Mitiaro
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Geography
Mitiaro, also known as Nukuroa, is part of the Nga-Pu-Toru island group formerly, a volcano that became a coral atoll. The coral died forming fossilised coral (known locally as makatea). The island is surrounded by a belt of this makatea, between 20 and 40 feet (6.1 and 12.2 metres) high and characteristic of islands in the southern group. The centre of the island is almost flat, quite swampy and contains two freshwater lakes, Rotonui (big lake) and Toto Iti (small lake).
The lakes are teeming with eels (Anguilla obscura), which the locals call itiki and who reach the lakes from the Ocean through underwater connections, and the imported tilapia from Africa where it is known as bream. The island has around 18 km of coastline. Beaches are limited but there are subterranean limestone caves and the beach at low tide abounds in marine life.
Important Bird Area
The island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of Rimatara lorikeets and Cook reed warblers. It is a non-breeding site for bristle-thighed curlews.
Settlement
The island has four villages, located close together on the western side, from north to south:
- Taurangi (a former village)
- Atai (also called Arai)
- Auta
- Mangarei
- Takaue
Among the populated lifted coral islands of the southern Cook Islands, only Mitiaro is not subdivided into traditional tapere.
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Infrastructure
Mitiaro School is located in the principal village, Atai. Takaue is the second largest village. Mitiaro Airport is located at the northern end of the island. There are three churches: the Cook Islands Christian Church, the Catholic Church and the Assembly of God.
In May 2018 the island's diesel generator was replaced by a Solar Photovoltaic system.
History
According to oral tradition, Mitiaro was settled from Atiu, and was historically dominated by that island. It was first discovered by Europeans when John Williams of the London Missionary Society arrived in 1823. He left behind a Polynesian teacher, Taua, who began converting the islanders to Christianity. The estimated population at that time was less than 100 inhabitants. During the 1840s the island was attacked again by Atiuans.
In 1888 Mitiaro became a British protectorate as part of the Cook Islands Federation. In 1901 it was annexed by New Zealand.