picture of Mangaia Islandnorth = up]]
Mangaia (traditionally known as Auau Enua, which means
terraced) is the most southerly of the
Cook Islands and the second largest, after
Rarotonga.
Geography
Geologists estimate the island is at least 18 million years old, making it the oldest island in the Pacific. It rises 15,600 feet (4750 m) above the ocean floor. It has a central
volcanic plateau and, like many of the southern islands in the Cook Islands, it is surrounded by a high ring of cliffs of fossilised coral, called the
makatea, in this case 200 feet (60 m) high.
The island raises to 169 meters at Rangi-motia near the center of the island.
The capital of Mangaia is the village of Oneroa, in the west, with about half of the population of the island. There are two more villages, Tamarua (south) and Ivirua (east/northeast).
Subdivisions
Traditionally, the island has been subdivided into six districts or
puna headed by district chiefs or
pava, which are very nearly sectors meeting at the highest point near the center of the island,
Rangi-motia. .
The districts are, as on some other islands of the Lower Cook Islands, further subdivided into 38 traditional sub-districts called
tapere.
In the Cook Islands
constitution however, the six districts are listed as tapere.
The districts clockwise, starting in the north, with their sub-districts, are:
Tava'enga District
*Tapere of Ta'iti
*Tapere of Te-rupe
*Tapere of Maro
*Tapere of Au-ruia
*Tapere of Te-mati-o-Pa'eru
*Tapere of Te-pueu
Karanga District
*Tapere of Teia-roa
*Tapere of Teia-poto
*Tapere of Teia-pini
*Tapere of Kaau-i-miri
*Tapere of Kaau-i-uta
Ivirua District
*Tapere of Avarari
*Tapere of Te-i'i-maru
*Tapere of Te-uturei
*Tapere of Te-ara-nui-o-Toi
*Tapere of Te-korokoro
*Tapere of Te-pauru-o-Rongo
Tamarua District
*Tapere of Maru-kore
*Tapere of Poutoa-i-uta
*Tapere of Poutoa-i-miri
*Tapere of Akaea
*Tapere of Te-vai-kao
*Tapere of Angauru
*Tapere of Vaitangi (Pukuotoi)
*Tapere of Te-vai-taeta-i-uta
*Tapere of Te-vai-taeta-i-tai
Veitatei District
*Tapere of Te-noki
*Tapere of Te-tuaroa (Te-tukono)
*Tapere of Te-tuapoto
*Tapere of Te-tarapiki
*Tapere of Kaikatu
*Tapere of Angarinoi
Kei'a District
*Tapere of Akaoro
*Tapere of Tapuata
*Tapere of Tongamarama
*Tapere of Te-inati
*Tapere of Rupetau-i-miri
*Tapere of Rupetau-i-uta
Economy
Mangaia is renowned for its shell neckbands or "eis". These are made from the shells of the tiny yellow snail, the pupu, which emerges only after rain. Gathering, piercing and stringing is a very time consuming business. The women of the island often give the highly prized strands away as gifts of friendship to visitors from other islands in the Group.
Mangaia is also renowned for its coconuts. The people of the island have long considered them a staple plant of survival. They remain an important crop even today. Coconuts provide food, coconut milk, and also fiber- all in one shell.
History
Before missionary settlement Mangaia was ruled by fierce warriors, in a constant struggle for land and crops.
The first recorded European to arrive to Mangaia was Captain Cook in 1777.
Long ago, during a trip to London, Numangatini, the "king" of Mangaia received from Queen Victoria herself a Union Jack. The flag is still preciously kept at Oneroa.
References
History (in German)
External links
Noncommercial guide and photos of the island
Mangaia - Garden of the Cook Islands
Pride in Uniqueness of Our Island Home
See also
Auraka
Tuanaki
Category:Islands of the Cook Islands
*Main
