Monarchies in Oceania: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand.jpg|thumb|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] is head of state of five sovereign independent countries in Oceania. She is shown here as the [[Monarchy of New Zealand|Queen of New Zealand]], wearing various State Orders]] |
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand.jpg|thumb|[[Queen Elizabeth II]] is head of state of five sovereign independent countries in Oceania. She is shown here as the [[Monarchy of New Zealand|Queen of New Zealand]], wearing various State Orders.]] |
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There are presently 6 '''monarchies in Oceania'''; that is: self-governing sovereign and independent states in [[Oceania]] where supreme power resides with an individual hereditary head, who is recognised as the [[head of state]]. Each is a [[constitutional monarchy]], wherein the sovereign inherits his or her office, usually keeps it until death or abdication, and is bound by laws and customs in the exercise of their powers. Currently all six of these monarchies are independent states, and five of them equally share [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as their respective head of state<ref name=QEII>{{cite web| url=http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/constitutional-monarchies.shtml| title=List of world monarchies| accessdate=2008-11-31}}</ref>, making them part of a global grouping known as the [[Commonwealth realm]]s. Two of the monarchies in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand, have dependencies within the continent and outside it. There is also one subnational monarchy in Oceania, the [[Maori]] monarchy. |
There are presently 6 '''monarchies in Oceania'''; that is: self-governing sovereign and independent states in [[Oceania]] where supreme power resides with an individual hereditary head, who is recognised as the [[head of state]]. Each is a [[constitutional monarchy]], wherein the sovereign inherits his or her office, usually keeps it until death or abdication, and is bound by laws and customs in the exercise of their powers. Currently all six of these monarchies are independent states, and five of them equally share [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as their respective head of state<ref name=QEII>{{cite web| url=http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/constitutional-monarchies.shtml| title=List of world monarchies| accessdate=2008-11-31}}</ref>, making them part of a global grouping known as the [[Commonwealth realm]]s. Two of the monarchies in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand, have dependencies within the continent and outside it. There is also one subnational monarchy in Oceania, the [[Maori]] monarchy. |
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Revision as of 18:35, 2 January 2009
There are presently 6 monarchies in Oceania; that is: self-governing sovereign and independent states in Oceania where supreme power resides with an individual hereditary head, who is recognised as the head of state. Each is a constitutional monarchy, wherein the sovereign inherits his or her office, usually keeps it until death or abdication, and is bound by laws and customs in the exercise of their powers. Currently all six of these monarchies are independent states, and five of them equally share Queen Elizabeth II as their respective head of state[1], making them part of a global grouping known as the Commonwealth realms. Two of the monarchies in Oceania, Australia and New Zealand, have dependencies within the continent and outside it. There is also one subnational monarchy in Oceania, the Maori monarchy.
Current monarchies
Australia
The Australian monarchy goes back a few hundred years. More than 300 years ago Australia was found by Europeans and eventually settled by the British. Before the settlement there already existed native people as well. Eventually Australia was granted more and more powers to govern itself. In 1900 one of the last acts of Queen Victoria before she passed away on January 22 1901 was the giving Royal Assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Act which would give Australia is own Constitution and government. On January 1st 1901 Queen Victoria would live to see the day Australia was declared federated with six states and several territories in Centennial Park, Sydney. 30 years following that the Statute of Westminster granted equality to the realms and finally on 3 March 1986 Australia Act (UK and Australia) gave full independence to Australia in theory and practice.
In 1999 Australia held a referendum on whether to become a republic or not, the referendum's outcome was the retention of the monarchy of Australia. The majority of all voters and all states rejected the proposal.
The Realm of Australia also includes the following: Jervis Bay Territory (a naval base and sea port for the national capital—land that was formerly part of New South Wales); Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands (inhabited external territories); and Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory (largely uninhabited).
New Zealand
In New Zealand as well there existed native people, who now call the islands Aotearoa, before the arrival of colonisers. These native people or Maori, signed a treaty on 6 February 1840. The Treaty of Waitangi was a agreement between the Maori people and representatives of the then British Crown (now the Crown of New Zealand). It is today highly respected by Maori as it is seen as a treaty which granted them certain rights. The treaty is seen as one of the founding documents of the Constitution of New Zealand and to this day is part of New Zealand law.
The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).
Papua New Guinea
The monarchy of Papua New Guinea (the Papua New Guinean Monarchy) is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign of PNG. The present monarch of Papua New Guinea is Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch is constitutionally represented by the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, whose roles and powers are laid out by the Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
After being ruled by three external powers since 1884, Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975. It chose to become a kingdom with its own Queen and monarchy.
Solomon Islands
The Head of State of the Solomon Islands is Queen Elizabeth II. The Solomon Islands share the Sovereign with a number of Commonwealth realms. The Queen's constitutional roles have been almost entirely delegated to the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands. Royal succession is governed by the English Act of Settlement of 1701, which is part of constitutional law.
On all matters of the Solomon Island State, the Monarch is advised solely by Solomon Island ministers, not British or otherwise.
Tuvalu
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. The islands came under the UK's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as part of a protectorate from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974 the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status as Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within The Commonwealth in 1978.
A constitutional referendum held on 30 April 2008 turned out 1,260 to 679 votes in favour of retaining the monarchy.
See also
- Monarchy of Australia
- Monarchy of New Zealand
- Monarchy of Tuvalu
- Monarchy of Papua New Guinea
- Monarchy of the Solomon Islands
- Monarchy of Tonga
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Equal primogeniture is being considered.
- ^ As Queen of the United Kingdom; since 1 October 1978 as Queen of Tuvalu.
- ^ As Queen of Australia; since 16 September 1975 as Queen of Papua New Guinea.
- ^ As Queen of the United Kingdom; since 7 July 1978 as Queen of the Solomon Islands.
- ^ Nation refers to the more stricter usage of the word here, which means a type of people or a similar meaning. The monarchies under "Nation" in the table are all sub-national monarchies and are not sovereign independent countries.
- ^ This monarchy exists mainly in New Zealand.