The Mystery Of Tuanaki

Island

IT is hoped that John Greenstone and his romantic troupe “fleeing from city frustrations” (FIM December, page 81) will not be mis led by the United States Air Force air navigation chart which, al though an official document of the US Army Map Service, published in 1942 —shows New Island.

The name “New Island” will probably mean little to the average reader—but the name Taunaki will certainly mean something to people in the Cook Is.

So persistent are the stories in Rarotonga about Tuanaki that many believe than it once existed, and that it subsided probably less than 200 years ago.

A family living in Titikaveka district claims direct descent from a Tuanaki man. Others claim that their great - grand - parents had visited the island which was said to be “within sight of the mountains of Rarotonga.”

No island or reef has ever been discovered within this distance of Rarotonga, but 160 miles to the south, modern charts show Haymet Rock with the notation e.d. (existence doubtful).

In the days when navigation was less accurate than it is to-day, European navigators reported an island at varying points in this region but ’ modem search has

failed to locate reef, rock, or isl The supposed Island —knowr New Island, and doubtless Tuanaki of the Polynesians long been struck off all navigati charts except the American c referred to above. There it is sh not as “e.d.” (or even “p.d.,” pos doubtful), but as substantial Rarotonga itself.

The island’s position accordin the US chart is 23 deg. 50 mi and 159 deg. .02 min. W.

The chart is the USAAF A Map Service Chart, Pitcairn sheet, dated June, 1942.

John Greenstone and other p dise hunters can blame the Army if they search in vain this particular Forgotten Island