Nanumanga
| Nanumanga | |
|---|---|
| Reef Island | |
 | |
  Nanumanga | |
| Coordinates: 06°20′S 176°25′E / 6.333°S 176.417°ECoordinates: 06°20′S 176°25′E / 6.333°S 176.417°E | |
| Country | Tuvalu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3 km2 (1 sq mi) |
| Population (2002) | |
| • Total | 589 |
| • Density | 200/km2 (510/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Nanumangan |
| ISO 3166 code | TV-NMG |
Nanumanga or Nanumaga is a reef island and a district of the Oceanian island nation of Tuvalu.[1][2] It has a surface area of about 3 km² with a population of almost 600.
History
On May 9, 1824 a French government expedition under Captain Louis Isidor Duprerrey of the ship La Coquille sighted Nanumaga.[3]
Louis Becke, who later became a writer, became the resident trader for the Liverpool firm of John S. de Wolf and Co. on Nanumaga from about April 1880 until the trading-station was destroyed later that year in a cyclone.[4] Becke later wrote The Rangers of the Tia Kau[5] that describes a shark attack at the Tia Kau reef between Nanumea and Nanumaga.
The population of Nanumaga from 1860–1900 is estimated to be between 300[6] to 335 people.[7]
Nanumaga Post Office opened around 1925.[8]
In 1986 it became a centre of debate by Pacific archaeologists who discovered the submerged Caves of Nanumanga, and found what they argued was the remains of fire created by pre-historic inhabitants.
Geography
There are three lagoons, the largest, Vaiatoa, having four islands. There are mangrove woods and dry vegetation. The island has an oval outline, with the longer axis oriented north-south. A fringing reef surrounds the whole island, which makes local fishing and transport into and out of the island difficult.
Capes
- Cape on the north: Te Kaupapa
- Cape on the south: Te Papa
Population
At the 2002 census the population of the atoll was 589.
Villages
The two villages are Tonga (population 308) and Tokelau (pop. 281), at the western side of the island. The junior school is Lotohoni Primary School.
Transportation
There are a few paths.
Politics
Nanumanga is one of the eight constituencies in Tuvalu, and elects two Members of Parliament. Following the 2010 general election, Monise Lafai and Falesa Pitoi were elected to parliament. Pitoi was a successfully re-elected incumbent, while Lafai defeated incumbent Otinielu Tausi. Following an assessment of Dr Pitoi’s health in December 2013 the Governor-General declared a vacancy for the constituency of Nanumaga.[9] The by-election for the vacancy in the Nanumaga electorate occurred on 14 January 2014.[10] The candidates were Halo Tuavai, Otinielu Tauteleimalae Tausi and Pai Teatu.[11] Otinielu Tausi was the successful candidate.[12]
2010 election results
| Nanumaga constituency results [13] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Non-partisan | Monise Lafai  |
379 | % | |
| Non-partisan | Falesa Pitoi |
296 | % | |
| Non-partisan | Otinielu Tausi | 230 | % | |
Notable residents
- Tuau Lapua Lapua – Tuvaluan Olympic weightlifter
References
- ↑ Map of Nanumaga (Nanumanga). Tuvaluislands.com.
- ↑ British Admiralty Nautical Chart 766 Ellice Islands. United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). Publication Date: 21/03/1872 (Ed. 1893).
- ↑ Keith S. Chambers & Doug Munro, The Mystery of Gran Cocal: European Discovery and Mis-Discovery in Tuvalu, 89(2) (1980) The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 167–198
- ↑ 'Louis Beck, Adventurer and Writer', Chapter 8, Rascals in Paradise, James A. Michener and Arthur Grove Day, Secker and Warburg (1957)
- ↑ http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/22486/
- ↑ Richard Bedford, Barrie Macdonald & Doug Monro, Population Estimates for Kiribati and Tuvalu (1980) 89(1) J. of the Polynesian Society 199
- ↑ W.F. Newton, The Early Population of the Ellice Islands, 76(2) (1967) The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 197–204.
- ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ↑ "Tuvalu to hold by-election in Nanumaga". Radio New Zealand International. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
- ↑ Matau, Robert (January 2014). "New speaker for Tuvalu in the new year?". Islands Business. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ↑ "Tuvalu by-election sees former speaker win seat". Islands Business - From RNZI/ FENUI NEWS/PACNEWS. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- ↑ "Tuvalu by-election sees former speaker win seat". Radio New Zealand. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
- ↑ Cannon, Brian (2010-09-16). "Tuvalu Election Results". Tuvalu News (Tuvaluislands.com). Retrieved 2010-09-17.
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