Polynesia vs. Oceania: Understanding the Difference

Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising islands of the central and eastern Pacific. It includes three main groups:

• Eastern Polynesia: Marquesas, Cook, Tuamotu, Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Mangareva.
• Central Polynesia: Samoas, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna.
• Western Polynesia: Tonga, Rotuma (Fiji dependency), Niue, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, New Zealand.

Oceania is the larger region encompassing all Pacific islands, including Polynesia, plus:

• Melanesia: Fiji, New Guinea, Moluccas, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia.
• Micronesia: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands.
• The continent of Australia.