The Pacific Region

Explore how this expansive area is divided into the three ethnographic sub-regions of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. Each has its own unique cultural tapestry, geography and heritage.

The Pacific Ocean is made up of 3 sub-regions: Melanesia, Micronesia & Polynesia with around 25,000 islands in total.

Islands in the Pacific Ocean are of four basic types: continental islands, high islands, coral reefs and uplifted coral platforms.

Continental islands lie outside the andesite line and include New Guinea, the islands of New Zealand, and the Philippines. Some of these islands are structurally associated with nearby continents.

High islands are of volcanic origin, and many contain active volcanoes. Among these are Bougainville, Hawaii, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands.

The coral reefs of the South Pacific are low-lying structures that have built up on basaltic lava flows under the ocean's surface. One of the most dramatic is the Great Barrier Reef off northeastern Australia with chains of reef patches.

A second island type formed of coral is the uplifted coral platform, which is usually slightly larger than the low coral islands. Examples include Banaba (formerly Ocean Island) and Makatea in the Tuamotu group of French Polynesia.

The Pacific region is vast, sitting in the largest Ocean in the world. It is unique globally in that its Pacific Islands are characterised by large exclusive economic zones equivalent to about 28 percent of the worlds economic Zone but having very small land areas. Many of these Pacific Islands have very small country populations making “development” a challenge in the economic space as well.

Click here to see a table of the different countries in the Pacific region and their most recent populations.

Almost all of this region is in the Southern Hemisphere; only a few small islands that are not politically considered part of Oceania—specifically the northwestern islands of Western New Guinea—lie in the Northern Hemisphere.

The following countries are considered part of Melanesia:

Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu

Melanesia also includes:

Indonesia – Western New Guinea: Central Papua, Highland Papua , Papua, South Papua , Southwest Papua, and West Papua
New Caledonia – a sui generis collectivity of France

Several Melanesian states are members of intergovernmental and regional organizations. Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and are also members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Micronesia is a region in Oceania that includes approximately 2100 islands, with a total land area of 2,700 km2 (1,000 sq mi), the largest of which is Guam, which covers 582 km2 (225 sq mi). The total ocean area within the perimeter of the islands is 7,400,000 km2 (2,900,000 sq mi).

The region has a tropical marine climate and is part of the Oceanian realm. It includes four main archipelagos—the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands — as well as numerous islands that are not part of any archipelago.

There are four main island groups in Micronesia:

The Caroline Islands (Federated States of Micronesia and Palau)
The Gilbert Islands (Kiribati)
The Mariana Islands (Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, US)
The Marshall Islands

This does not include the separate island nation of Nauru, along with other distinctly separate islands and smaller island groups.

Polynesia is made up of more than 1000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. Geographically, the Polynesian Triangle is drawn by connecting the points of Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island.

The other main island groups located within the Polynesian Triangle are:

Samoa
Tonga
the Cook Islands
Tuvalu
Tokelau
Niue
Wallis and Futuna
French Polynesia

Most Polynesian islands and archipelagos, including the Hawaiian Islands and Samoa, are composed of volcanic islands built by hotspots (volcanoes).

What is "Pacific"

Overview

We start your learning of Pacific health with learning about Pacific peoples. In many Pacific cultures when engaging in a space of health, a space that is often seen as a place of mana, respect and sensitivity, it is important to develop and nurture relationships respecting the “va” in these relationships to provide opportunity for honest and open sharing of information.

As a future health worker this will be critical for you to ensure you engage well and understand the context of Pacific peoples presenting to you in the various areas of health you may work in.

Over the course of the next five years we will be sharing various elements of Pacific health to help develop your cultural competency as a future health worker with an objective to equip you to be culturally safe as you work with Pacific peoples in the health space.

This learning starts here in year two, learning about who Pacific peoples are and how they came to be. It starts with understanding what the word “Pacific” means?

What is "Pacific"?

The word Pacific or Pasifika is often used when referring to migrants from neighbouriung Pacific Island countries.

"Pacific" is often used within the health sector.

"Pasifika" is often used in the education sector.

"Pacific peoples" is the preferred term used in health sector publications, referring to the Pacific population in New Zealand.

It is important to remember that Pasifika or Pacific peoples refers to people from multiple ethnic groups from the Pacific Islands. Each ethnic group has its own distinct culture, protocols and unique cultural context.

“E felelei manu ae ma’au i o latou ofaga”

“Birds migrate to environments where they survive and thrive”

A Samoan proverb that is used to describe and illustrate how Samoans (but refers to all Pacific) journeyed across the Pacific ocean in search of knowledge, prosperity and growth and refers to how their migration required them to adapt to new surroundings. Now, how did Pacific peoples come to be in the Pacific?

Historic Migration

Gain insights into the remarkable journeys, challenges, and triumphs of those who traversed vast oceans to settle in the Pacific Islands and beyond. These narratives provide essential historical context for understanding the Pacific diaspora.

Continuing the Pacific

Migration Story

You will be wondering what the migration of Pacific peoples 3000+ years ago has to do with Pacific health today in Aotearoa?

Well, to truly understand Pacific peoples you need to understand what is important to us as a people. Knowing who we are and where we came from especially knowing our genealogy from as early as it can be remembered is what makes us the people we are today.

Pacific peoples have called the Pacific region home for over 3000 years, but the story of Pacific migration is far from over. Today, many are embarking on journeys far from their island nations in search of new opportunities.

Historically, migration was driven by the pursuit of improved work and education opportunities. This shift was prompted by societal changes and the introduction of cash economies by colonial powers. It was further shaped by Pacific nations gaining independence and the challenges of establishing their place in the modern world.

New Zealand, once an administrator of several Pacific Island nations on behalf of the British Empire, has maintained a pivotal role in their development post-independence. Notably, the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau are recognized as 'Realm Nations,' and their citizens hold New Zealand citizenship.

These Realm Nations, along with others sharing special relationships, have been invited to New Zealand to address labour shortages and have since become part of evolving migration schemes.

The Pacific's dynamic migration story is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the enduring connections between Pacific communities and their diasporas.

Migration of our

Pacific Peoples

Modern Migration Stories

Now Hear firsthand accounts of modern migration experiences from Pacific individuals living in New Zealand. These personal stories offer poignant perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that arise when transitioning to a new land. Learn about the resilience, culture, and contributions of Pacific communities in New Zealand.

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