Polynesia consists of a grouping of islands which stretch across a huge triangular area of the east-central Pacific Ocean. At its apex are the Hawaiian Islands, and its base angles are New Zealand and Easter Island.
On the basis of archaeological and linguistic evidence, it is thought that central Polynesia was settled by people from Island South-East Asia who travelled westwards through Melanesia to the Polynesian islands some 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.
From central Polynesia, particularly Fiji, further migrations followed over a long period of time to the more distant islands. This occurred between 1500 BC and AD 500, although New Zealand was settled even later.
It is also possible that there were occasional intrusions into eastern Polynesia from the Americas. This would account for the introduction of the sweet potato into Polynesia
