Kiribati

Where can I find information about Kiribati?

(Years 5-8)

Colour photo of a Maneaba (meeting house) with palm trees in the background. — *Image: Maneaba in Marakei, Kiribati by Rafael Ávila Coya on Wikimedia Commons.*

Entry last updated: 26/09/23

Introduction

The Republic of Kiribati (pronounced 'Kiri-bas') is a country in the South Pacific Ocean that speaks English and Gilbertese (or I-Kiribati). Made up of 33 islands, Kiribati is home to the South Pacific's largest marine reserve.

There are many people who belong to the ethnic group of Kiribati living in New Zealand.

Facts and pictures

Here are some reliable websites with lots of facts, information and images on the islands of Kiribati.

Digital Pasifik

This site is part of the Pacific Virtual Museum pilot project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia and put together by the National Library of New Zealand and the National Library of Australia.

Look down the page to Explore locations.
Choose Kiribati.
You can use Filter by and Media Type to only look at images, objects, videos, or audio.

Tips: Websites that have .org or .net in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the organisation’s mission and values are.

BBC Country Profiles

This is the website for the popular British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for international news. It has a section on country profiles that covers facts, government and history of countries like Kiribati.

Look down the page for the Asia-Pacific heading.
Choose the Country Kiribati.
The page has facts and information about how the country is being impacted by climate change.

Tips: Websites that have .com or .co in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the company’s mission and values are.

CIA World Factbook

This website from the US government has lots and facts and information on subjects like geography, people, government and economy of various countries.

Go to the tab Countries, then select K to find a link to Kiribati.
Find the table of Contents and select a link about People and Society, Government or Economy to understand more about this nation in the Pacific.

Tips: A website’s address (URL) can give you a hint about how reliable it is. Look for addresses in the results that include .gov or .edu in the URL. These are quality sites from overseas government or educational organisations.

Daily life

The database below will help you find out about the life, culture, economy and people in Kiribati.

Britannica School

Britannica School is one of the EPIC databases put together especially for schools in New Zealand. It covers lots of topics in science, history and countries of the world.

Choose the Primary level and put in your keyword 'Kiribati'.
Select the articles Kiribati (Island country in central pacific ocean) or Bairiki (Capital of Kiribati). Both are great links to read about the people and culture of Kiribati.
You can always select Reading Level 2 to read more detailed information.

Tips: To get to the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian first. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians between 1 and 6pm Monday to Friday and they will help you online. Some EPIC databases may also be available through your public library.

thecoconet.tv

Funded by NZ On Air, thecoconet.tv has lots of cultural information, songs, recipes, stories, news, and videos.

Use the keyword 'Kiribati' to search the site.
Choose something to read or watch eg Kiribati Independence Day.

New Zealand connection

Besides trade, New Zealand and Kiribati have lots of connections in terms of shared geography, travel, tourism and development.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Manatū Aorere

This site helps us understand the relationships between New Zealand's and the Pacific Islands.

Select Countries & regions.
Choose Australia and Pacific.
Select Kiribati to read about how New Zealand and Kiribati work with each other.

Tips: We like sites like these because they’re reliable. You can tell because of their web address – they have either .govt or .ac, meaning they are from government or educational organisations. They’re also New Zealand sites, so relevant for us.