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.
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)
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.
Taro tubers for sale
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Inspiring images
Hot vents
Hot vents, or smokers on the Pacific ocean floor, are environments that give clues to the origins of life on Earth.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Cyclone Val
With its 240 km/h winds and 15 metre waves Cyclone Val swept across Samoa in December 1991.
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
George Spafford Richardson
This patronising photograph shows New Zealander George Spafford Richardson who was Samoan governor from 1923 to 1928.
Alexander Turnbull Library
Animals crossing the Pacific
Earth's rotation creates a magnetic field that birds and marine animals use to navigate across the vast Pacific Ocean.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Pacific rat
The Pacific Rat travelled with people and colonised every Pacific island, with devastating results for flora and fauna.
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Nonu, Weepu and Kaino
There is a strong international demand for Polynesian players of tough football codes like rugby and rugby league.
Alexander Turnbull Library
South Pacific Forum, 1971
Today climate change is a top priority for all of the Pacific island nations covered by the South Pacific Forum.
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
The Frigate bird
Important to navigators, the frigate bird symbolises freedom and power. Its image is often seen in Pacific art.
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira
Moa oil
This artwork by Pasifika artist Michael Tuffery highlights the environment and questions the ongoing use of oil.
Puke Ariki
The Coconut palm
The coconut has huge cultural significance across the Pacific. All parts of the coconut palm are used in everyday life.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pacific hurricanes
Hurricanes draw warm air from the ocean. Their winds and storm surge can cause devastation across Pacific nations.
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.
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.