The first European to discover Niue was British Captain James Cook in 1774. He called the island Savage Island because he thought they were painted with blood.

Who found Niue?

Niue was first settled by Polynesian sailors from Samoa in around 900 AD. Further settlers (or possibly invaders) arrived from Tonga in the 16th century. The first known sighting of the island by a European was by Captain James Cook in 1774 during his second Pacific voyage.

How Niue got its name?

For the next couple of centuries, Niue was known as Savage Island until its original name, "Niue", which translates as "behold the coconut", regained use. Whaling vessels were some of the most regular visitors to the island in the nineteenth century.