higher level is made up of a limestone cliff running along the coast, with a plateau in the centre of the island reaching approximately 60 metres above sea level. The lower level is a coastal terrace approximately 0.5 km wide and about 25–27 metres high, which slopes down and meets the sea in small cliffs. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in the reef being in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi.
The history of Niue is the history of the area and people of Niue, including its indigenous Polynesian societies. Niue was first settled by Polynesian sailors from Samoa in around 900 AD. Further settlers arrived from Tonga in the 16th century.
In Māori mythology the primal couple Rangi and Papa appear in a creation myth explaining the origin of the world and the Māori people. In some South Island dialects, Rangi is called Raki or Rakinui.
Tangaroa is the great atua of the sea, lakes, rivers, and creatures that live within them, especially fish, in Māori mythology. As Tangaroa-whakamau-tai he exercises control over the tides. He is sometimes depicted as a whale.
Atea is a deity in several Polynesian cultures, including the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, and New Zealand.
Samoan culture tells stories of many different deities. There were deities of the forest, the seas, rain, harvest, villages, and war. There were two types of deities, atua, who had non-human origins, and aitu, who were of human origin.
In Cook Islands mythology, Avatea was a lunar deity and the father of gods and men in Mangaian myth of origin. His eyes were thought to be the Sun and the Moon; he was also known as the god of light.
In Samoan mythology, Tagaloa is generally accepted as the supreme ruler, the creator of the universe, the chief of all gods and the progenitor of other gods. Tagaloa Lagi dwelt in space and made the Heavens the sky, the land, the seas, the fresh water, the trees and the people. Samoans believed Tagaloa created nine heavens. Tagaloa's role as paramount deity in the Samoa pantheon bears similarities to the position of Ta'aroa in Tahiti and Io Matua Kore in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Potrimpo was a god of seas, earth, grain, and crops in the pagan Baltic, and Prussian mythology. He was one of the three main gods worshiped by the Old Prussians. Most of what is known about this god is derived from unreliable 16th-century sources.
"Ko e Iki he Lagi", also titled in English as "Lord in heaven, Thou art merciful", is the national anthem of Niue. It was adopted in 1974, when Niue became a self-governing state within the realm of New Zealand.
Ātua is an ancient political district of Samoa, consisting of most of the eastern section of Upolu and the island Tutuila. Within Samoa’s traditional polity, Ātua is ruled by the Tui Ātua together with the group of six senior orators of Lufilufi and 13 senior matai from throughout Ātua, comprising the Fale Ātua. The fono (meeting) of Atua's rulers takes place in Lufilufi on the great malae of Lalogafu'afu'a.
Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleʻo and Maui, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa ʻEiki, and was assigned by his father, Taufulifonua, the realm of the sky to rule.
Tupua may refer to:
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Niue:
Cook Islands mythology comprises historical myths, legends, and folklore passed down by the ancient Cook Islanders over many generations. Many of the Cook Islands legends were recited through ancient songs and chants. The Cook Islands myths and legends have similarities to general Polynesian mythology, which developed over the centuries into its own unique character.
In Niuean mythology, Fao is one of the five principal gods (tupua) of the island of Niue. He is the god of humans on Niue. According to Peniamina, a Pacific island missionary stationed on the island, the Niue islanders consider Huanaki and Fao as their ancestors, and are central to their early history.
In Niuean mythology, Huanaki is one of the five principal gods of the island. Along with Fao, Huanaki was one of the earliest settlers, who swam across from Tonga.
In Niuean mythology, Tilalofonua is a flying rat and one of the gods of the island.
In Niuean mythology, Fakahoko is one of the gods of the island. He is cited as one of the five original gods (tupua) of the island who fled from the lost country of Fonuagalo.
Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum was a national museum and cultural centre in Alofi in Niue, which was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.
References
- 1 2 3 Nunn, Patrick. "Fished up and thrown down; The Geography of Pacific Island Origins Myths" (PDF). The University of the South Pacific. pp. 351, 359. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
- ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica, "Niue"
- 1 2 Smith & Pulekulu 1993, p. 97.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Loeb 1926, p. 163.
- ↑ Craig 1989, p. 78.
- 1 2 Craig1989, p. 131.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 130.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Smith & Pulekulu 1993, p. 103.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 36.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 48.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 353.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 135.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 139.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 144-45.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 145.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 151.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 250.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 389.
- ↑ Craig1989, p. 399.
