Takutea

[2] When Captain James Cook sighted the island on 4 April 1777, and some crew members went ashore, they found some huts, but no evidence of a permanent settlement.

In 1905, 60% of the island was cleared and planted with coconut palms for copra production, and the plantation was maintained by visiting workers from Atiu.

[4] In 1950 the Land Court of the Cook Islands appointed three ariki and four mataiapo as trustees, to hold it on behalf of the people of Atiu.

Heavily modified for copra production in the early twentieth century, Takutea's vegetation has since been left to recover.

[6]: 12  The inner forest is dominated by Pisonia grandis, Guettarda speciosa, and Coconut, with an underlayer of Tacca leontopetaloides and Asplenium australasicum.

[6]: 11 Because of its importance as a seabird breeding area, Takutea's trustees manage it as a wildlife sanctuary, and have banned the killing of birds or the removal of red tropicbird tail-feathers.