Editing Aitutaki (section)

==History==
[[File:Aitutaki by Nick Longrich.jpg|thumb|Looking out across the atoll]]
[[Polynesians]] first settled Aitutaki around AD 1225–1430. They maintained voyaging contact over a wide area, for the geochemical source of basalt adze heads found in this island can be traced back to quarries on Samoa to the west and the Society Islands to the east.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Cook Island artifact geochemistry demonstrates spatial and temporal extent of pre-European interarchipelago voyaging in East Polynesia |last1=Weisler |first1=Marshall I. |last2=Bolhar |first2=Robert |last3=Ma |first3=Jinlong |last4=St Pierre |first4=Emma |last5=Sheppard |first5=Peter |last6=walter |first6=Richard K. |last7=Feng |first7=Yuexing |last8=Zhao |first8=Jian-xin |last9=Kirch |first9=Patrick V. |display-authors=3 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=113 |issue=29 |date=5 July 2016 |pages = 8150–8155|doi=10.1073/pnas.1608130113 |pmid = 27382159|pmc = 4961153|bibcode=2016PNAS..113.8150W |doi-access=free }}</ref> According to oral tradition, the island was named by Te Erui, who raised it from the ocean after traveling from [[Avaiki]].<ref name=nzetc/> Other traditions identify various settlers, including Ru, Te Munakorero, Kai, Ui-tario, and [[Ruatapu]].<ref name=nzetc/>

The first known European contact was with Captain [[William Bligh|Bligh]] and the crew of {{HMS|Bounty}} when they also arrived in Aitutaki on 11 April 1789, prior to the infamous [[Mutiny on the Bounty|mutiny]].<ref name=nzetc/>

Aitutaki was the first of the Cook Islands to practice [[Christianity]], after [[London Missionary Society]] (LMS) missionary [[John Williams (missionary)|John Williams]] visited in 1821. The oldest church in the country, the [[Cook Islands Christian Church]] in Arutanga, was built by [[Papeiha]] ([[Bora Bora]]) and Vahapata ([[Raiatea]]), two LMS teachers Williams had left behind.

[[File:Aitutaki Beach by Nick Longrich.jpg|thumb|Coconut on a white sand beach in Aitutaki]]
On 8–9 October 1900 seven instruments of cession of Rarotonga and other islands were signed by their chiefs and people; and by a British Proclamation issued at the same time the cessions were accepted, the islands being declared parts of Her Britannic Majesty's dominions.<ref>''"Commonwealth and Colonial Law"'' by [[Kenneth Roberts-Wray]], London, Stevens, 1966. P. 891</ref> Uniquely, these instruments did not include Aitutaki. It appears that, though the inhabitants of Aitutaki regarded themselves as British subjects, the Crown's title was uncertain, and the island was formally annexed by Proclamation dated 9 October 1900.<ref>"Commonwealth and Colonial Law" by Kenneth Roberts-Wray, London, Stevens, 1966. P. 761</ref><ref>N.Z. Parliamentary Pp., A1 (1900)</ref> It was the only island in the Cook Islands that was annexed rather than ceded.

In 1942 New Zealand and American forces were stationed on the island. The American engineering firm [[Sverdrup & Parcel]], the [[New Zealand Ministry of Works]], US military personnel and many locals combined to build two airstrips which were completed on 14 November 1942. This airport, and one on the northernmost [[Penrhyn (atoll)|Penrhyn Island]], were to be used as bases by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] during [[World War II]]. The first aircraft, an American light bomber, landed on 22 November 1942.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsnews.com/local/aitutaki-airport-marks-75th-year/ |title=Aitutaki airport marks 75th year |author=Chris Taylor|work=[[Cook Islands News]]|date=23 November 2017|access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> When the war ended some of the servicemen remained and married the locals.

During the 1950s Aitutaki's lagoon was used as a stopover for [[Tasman Empire Airways Limited|TEAL]] (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) flying boats on the famous Coral Route. The islet of Akaiami was used as a resting stop for passengers, who often lay about until the aircraft was refueled for two hours.<ref name=teal/> These operations ceased in 1960, and the only reminder are the remains of the purpose-built jetty on Akaiami. The flying boat ''Aranui'', which was part of this service, is now on display at the [[Museum of Transport and Technology]] in [[Auckland]], New Zealand.

Commercial banana-growing was introduced to the island in the late 1960s, but suffered a rapid decline due to wind damage, low prices, and inadequate shipping.<ref>{{cite thesis |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/35463772.pdf |title=Agricultural Change in the Cook Islands; Studies in the Human Ecology of a Pacific Microstate |last=Taylor |first=C. N. |type=PhD |publisher=University of Canterbury |date=1981 |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>{{rp|184–188}} The industry was revived in the late 1970s, but collapsed after New Zealand adopted [[Rogernomics]] and removed privileged market access.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/in-search-of-the-cook-islands-2/ |title=In search of the Cook Islands |author=Mark Scott |publisher=New Zealand Geographic |date=1991 |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> A tourism boom began in the early 1990s, with tourist numbers doubling to 10,000 visitors a year in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118113828 |title=Falling coconut the only peril |author=Simon Louisson |work=Canberra Times |date=17 April 1994 |page=23 |access-date=24 July 2021 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On 10–11 February 2010, Aitutaki was hit by [[Cyclone Pat]]. The high winds of the storm ripped the roofs off of most houses and damaged other buildings including a school and a hospital. At least 60% of houses were damaged. There were no reported deaths but a few minor injuries were reported.<ref name="RNZI_51880">{{cite news |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/188662/wide-range-of-housing-in-aitutaki-wrecked-by-cyclone-pat,-but-resorts-escape-damage |title=Wide range of housing in Aitutaki wrecked by Cyclone Pat, but resorts escape damage |date=11 February 2010 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201002/282342.htm?desktop |title=Australianetworknews.com |access-date=16 February 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708120225/http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201002/282342.htm?desktop |archive-date=8 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An Air Force [[Hercules]] cargo plane and an army engineering team were provided by New Zealand along with an initial $200,000.<ref name="ODT_93672">{{cite news |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/93672/nz-set-juggle-resources-cyclone-hit-pacific |title=NZ set to juggle resources in cyclone-hit Pacific |date=16 February 2010 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref><ref name="TVNZ_3363478">{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/nz-gives-200k-cyclone-hit-cooks-3363478 |title=NZ gives $200k to cyclone-hit Cooks |date=13 February 2010 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref> Cook Island MP [[Teina Bishop]] said "New Zealand aid should have been sent to the devastated area much sooner".<ref name="TVNZ_3365611">{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/nz-aid-response-cook-cyclone-criticised-3365611 |title=NZ aid response to Cook cyclone criticised |date=15 February 2010 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |access-date=16 September 2011}}</ref>

In June 2010 the island was nominated "the world's most beautiful island" by [[Tony Wheeler]] the founder of [[Lonely Planet]] travel guide.<ref>[[Reuters]], 18 June 2010, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-travel-picks-weddings-idUSTRE65H0UT20100618?pageNumber=2 "Travel Picks: Top places to wed and survive a breakup"], Miral Fahmy (ed.); accessed 29 January 2011.</ref>

The delegates of the 2012 [[Pacific Islands Forum]], which had its main venue in Rarotonga, travelled to One Foot Island for a 2-day retreat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-08-28/as-it-happened-pacific-islands-forum/1006884|title=As it happened: Pacific Islands Forum|website=www.radioaustralia.net.au|access-date=2 May 2017}}</ref>