Story: Pacific migrations

All images and media

From page 1 - The world’s first seafarers

The Pacific, the world’s largest ocean

The Pacific, the world’s largest ocean

The Pacific Ocean, showing Near Oceania

The Pacific Ocean, showing Near Oceania

The Pacific Ocean, showing Remote Oceania

The Pacific Ocean, showing Remote Oceania

‘Taputini’ – a traditional kūmara cultivar

‘Taputini’ – a traditional kūmara cultivar

From page 2 - Ancient voyaging in Near Oceania

Torres Strait islanders on a bamboo raft, 1906

Torres Strait islanders on a bamboo raft, 1906

The Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands

Archaeologist Janet Davidson

Archaeologist Janet Davidson

From page 3 - Into Remote Oceania: Lapita people

Lapita pottery

Lapita pottery

Sites of Lapita pottery

Sites of Lapita pottery

Coconuts and taro, Tongan market, 2002

Coconuts and taro, Tongan market, 2002

Fossil remains

Fossil remains (1st of 3)

Fossil remains of the giant iguana Lapitiguana impensa

Fossil remains of the giant iguana Lapitiguana impensa (2nd of 3)

Fossil remains of the giant megapode Megavitiornis altirostris

Fossil remains of the giant megapode Megavitiornis altirostris (3rd of 3)

From page 4 - From West to East Polynesia

Polynesian plainware from Teouma, Vanuatu

Polynesian plainware from Teouma, Vanuatu

Ha‘apai Group, Tonga

Ha‘apai Group, Tonga

The direction and timing of settlement

The direction and timing of settlement

Statues on Easter Island

Statues on Easter Island

Double-hulled voyaging canoes, Gisborne, 2000

Double-hulled voyaging canoes, Gisborne, 2000

From page 5 - Pacific navigation and exploration

Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl, 1990

Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl, 1990

Ten canoes leave Rarotonga

Ten canoes leave Rarotonga

Upwind survival strategy

Upwind survival strategy

From page 6 - East to the empty Pacific

The last three points of migration

The last three points of migration

The Hōkūle‘a

The Hōkūle‘a

Long-tailed cuckoo with grey warbler

Long-tailed cuckoo with grey warbler

An early Moriori fishhook

An early Moriori fishhook

From page 7 - Māori ancestors

An oyster-shell fishing lure shank

An oyster-shell fishing lure shank

Haast’s eagle attacking a moa

Haast’s eagle attacking a moa

A gourd used by Māori

A gourd used by Māori

From page 8 - Why explore?

A Polynesian lightbox

A Polynesian lightbox

Archaeologist Janet Davidson

Archaeologist Janet Davidson

How to cite this page:

Geoff Irwin, 'All images and media', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/pacific-migrations/media (accessed 1 June 2023)

Story by Geoff Irwin, published 8 Feb 2005, reviewed & revised 8 Feb 2017