In this paper we compute the Nielsen numbers N(f(m)) and the Nielsen type numbers NPm (f) and N Phi(m) (f) for all m, for periodic maps f on tori and nilmanifolds. For fixed m, there are known formulas for these numbers for arbitrary maps on tori and nilmanifolds. However when seeking to determine these numbers for all m for periodic maps, fascinating patterns and shortcuts are revealed. Our method has two main thrusts. Firstly we study N(f(m)),NPm(f) and N Phi(m) (f) on primitives (maps whose linearizations consist of primitive roots of unity), and then secondly we employ fibre techniques to give an inductive approach to the general case adding one primitive at a time. This approach is made possible by the eigen structure of the linearizations of the maps involved.