Nukai Peniamina

Who is Nukai Peniamina?

Nukai Peniamina was a Niuean man credited with introducing Christianity to Niue, an event still celebrated today as Gospel Day. As a boy he was taken to Samoa by the London Missionary Society along with his friend Niumaga in 1830, where he worked as a servant for the missionary Dr George Turner, learned to read and write, converted to Christianity, and trained as a pastor at Malua Theological College. In 1846 he returned to Niue aboard the mission ship John Williams, accompanied by the Niuean chief Fakafitifonua; after four failed landing attempts because of local resistance, the chiefs of Mutalau accepted them on 26 October 1846. Christianity spread from Mutalau across the rest of the island over the following years. Peniamina remained at Mutalau until 1849, but in 1850 mission authorities banished him after a relationship considered acceptable under Niuean custom but forbidden under mission rules, and he relocated to Samoa for the rest of his life. He died on 6 March 1874 and is buried at Makefu, Niue. Niueans still commemorate his 1846 landing every year on Gospel Day, the fourth Friday of October, alongside Mutalau Show Day.

Sources: Nukai Peniamina — Wikipedia biographical summary · Niue Pocket Guide, "A Brief History of Niue" and "What is Peniamina Gospel Day in Niue?" · Everyculture.com, "Culture of Niue"