A Cook Islander has won what is being billed as the first coconut tree climbing world championship.

George Iona from Nassau atoll won the contest in French Polynesia, held in the garden of the Tahiti Museum.

Radio1 in Tahiti reported that in the final Iona defeated Fiapa'i Ellio of Samoa, who was the favourite after the heats earlier in the week.

Tahiti's Tainui Lenoir came third.

Footage of Iona's winning climb was posted by TNTV.