Polynesia

Polynesia, one of the three major ethnogeographic subdivisions (with Melanesia and Micronesia) of Oceania, encompassing a huge triangle of islands in the east-central and southern Pacific Ocean. The word Polynesia derives from two Greek words meaning “many” and “islands”. The Hawaiian islands are at the apex of the Polynesian triangle; New Zealand and Easter Island form the base corners. Other Polynesian islands and island groups are Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Island, American Samoa and Niue. Ethnological descriptions sometimes include Fiji in Polynesia because a significant proportion of its population is of Polynesian descent. New Zealand's original inhabitants, the Maori, are a Polynesian people.

It is thought that central Polynesia was first settled 3,000 to 4,000 years ago by people from Melanesia. Secondary migrations from the centre to the outlying islands are more recent, probably from about ad 300; New Zealand was first settled sometime about ad 1000. The close relationship between the various Polynesian languages, despite the vast distances of ocean separating the islands, is seen as supporting archaeological indications of relatively recent diffusion of Polynesian culture. See Pacific Islands.