Aitutaki

Aitutaki

NASA picture of Aitutaki.
Geography
Location Central-Southern Pacific Ocean
Archipelago Cook Islands
Total islands 15
Area 18.05 km²
Country

Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The capital (main village) is Arutanga (Arutunga) on the west side.

Contents

Geography

Topographic map of Aitutaki
Tapuaetai (One Foot Island) in the southern part of Aitutaki Atoll

Aitutaki is an "almost atoll", located at . It has a maximum elevation of approximately 123 metres with the hill known as Maunga Pu close to its northernmost point. The land area of the atoll is 18.05 km², of which the main island occupies 16.8 km².[1] The Ootu Peninsula, protruding east from the main island in a southerly direction along the eastern rim of the reef, takes up 1.75 km² out of these 16.8 km² for the main island.[2] For the lagoon, area figures between 50 and 74 km² are found. Satellite image measurement suggests that the larger figure also includes the reef flat, which is commonly not considered part of a lagoon.

The barrier reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides 12 kilometres in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands (including Mangere, Akaiami, and Tekopua).

The western side of the atoll contains many of Aitutaki's important features including a boat passage through the barrier reef allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. Towards the south of the side is a small break in the barrier reef, allowing access for small boats to the lagoon which covers most of the southern part of the triangle. Further to the north is the bulk of the main island. Its fertile volcanic soil provide tropical fruits and vegetables. Two of Aitutaki's 15 islets (motus) are also volcanic. The rest are made of coral.

Aitutaki Airport is located close to the triangle's northern point. There is an area suitable for the landing of flying boats in the south eastern part of the lagoon.

Subdivisions

Districts and tapere of Aitutaki according to the constitution[3]
Electoral circonscriptions of Aitutaki

Aitutaki is subdivided in 4 districts, containing 8 villages.[4]

The four districts are:

  1. Tautu
  2. Vaipae-Avanui
  3. Amuri-Ureia
  4. Arutanga

The map, however, shows 8 districts. The districts are further subdivided into 19 tapere (land holdings by tribe lineages).

The eight villages are:[5]

  1. Amuri (Te Upoko Enua)
  2. Ureia (Uriuri A Punga)
  3. Arutanga (Rutanga O Te Toa)
  4. Reureu (Te Mata O Teerui)
  5. Nikaupara (Te Maru O Toi)
  6. Vaipae (Te Vaipaepae O Pau)
  7. Tautu (Titi Ai Tonga)
  8. Vaipeka (Te Arekarioi)

The eight districts are subdivided into 19 tapere as follows:

History

Polynesians probably first settled Aitutaki around AD 900. The first known European contact was with Captain Bligh and the crew of the "HMS Bounty" when they discovered Aitutaki on April 11, 1789, prior to the infamous mutiny.

Aitutaki was the first of the Cook Islands to accept Christianity, after London Missionary Society (LMS) missionary John Williams visited in 1821. The oldest church in the country, the Cook Islands Christian Church in Arutanga, was built by Papeiha (Borabora) and Vahapata (Raiatea), two LMS teachers Williams had left behind.

In 1942 New Zealand and American forces were stationed on the island, building the two-way airstrip that can be seen today. This airport, and one on the northernmost Penrhyn Island, were to be used as bases by the Allies during World War II. The first aircraft, an American light bomber, landed on November 22, 1942. When the war ended some of the servicemen remained and married the locals.

During the 1950s Aitutaki's lagoon was used as a stopover for TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) flying boats on the famous Coral Route. The islet of Akaiami was used as a resting stop for passengers, who often lay about until the aircraft was refuelled for two hours. These operations ceased in 1960, and the only reminder are the remains of the purpose-built jetty on Akaiami. The flying boat 'Aranui', which was part of this service, is now on display at the Museum of Transport and Technology in Auckland, New Zealand.

Two of Aitutaki's motus (small islands), Rapota and Moturakau, were the locations of the first series of the UK reality television program Shipwrecked in 2000.

More recently, in 2001, Steve Fossett passed over just south of Aitutaki in the balloon Solo Spirit during his round-the-world trip.

In 2006, the island was used as the location for the tribal council in Survivor: Cook Islands. Surrounding islands were used for tribal camps and crew locations. One of the tribes was named Aitutaki (or 'Aitu') after the island.

Then, not long afterwards, Shipwrecked returned again, with Shipwrecked: Battle of the Islands. This was filmed on the same islands as before. One year later, Aitutaki was the locale of an episode of Survivorman.

