Main food staples are pulaka (Cyrtosperma merkusii) or swamp taro that is grown in the pits; breadfruit, coconut and pandanus is also cultivated.

In March 2015 Niutao suffered damage to houses, crops and infrastructure as the result of storm surges caused by Cyclone Pam.

He settled at Tamana on the eastern side of the island, where winds swept the spray of the surf over the reef.

"[7] 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.

[4] Niutao is part of a distinct linguistic area of Tuvalu, that includes the islands of Nanumea and Nanumaga as well.

[8][9] There has been some debate as to the first European (Palagi) to visit Niutao, Keith S. Chambers and Doug Munro (1980) solved what Europeans described as The 'Mystery' of Gran Cocal and identified Spanish naval officer Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa as sailing past Niutao on May 5, 1781.

La Princesa was short of supplies but Mourelle was forced to sail on — naming Niutao, El Gran Cocal ('The Great Coconut Plantation').

[15] Tapumanaia Kitiona was the Samoan missionary on Niutao who arrived in 1865 after graduating from Malua Theological College in Samoa.

Captain Davis of the Royalist, reported Niutao as exporting about 50 tons of copra each year — in a good season.

An account of the voyage was written by Fanny Vandegrift Stevenson and published under the title The Cruise of the Janet Nichol.

[26] A passenger on the ship was Jack Buckland, who later returned to Niutao to be the resident copra trader.

Part payment of $4,000 of the costs of the church was being delivered to the ship Dawn off Niutao.

The paletua (seat) of the Chief Kaupule or Fogauli was made out of pukavai (Pisonia grandis) timber by Fred Whibley.

[4] 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.

[4] In 1961 Gerd Koch, a German anthropologist, recorded songs and filmed life on Niutao.

From the late 18th century the two Paramount Chiefs of Niutao were leaders of the districts of Teitieva and Malaefono.

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.