The Pacific: An Introduction

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

This set of resources looks at the extraordinary history of the Pacific, its sea of islands, environment and peoples from early exploration to colonialism and 21st century issues like global warming.

Image: Pacific Lagoon

Pacific Lagoon

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

BACKGROUND 

The Pacific was the first ocean to be explored. But New Zealand’s isolated islands, in the cold south-western waters of this ocean, were the last to be settled. Migration eastwards across the vast expanse of water occurred over thousands of years.

Source: Geoff Irwin, 'Pacific migrations', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/pacific-migrations (accessed 28 February 2020)

Image: Pacific Frigate Bird

Pacific Frigate Bird

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

About this Topic

Each of the subtopic stories contains information about either the culture, environment or history of the Pacific from the earliest migrations to the issues facing this sea of islands in the 21st century. 

Scroll down below to also find images that inspire and a bibliography of books connected with the Pacific.

Image: Taro tubers for sale

Taro tubers for sale

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Inspiring images

Image: Life near a hot vent

Hot vents

Hot vents, or smokers on the Pacific ocean floor, are environments that give clues to the origins of life on Earth.

Life near a hot vent

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: WESTERN SAMOA: Damage to house from Cyclone Val

Cyclone Val

With its 240 km/h winds and 15 metre waves Cyclone Val swept across Samoa in December 1991.

WESTERN SAMOA: Damage to house from Cyclone Val

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Portrait of General George Spafford Richardson with Samoan children

George Spafford Richardson

This patronising photograph shows New Zealander George Spafford Richardson who was Samoan governor from 1923 to 1928.

Portrait of General George Spafford Richardson with Samoan children

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Earth’s magnetic field

Animals crossing the Pacific

Earth's rotation creates a magnetic field that birds and marine animals use to navigate across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Earth’s magnetic field

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Pacific rat

Pacific rat

The Pacific Rat travelled with people and colonised every Pacific island, with devastating results for flora and fauna.

The Pacific rat

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Webb, Murray, 1947- :[Nonu, Weepu, Kaino] 20 October 2011

Nonu, Weepu and Kaino

There is a strong international demand for Polynesian players of tough football codes like rugby and rugby league.

Webb, Murray, 1947- :[Nonu, Weepu, Kaino] 20 October 2011

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: South Pacific Forum, August 5, 1971, Wellington

South Pacific Forum, 1971

Today climate change is a top priority for all of the Pacific island nations covered by the South Pacific Forum.

South Pacific Forum, August 5, 1971, Wellington

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Te utuao

The Frigate bird

Important to navigators, the frigate bird symbolises freedom and power. Its image is often seen in Pacific art.

Te utuao

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: "Moa Oil e Lily"

Moa oil

This artwork by Pasifika artist Michael Tuffery highlights the environment and questions the ongoing use of oil.

"Moa Oil e Lily"

Puke Ariki

Image: Rito (Coconut leaf fibre)

The Coconut palm

The coconut has huge cultural significance across the Pacific. All parts of the coconut palm are used in everyday life.

Rito (Coconut leaf fibre)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: 'Ava (Kava root)

Kava

'Ava (Kava root)

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Vao

Pacific hurricanes

Hurricanes draw warm air from the ocean. Their winds and storm surge can cause devastation across Pacific nations.

Vao

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

This story was curated and compiled by National Library of New Zealand Services to Schools staff, March 2020. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Taonga Pasifika World Heritage in the Pacific- the Pacific Ocean is the largest geographical feature on earth. This excellent World Heritage document explores the distinctive ways in which Pacific peoples past and present adapted to the islands they came to inhabit and utilised new resources.

Books

Use our lending service to order these books associated with the Pacific. 

PICTURE BOOKS

Mose and the Manumea by Jane Va‘afusuaga and Rebecca Stirneman, 2018 (primary, intermediate).

The Island-Below-the-star by James Rumford, 1998 (junior primary).

Selafina by Catherine Hannken, 2003 (junior primary). 

(Other titles by Catherine Hannken are Talia 2009 and Fiapule 2007)

The Stuck there Forever Boat by Gillian Torckler, 2008 (Junior primary).

Visiting Grandma by Jane Va'afusuaga, 2018 (junior, primary). 

Uncle Tino by Jane Va'afusuaga, 2018 (junior, primary).

FICTION

Ariki and the Giant Shark by Nicola Davies, 2018 (primary).

Dawn Raid by Pauline Smith, 2018 (intermediate, secondary).

Lords of the Pacific by Grant Hyde, 2010, (secondary).

Out of the deep: and other stories from New Zealand and the Pacific edited by Tessa Duder and Lorraine Orman, 2007 (primary, intermediate).

The Silent One by Joy Cowley, 2000 (intermediate, secondary).

NON-FICTION

Adventures of Tupaia by Courtney Sina Meredith and Mat Tait, 2019 (primary, intermediate, secondary).

Art in Oceania: a New History by Peter Brunt, Nicholas Thomas, Sean Mallon, Lissant Bolton, Deidre Brown, Damian Skinner and Susanne Küchler, 2012 (secondary).

Children of the Pacific series by Jill MacGregor 2019 (primary, intermediate).

Climate Change and Migration: South Pacific perspectives edited by Bruce Burson, 2010 (secondary).

The Cook Voyages Encounters: the Cook Voyages Collections of Te Papa by Janet Davidson, 2019 (secondary).

Feasts and Festivals: a Celebration of Pacific Island culture in New Zealand by Glenn Jowitt, 2002, (primary, intermediate, secondary).

The Great Canoes in the Sky: Starlore and Astronomy of the South Pacific by Stephen Robert Chadwick and Martin Paviour-Smith, 2017 (secondary).

Illustrated History of the South Pacific by Marcia Stenson, 2006 (intermediate, secondary).

Maui's Taonga Tales: A Treasury of Stories from Aotearoa and the Pacific by Te Papa Press, 2019 (intermediate, secondary).

Pacific: an Ocean of Wonders by Philip J. Hatfield, 2019 (secondary).

Pacific Auckland, Photographs by Evotia Tamua, 2008 (primary, intermediate, secondary).

Pacific History, by Brent Coutts and Nicholas Fitness, 2018 (secondary).

Pasifika coastwatchers by David Riley, 2020 ( primary, intermediate, secondary).

Pathway of the Birds: the Voyaging Achievements of Māori and their Polynesian Ancestors by Andrew Crowe, 2018 (secondary).

Polynesian Cultures in Perspective by Claire O'Neal, 2014 (intermediate).

Polynesian Panthers: Pacific Protest and Affirmative Action in Aotearoa New Zealand 1971-1981 edited by Melani Anae; with Lautofa Iuli and Leilani Tamu, 2015 (secondary).

Pou and Miri: Learn to Tackle Climate Change by Dom Sansom, 2011 (primary).

Samoan Heroes by David Riley, 2015 (intermediate, secondary).

Tangata o le Moana: New Zealand and the People of the Pacific edited by Sean Mallon, Kolokesa Māhina-Tuai and Damon Salesa, 2012 (intermediate, secondary).

Tatau : a History of Sāmoan tattooing by Sean Mallon and Sébastien Galliot, 2018 (secondary).

Tongan Heroes by David Riley, 2016 (intermediate, secondary).

We are the Rock! by David Riley, 2012 (intermediate, secondary).

 This story was curated and compiled by National Library of New Zealand Services to Schools staff, March 2020. 

Image: Mural by John Pule

Mural by John Pule

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

 This story was curated and compiled by National Library of New Zealand Services to Schools staff, April 2020.