On February 10-11, 2010, Aitutaki was hit by Cyclone Pat. The high winds of the storm ripped the roofs off of most houses and damaged other buildings including a school and a hospital. At least 60% of houses were damaged. There were no reported deaths but a few minor injuries were reported.[6][7][8] An Air Force Hercules cargo plane and an army engineering team were provided by New Zealand along with an initial $200,000.[9][10] although there was criticism that the aid took five days after the storm to arrive[11]

Places of interest

A beach on Aitutaki

Aitutaki is famous for its turquoise central lagoon, uninhabited islands and palm-fringed beaches. Another advantage is that until now it has been spared by mass tourism. Noteworthy also are an old church (the oldest in the Cook Islands) and some gigantic Banyan trees (Ficus prolixa).

Tapuaetai (One Foot Island), a small islet in the south-east of the lagoon, is often said to be the most important attraction. It is regarded as providing the visitor with the best views of the Aitutaki lagoon and depending on the tide one is able to walk on a sandbank a decent distance away from Tapuaetai (One Foot Island). The trip to this island is the most frequented trip available on Aitutaki and is bookable in most hotels. One Foot Island was awarded "Australasia's Leading Beach" at the World Travel Awards held in Sydney in June 2008.

Air Rarotonga offers daily flights and a day tour from Rarotonga.

Economy

Tourism is the mainstay of Aitutaki though visitor numbers are still relatively low as there are no direct international flights. Tourists are catered for by a range of motels and resorts ranging from budget to luxury.

A number of new resorts and hotels are currently being planned and built.

Sports

The most popular sport on Aitutaki is rugby which is very popular on the island as it is in much of the Pacific. With a population of only 2,000, there are 4 clubs on Aitutaki and 8 teams (each club having a first team and a reserve team). The best players on the island play for the Aitutaki island team against their main rivals Rarotonga.

Postage stamps

Minor islands of Aitutaki

The main island of Aitutaki occupies the northern part of the atoll, which is roughly triangular in shape. The minor islands form part of the perimeter of the lagoon. All islands, including the main island and its peninsula Ootu, are listed starting clockwise from the northernmost point of the atoll:

Island Type Area
(ha)		 Location
Aitutaki volcanic main island 16800
   Ootu motu peninsula 175  
Akitua motu 14.86
Angarei motu 13.07
Ee (Niura) motu 29.21  
Mangere motu 8.54  
Papau motu 5.26  
Tavaerua Iti motu 4.12  
Tavaerua motu 12.47  
Akaiami motu 41.91  
Muritapua motu 4.04  
Tekopua motu 71.29  
Tapuaetai (One Foot Island) motu 5.96  
Tapuaeta cay sand cay 0.95  
Motukitiu motu 11.47  
Moturakau volcanic 3.86  
Rapota volcanic 3.1  
Maina sand cay 16.96  
Aitutaki Atoll near-atoll 18050  

Ootu Peninsula is of coral formation, but attached to the main volcanic island, thus a peninsula. If it were an island, it would be the largest of the minor islands. Ootu Peninsula does belong to tapere and district of Vaitupa. The minor islands are not allocated to any districts or tapere, but they do form part of the larger constituencies.

All minor islets, except Akitua and Maina, are part of Vaipae-Tautu Constituency. Akitua is part of Amuri-Ureia Constituency, as is Ootu Peninsula, just north of Akitua. Maina is part of Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara Constituency. The main island is equally divided among the three constituencies Arutanga-Reureu-Nikaupara (southwest), Vaipae-Tautu (southeast), and Amuri-Ureia (north).

Akitua is home to the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa.

Education

Araura College is the only secondary school on Aitutaki. The school has the role of teaching approximately 200 students.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Discoverers of the Cook Islands and the Names They Gave — Aitutaki"
  2. ↑ Atoll Research Bulletin, 190. "Alost-Atoll of Aitutaki: Reef Studies in the Cook Islands", D. R. Stoddard, P. E. Gibbs (eds) August 13, 1975 (12.5 MB)
  3. ↑ Constitution Amendment (No 11) Act 1982
  4. ↑ Asian Development Bank: "Master Plan — Final report", 731 pages, March 2007 (4 MB)
  5. ↑ The Parliament of the Cook Islands: Island Government Act 2007
  6. ↑ [1]
  7. ↑ [2]
  8. ↑ [3]
  9. ↑ [4]
  10. ↑ [5]
  11. ↑ [6]

External links

Cook Islands
Northern
Manihiki · Nassau · Penrhyn · Pukapuka · Rakahanga · Suwarrow · Tema Reef
 Cook Islands
Southern - Nga-pu-Toru
Atiu · Mauke · Mitiaro
Southern - other
Aitutaki · Mangaia · Manuae · Palmerston · Rarotonga · Takutea  · Winslow Reef