A delegation from French Polynesia is travelling to Poland in the hope of securing its first World Heritage site.
Taputapuatea marae on Raiatea in French Polynesia Photo: AFP
At its meeting in Cracow, UNESCO is considering an application by France to recognise Raiatea's Taputapuatea marae as a world heritage site.
The marae complex is about 1,000 years old and was a centre for Polynesian seafarers from where they explored islands such as Rapa Nui, Hawai'i and New Zealand.
The French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch and the culture minister Heremoana Maamaatuiahutapu are bound for the conference where the 21 member states will determine whether to enlist the French Polynesian site.
The territory has been campaigning for years to secure global recognition of the marae.