Language/Niuean/Culture/Niue-Timeline

From Polyglot Club WIKI
< Language‎ | Niuean‎ | Culture
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This lesson can still be improved. EDIT IT NOW! & become VIP
Rate this lesson:
5.00
(one vote)
Historical Timeline for Niue - A chronology of key events
Niue-Timeline-PolyglotClub.png

Niue-Timeline-PolyglotClub.jpg

Niue Timeline[edit | edit source]

At the origins[edit | edit source]

Main article: Populating Oceania. The island was colonized by Polynesians from Tonga around 900 AD. J-C. Other settlers arrived from Samoa around 1440. It seems that until the 18th century there was no national government or unifying figure in Niue. Prior to this time, iki (tribal chiefs) and fathers of families exercised authority over a fragmented population.

The establishment of royalty[edit | edit source]

Around 1700, the concept of royalty and its practice appeared, probably influenced by contacts with Samoa or Tonga. From then on, a succession of patu-iki (Niuean title for "king") rules the island, the first of which is Puni-mata. There is an important interregnum. At the end of this, an elective monarchy is set up: the king is chosen from among the heads of influential families.

First European contact[edit | edit source]

Captain James Cook was the first European to see the island in 1774, but was unable to land on three occasions due to fierce opposition from the local population. By reaction, Cook baptized Niue the Wild Island (Savage Island). According to the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1911, this opposition is explained by the fear by the natives of contracting external diseases. Another explanation as to the name of the island indicates that the natives who "greeted" them were painted, with what appeared to be blood, to Cook and his crew. However, the substance that colored them, along with their mouths and teeth, was that of hulahula, a native red banana. For the next two centuries, the island will be known as the Wild Island, until its original name Niu, which translates to “gazing at the coconut”, reverts to its name.

Evangelization[edit | edit source]

In 1846, a few notables from the London Missionary Society landed. After years of efforts to install a European missionary in Niue, a Niouéen2 named Nukai Peniamina was taken to the Samoa Islands and trained at the Pasteur Malua Theological College. Peniamina then returned as a missionary to Niue with the help of Toimata Fakafitifonua. He was allowed to settle in the village of Uluvehi Mutalau, after several attempts in other villages failed. The chiefs of Mutalau village gave Peniamina access to the land and assigned more than 60 warriors to protect him day and night at Fort Fupiu. === Christianity was first taught to the people of Mutalau before it was extended to other villages in Niue. Originally, several important villages were opposed to the introduction of Christianity and sought to kill Peniamina. The inhabitants of Hakupu village were the last to apply for Christianity, which is why their village was renamed "Ha Kupu Atua", which means "every word of God", or "Hakupu" for short. Tui-toga, who reigned from 1875 to 1887, was the first Christian king of Niue.

The march towards the protectorate and the passage under New Zealand authority[edit | edit source]

In 1887, King Fata-a-iki wrote to Queen Victoria for Niue to be placed under British protection, but this request went unheeded. This request is motivated by the fear that the island will be annexed by a less benevolent colonial power and by the links established by evangelization. The request for a protectorate was renewed in 1895 and also remained unanswered. It was under King Togi-Pulu-toaki that the island became a British protectorate on April 21, 1900. Niue came under the authority of New Zealand the following year (reception of a local representative on September 11, 1901 ). Niue's remoteness, as well as the cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the Cook Islands, means that it is administered separately. A marginal territory, the island remains underdeveloped and many Niueans migrate to New Zealand. The situation of annexation of Niue by New Zealand lasted until 1974.

World War I[edit | edit source]

During the First World War, 150 men from the island (or 4% of the total population) served under the flags in the New Zealand armed forces engaged in Europe.

Migration to New Zealand[edit | edit source]

In 1936, the census indicated that 34 Niueans resided in New Zealand4. This period marks the beginning of a migratory chain: in 1943, there were 200. In 1959 and 1960, violent cyclones hit Niue, which encouraged the inhabitants to leave. On the other hand, material aid from New Zealand in the aftermath of the cyclones introduced Western consumer goods to the islanders, which led to a change in mentality and further encouraged migration. Entire families left their villages to settle in Auckland and its surroundings. Thus, in 1966, 5,200 Niueans emigrated. This exodus was reinforced with the construction of an airport in 1971.

Autonomy[edit | edit source]

Autonomy, in the form of free association, was granted on 19 October 1974 by the New Zealand parliament following a referendum. The written constitution of Niue was promulgated as the supreme law. Robert Rex, a native of the island but of European ethnicity, was appointed the country's first prime minister, a post he held until his death 18 years later. Rex became the first Niouéen to receive the title of knight in 1984.

Contemporary history[edit | edit source]

In January 2004, the island was devastated by Cyclone Heta which killed two people and left 200 of the 1,600 inhabitants homeless. It also causes significant damage to the entire island, especially south of the national capital, Alofi. A large number of buildings were destroyed, including his hospital. Government buildings have since been moved to a less exposed location further inland. As a number of residents chose not to rebuild their homes, New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff raised the possibility of challenging the status of free association if too many residents left the home. island so as not to lose their access to basic services. In the process, the Prime Minister of Niue, Young Vivian, categorically rejected the possibility of modifying existing relations with New Zealand. Niue is an unattractive country and is losing inhabitants (the country lost nearly 35% of its population between 2003 and 2009, from 2,145 to 1,398 inhabitants). This decrease is due to a very negative migratory balance. Indeed, there is a strong emigration to foreign countries (especially New Zealand).

Source[edit | edit source]

World Timelines[edit source]

Contributors

Maintenance script

Create a new Lesson

Retrieved from "https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/index.php?title=Language/Niuean/Culture/Niue-Timeline&oldid=120973"