Nui
Encyclopedia
Nui is an atoll
and one of nine districts of the Pacific Ocean
state of Tuvalu
. It has a land area of 3.37 km² and a population of 548 (2002 census).
The biggest, most southern and most eastern island is Fenua Tapu (area 1.38 km² ), which is followed by Telikiai
(which is the most western islet), Tokinivae
, Pongalei
, Talalolae
, Pakantou
, Unimai
, Piliaieve
and Motupuakaka
. Most human habitation in Nui is on the western end of Fenua Tapu where a village including the settlements of Fenua Tapu and Tanrake
lies. The junior school is Vaipuna Primary School.
, the language of Kiribati
, and Tuvaluan
, the official language of Tuvalu
. The ancestors of Nui came from the Gilbert Islands
in what is now Kiribati. The island was sighted in January 1568 by Spanish
navigator Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra, who named it Isla de Jesús (Spanish
for "Island of Jesus") but was unable to land.
The population of Nui from 1860-1900 is estimated to be between 250 and 300 people.
, Governor-General of Tuvalu
since 16 april 2010 and former Minister of Education, Sports and Health, representing Nui in the Parliament
.
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
and one of nine districts of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
state of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. It has a land area of 3.37 km² and a population of 548 (2002 census).
Geography
Nui consists of at least 21 islets. These are:- Fenua Tapu
- MotupuakakaMotupuakakaMotupuakaka is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- PakantouPakantouPakantou is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- PiliaievePiliaievePiliaieve is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- PongaleiPongaleiPongalei is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- TalalolaeTalalolaeTalalolae is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- TelikiaiTelikiaiTelikiai also known by the name Meang is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, also known as Meang - TokinivaeTokinivaeTokinivae is an islet of Nui atoll, in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- UnimaiUnimaiUnimai is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
- and at least 12 other islands
The biggest, most southern and most eastern island is Fenua Tapu (area 1.38 km² ), which is followed by Telikiai
Telikiai
Telikiai also known by the name Meang is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
(which is the most western islet), Tokinivae
Tokinivae
Tokinivae is an islet of Nui atoll, in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, Pongalei
Pongalei
Pongalei is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, Talalolae
Talalolae
Talalolae is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, Pakantou
Pakantou
Pakantou is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, Unimai
Unimai
Unimai is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
, Piliaieve
Piliaieve
Piliaieve is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
and Motupuakaka
Motupuakaka
Motupuakaka is an islet of Nui atoll in the Pacific Ocean state of Tuvalu.-External links:*...
. Most human habitation in Nui is on the western end of Fenua Tapu where a village including the settlements of Fenua Tapu and Tanrake
Tanrake
Tanrake is a town in Tuvalu. It is on Nui atoll, on Fenua Tapu Island. The location is 7.25°S 177.15°E-Population:-References: - Tanrake at World Gazetteer...
lies. The junior school is Vaipuna Primary School.
Languages and history
The people of Nui speak the Gilbertese languageGilbertese language
-External links:**** with Gilbertese – English Translations from – The Rosetta Edition**...
, the language of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, and Tuvaluan
Tuvaluan language
Tuvaluan is a Polynesian language of or closely related to the Ellicean group spoken in Tuvalu. It is more or less distantly related to all other Polynesian languages, such as Hawaiian, Maori, Tahitian, Samoan, and Tongan, and most closely related to the languages spoken on the Polynesian Outliers...
, the official language of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. The ancestors of Nui came from the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
in what is now Kiribati. The island was sighted in January 1568 by Spanish
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
navigator Álvaro de Mendaña y Neyra, who named it Isla de Jesús (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for "Island of Jesus") but was unable to land.
The population of Nui from 1860-1900 is estimated to be between 250 and 300 people.
Notable natives
A notable local person is Iakoba ItaleliIakoba Italeli
Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, GCMG, is a politician and the current Governor General of Tuvalu .-Political office:From 2006 to 2010 he was Minister of Education and Sports, and Health, in the government of the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Apisai Ielemia.-Constituency background:Italeli was elected to...
, Governor-General of Tuvalu
Governor-General of Tuvalu
The Governor-General of Tuvalu is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Tuvalu, the nation's Head of State, and performs the duties of the Queen in her absence.-History:...
since 16 april 2010 and former Minister of Education, Sports and Health, representing Nui in the Parliament
Parliament of Tuvalu
The Parliament of Tuvalu is the unicameral national legislature in Tuvalu.-History and political culture:...
.
External links
- Map of Nui
- "A Brief History of Tuvalu" containing discussion of history of Nui