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Niutao is a reef island in the northern part of Tuvalu. It is one of the nine districts (islands) of Tuvalu. It is also one of the three districts that consist of only one island — not counting the three islets inside the closed lagoon. Niutao has a population of 550 (2022 census).
In March 2015 Niutao suffered damage to houses, crops and infrastructure as the result of storm surges caused by Cyclone Pam.
In the 15th century warriors from Tonga were defeated in a battle on the reef of Niutao at a place known as Tāga A Kaupapa. Tongan warriors also invaded Niutao later in the 15th century and again were repelled. A third invasion of Tongan warriors occurred in the late 16th century; with a fourth following when the Tongans were defeated at a place called Tekamaitoga.
During the 17th century warriors invaded from the islands of Kiribati on two occasions. These battles were fought on the reef; the I-Kiribati stood at Tuteatua and the Niutaoan warriors stood at Agaia; the sacred place named Teititapalua identifies the site of these battles. In the late 17th century fighting occurred in Niutao between competing leaders, with the followers of the defeated leaders being forced off Niutao and were allowed to settle on Nanumea.
Niutao is part of a distinct linguistic area of Tuvalu, that includes the islands of Nanumea and Nanumaga as well.
The next European recorded as sighting Niutao was Obed Starbuck, a whaling captain, who visited Niutao on the Loper in 1825, naming it 'Loper Island'. Presumably this was on November 19 and or November 20, 1825.
Charlie Douglas was an early trader on Niutao in the 1850s.Doug Munro, The Lives and Times of Resident Traders in Tuvalu: An Exercise in History from Below, (1987) 10(2) Pacific Studies 73 Christianization of Niutao began in 1861, with the first introduction by the traders Mr Tom and Mr Jack with the help of Mr Ah Fong and Mr Tong. Mose, from Vaitupu, helped persuade the chiefs and people of Niutao to accept Christianity. The first preachers were a missionary and a missionary. Tapumanaia Kitiona was the Samoan missionary on Niutao who arrived in 1865 after graduating from Malua in Samoa. The Reverend Archibald Wright Murray, of the London Missionary Society, visited in 1866. Murray reported that a blackbirding (a slave ship seeking to kidnap workers to mine the guano deposits on the Chincha Islands in Peru) Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co had called but no islanders were taken by the blackbirders because of the actions of McKenzie, the resident trader. In 1870, Tapu of Samoa and Sione of Niue, two teachers from the Samoa Fono Tele (General Assembly of Samoan Churches) were delivered to Niutao by the Reverend Samuel James Whitmee.
Navy ships known to have visited Niutao in the 19th century are: HMS Basilisk, Captain John Moresby (July 1872); HMS Emerald, Captain William Maxwell (1881); HMS Royalist, Captain Edward Davis (1892); and , Captain Herbert Gibson (1892). Captain Davis of the Royalist, reported Niutao as exporting about 50 tons of copra each year — in a good season.
Palagi copra traders known to have been resident on Niutao are: Charlie Douglas (1850s); Mr Tom, Mr Jack, Mr Ah Fong and Mr Tong (c. 1861); Mr McKenzie (c. 1866); George Winchcombe (c. 1876-1880);Letter of George Lewis Becke quoted by James A. Michener and A. Grove Day, Louis Becke, Adventurer and Writer, Rascals in Paradise, ch 8 (Secker & Warburg (1957)) George Westbrook (1880s); Jack O'Brien (c. 1880s); Jack Buckland (c. 1892); and Fred Whibley (May/June 1898 to c. 1911).S. Aris, Fred Whibley and his family (1966)
Niutao Post Office opened around 1918.
In 1919 a new Fale Kaupule (community hall) was built, which was named Fetu Afiafi. The anointing slab or stone of the Chiefs of Malaefono was moved into the Fale Kaupule; this stone was the symbol of authority, dignity, honour and peace. The paletua (seat) of the Chief Kaupule or Fogauli was made out of pukavai (Pisonia grandis) timber by Fred Whibley.
The construction of a primary school began in early 1951 and was opened on 21 July 1953. The school was named “Whibley Memorial School” by the Paramount Chiefs as Fred Whibley (trader resident on Niutao from 1898 to circa 1911) had encouraged education. The first teacher was Pulekai Alofa Sogivalu, with a class of 40 pupils.
In 1959 the Fale Kaupule (community hall) was reconstructed under the supervision of Fiatau Penitala Teo and the builder Pese Kaitu, and the building was renamed Fetu Afiafi 2.
In 1961 Gerd Koch, a German anthropologist, recorded songs and filmed life on Niutao. Koch returned to Niutao in 1996, where he met islanders who were children when he visited in 1961.
In 1964 the Island Councils of Tuvalu were restructured so as to consist of a President, Vice-President and three councillors elected by the people of each island. In 1979 the central government reformed the Council of Chiefs of each island. From the late 18th century the two Paramount Chiefs of Niutao were leaders of the districts of Teitieva and Malaefono. Following the changes to the role of the Council of Chiefs, the Paramount Chiefs of the districts of Teitieva and Malaefono unanimously agreed that: “There should be one Paramount Chief elected from the two domains. Each domain should then elect two other members. These five members would form the new Council of Chiefs.” The Council of Chiefs works with the Falekaupule on the management of communal activities. The Council of Chiefs maintains its right, in accordance with traditions and customs, to exercise power in matters affecting the social life of the community.
In 2016 Mauatu Teponga was elected chief.
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In 1949, people from overpopulated Niutao settled on Niulakita.
Official sources of the 2002 census of population, listed the village of Kulia (pop. 224) and the village of Teava (pop. 439). The 2012 census, listed the village of Kulia (pop. 200) and the village of Teava (pop. 406).
Central Statistics Department (CSD) of Tuvalu recorded census results:
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The Census Monograph on Migration, Urbanization and Youth provides an analysis of the 2012 census and reported: Niutao and other northern islands had relatively high net migration losses, with most being internal migrants to Funafuti.
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