Taputapuatea

Taputapuatea is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Taputapuatea is located on the island of Raiatea, in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands. At the 2017 census it had a population of 4,792.[1] In 2017 Taputapuatea along with Taputapuatea marae were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.[2]

Taputapuatea
Commune
View of the ancient marae at the archaeological complex of Taputapuatea, restored in 1994
Location of the commune (in red) within the Leeward Islands
Location of Taputapuatea
Coordinates: 16°50′15″S 151°21′32″W
Country	France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Subdivision	Leeward Islands
Government
• Mayor	Thomas Moutame
Area 1	88.5 km2 (34.2 sq mi)
Population  (2017)	4,792
• Density	54/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code	98750 /98735
Elevation	0–758 m (0–2,487 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Taputapuātea

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tiki on the marae at Taputapuatea
Location	Raiatea, French Polynesia, France
Criteria	Cultural: (iii)(iv)(vi)
Reference	1529
Inscription	2017 (41st session)
Area	2,124 ha (5,250 acres)
Buffer zone	3,363 ha (8,310 acres)
Coordinates	16°50′29.04″S 151°22′20.56″W
Location of Taputapuatea in French Polynesia Show map of French Polynesia Taputapuatea (Oceania) Show map of Oceania

Taputapuatea consists of the following associated communes:

• Avera
• Opoa
• Puohine

The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Avera.

The commune was named after a large marae complex which was once considered the religious center of eastern Polynesia. The archaeological site of Taputapuatea marae is still today the most famous landmark of Raiatea.