Niuatoputapu

Geography

Niuatoputapu's highest central area, just beside Vaipoa, is a hill only 157 m high. It is the eroded remnant of a large volcano, which last erupted about 3 million years ago. The island is almost entirely surrounded by a large reef, uplifted, and largely covered with volcanic ash, which has proved an island with fertile soil.

In late September or early October 1886 the French steamer Decres notified authorities in Fiji that it had witnessed a volcanic eruption on Niuatoputapu.

Niuatoputapu consists primarily of three villages: Hihifo (meaning "west" in Tongan), Vaipoa, and Falehau. Hihifo is the largest village, and, as its name suggests, it lies in the western part of the island. It has most of the local governmental facilities, including the post office, telecommunications, police station, and a high school. There are primary schools in all three villages. Vaipoa lies in the middle of the island. Falehau, which is east of Vaipoa, fronts on the island's only harbor, on the northwest coast.

History

The traditional line of lords of the island is the Māatu dynasty. According to the legends, an early member of them became the fish god Seketoa.

Niuatoputapu was put on the European maps by Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire during their famous circumnavigation of the globe in their ship the Eendracht (Unity) in 1616. After successful bartering with the inhabitants of Tafahi, but not finding a suitable anchorage there, they proceeded to its bigger southern neighbour. There their reception was less peaceful. Natives boarded their ship and attacked the Dutch with clubs, until they found out what muskets were and could do. After that an uneasy truce existed, enabling the barter of more coconuts, ubes roots (probably ufi (yam)), hogs and water. A 'king' of the island came along, but not on board. "He was equally naked with all the rest", only distinguishable by the respect the islanders paid to him. The next day the Dutch felt that something was in the air, and indeed when the king came along again he suddenly ordered his people into an attack. There were about 700 to 800 of them in 23 double canoes and 45 single canoes. But the Dutch fired their muskets and 3 cannons, and the islanders then quickly made themselves scarce. Schouten and LeMaire continued their westwards trip, leaving Verraders (Traitors) island behind.

|1996 |1,161 |2006 |1,019 |2011 |759 |2016 |739 |2021 |719

In popular culture

The 2001 film The Other Side of Heaven depicts the LDS missionary efforts of John Groberg on Niuatoputapu. The film was, however, filmed on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and in Auckland, New Zealand.

2009 tsunami

Main article: 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami

The island of Niuatoputapu was affected by the magnitude 8 2009 Samoa earthquake and resulting tsunami that occurred in the region of the Samoa Islands region, at 06:48:11 local time on 29 September. (17:48:11 UTC). 46 percent of the island was inundated, and more than half the buildings on the island were destroyed. Nine people were killed in Hihifo.

References

References

1. (6 October 1886). "Volcanic eruption". Auckland Star.
2. Gifford, Edward Winslow. (1924). "Tongan myths and tales". Kraus Reprint.
3. (1811). "A general history and collection of voyages and travels". W. Blackwood.
4. "1996 Tonga Census Administrative Report". Tonga Department of Statistics.
5. "Census". Tonga Statistics Department.
6. (24 December 2021). "PRELIMINARY RESULT TONGA POPULATION CENSUS 2021". Tonga Statistics Department.
7. Holden, Stephen. (12 April 2002). "FILM IN REVIEW; 'The Other Side of Heaven'". The New York Times.
8. [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009mdbi.php Magnitude 8.0 - SAMOA ISLANDS REGION] {{webarchive. link. (7 October 2009 Report on [https://www.usgs.gov/aboutusgs/ U.S. Geological Service]'s website. Retrieved online d.d. 29 September 2009.)
9. (1 October 2009). "Tsunami wrecks Niuatoputapu". Matangi Tonga.
10. (2013). "Niuatoputapu Tsunami: Tongan survivor accounts of the 2009 South Pacific earthquake and tsunami". Tonga Broadcasting Commission.