There are 17 islands that make up the Mortlock Islands, the largest being Takuu. This island group is located 270 kilometres east-northeast of Buka Township. The total land area is 110 hectares. The estimated rainfall is 2500 millimetres per year. The waters surrounding the island are abundant in sea life which makes up a large part of the diet for the people on the islands. These islands also consist of Polynesian people who settled some 800 to 1000 years ago, the language spoken is similar to that of the New Zealand Maori, and no one is sure why.