The Ancient Polynesian Voyages: The Last Great Migrations to Distant Lands
The islands of the Pacific Ocean were settled by people travelling great distances in flimsy craft, using only nature's signs for navigation.
One of the...
The Taniwha: Monster of Maori Myth and Legend
The rich culture of the Maori people is resplendent with stories of supernatural beings. The taniwha is a recurring subject of many myths and...
Te Reo: Use and Relevance of the Maori Language
The Waitangi Tribunal fears for the future of te reo, the Maori language that has its roots in Bronze Age Asia.
According to historical linguists,...
A Brief Look at Melanesia and its Population
From eastern Indonesia to Fiji, the region of Melanesia forms a large slice of the Pacific Ocean. This was where human settlement of the...
Pacific Islands Navigators Land in Americas Before Columbus?
Before Christopher Columbus's 1492 New World discovery on the Atlantic Ocean side, Polynesian navigators may have already landed on the Pacific Ocean side.
Pacific Islands...
New Zealand Jade, Commonly Known as Greenstone
Like so many other cultures, the Maori of New Zealand have valued jade for centuries, using it as an ornament, an artwork, a weapon...
The Site of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point
The Sydney Opera House is an architectural marvel, a miracle of form and light, and a worldwide symbol of Sydney. However, the man who...
Sydney Harbour Bridge – the Unofficial Opening
March19th,1932 was a beautiful day in Sydney. The sky was cloudless, the sea was still and a million people gathered on the city's streets....
Matthew Flinders, Circumnavigator of the Australian Continent
Born in 1774, Matthew Flinders joined the Royal Navy at the age of fifteen. He was a crew member with Captain William Bligh aboard...
The Hunt for Precious Australian Opals
The opal is unlike other gemstones in that each stone is unique in form. That often strikingly brilliant individual colour and pattern has been...