The lapita people branched off into two different cultural groups, the polynesians and

melanesians
australians
taiwanese
maori

The answer is Melanesian. The Lapita people branched off into two different cultural groups, the Polynesians and Melanesians. Lapita people were a prehistoric Pacific Ocean people. The Lapita people were known to be good in seamanship and navigation. There economy were largely due to agriculture. They domesticate animals, plant crops and trees and fish in water bodies. Although, a few percent is due to trading.