South Polynesia (244–675 CE): Post-Hatepe Worlds Geographical…

South Polynesia (244–675 CE): Post-Hatepe Worlds

Geographical Parameters

South Polynesia includes:

• North Island of New Zealand (excluding the southern coast)
• Chatham Islands (Rēkohu)
• Norfolk Island
• Kermadec Islands

Anchors

• Taupō tephra landscapes
• Rotorua lakes
• Bay of Plenty
• Norfolk forests
• Chatham wetlands

Climate & Environmental Conditions

Following the Hatepe eruption, ecosystems reorganized across much of North Island.

Ecological Setting

Fresh soils, regenerating forests, altered river systems, and highly productive estuaries expanded ecological opportunity.

Regional Context

Across central Polynia, navigational systems matured, though South Polynia remained unsettled.