Isabella Carter
There are 6 constitutional monarchies in Oceania. These include Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. The King of New Zealand is legally considered a distinct monarch from the monarch of the United Kingdom. The monarchy of Papua New Guinea is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the head of state. The present monarch of Papua New Guinea is King Charles III. 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.
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What You'll Learn
Papua New Guinea's monarchy
Papua New Guinea is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth. The current monarch of Papua New Guinea is King Charles III, who has been the country's head of state since 8 September 2022. The monarchy of Papua New Guinea is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state. Although the person of the sovereign is shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled "King of Papua New Guinea" and, in this capacity, he and other members of the royal family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of Papua New Guinea.
The Crown today primarily functions as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against the abuse of power. While some powers are exercisable only by the sovereign, most of the monarch's operational and ceremonial duties are exercised by his representative, the governor-general of Papua New Guinea. The governor-general is elected by the unicameral National Parliament of Papua New Guinea and is then appointed by the monarch in accordance with the parliamentary vote. The prime minister of Papua New Guinea is elected by the National Parliament, while the other ministers are appointed by the governor-general on the prime minister's advice. The National Parliament has 111 seats, of which 22 are occupied by the governors of the 22 provinces and the National Capital District.
Papua New Guinea became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1975, choosing to become a kingdom with its own monarch. The country's constitution, which was also adopted in 1975, granted Queen Elizabeth II separate style and titles in her role as Head of State of Papua New Guinea. Under section 85 of the Constitution, the Queen's royal style and titles in relation to Papua New Guinea were: "Elizabeth II, Queen of Papua New Guinea and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth." Since the accession of Charles III, the monarch's title is: "Charles III, King of Papua New Guinea and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth." This style communicates Papua New Guinea's status as an independent monarchy, highlighting the monarch's role specifically as Head of State of Papua New Guinea, as well as the shared aspect of the Crown throughout the realms.
Papua New Guinea is the world's third-largest island country, comprising the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and offshore islands in Melanesia, a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia. It has a land border with Indonesia to the west and neighbours Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east. Its capital, on its southern coast, is Port Moresby. The country is believed to be the home of many undocumented species of plants and animals and is the most populous Pacific island country, with a population of around 17 million people.
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Australia's constitutional monarchy
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles III as its head of state. The country's history as a constitutional monarchy dates back to its time as a collection of British colonies, each with its own written constitution, parliament, and laws. When these colonies joined to form Australia in 1901, they chose to adopt a constitutional monarchy system similar to that of the United Kingdom.
The Australian monarchy has evolved over time, gaining more power to govern independently from the United Kingdom. In 1900, Queen Victoria gave royal assent to the Commonwealth of Australia Act, which provided Australia with its own federal constitution and government. The Statute of Westminster in 1931 granted equality to the realms, further solidifying Australia's independence. The Australia Act of 1986 gave full theoretical independence to Australia, although it had already been operating mostly independently.
The role of the monarch in Australia is largely ceremonial, with the King's powers delegated to his representative, the Governor-General, who is appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor-General has the power to preside over the creation of a coalition government following a parliamentary election. Additionally, upon the demise of the Crown, it is the Governor-General's duty to publicly proclaim the accession of the new monarch on behalf of the Federal Executive Council.
In 1999, Australia held a referendum on becoming a republic, but the result was in favour of retaining the Australian monarchy. This showcases the complex and evolving nature of Australia's constitutional monarchy, where the balance of powers and the role of the monarch continue to be a subject of discussion and potential reform.
Apart from Australia, there are several other countries in Oceania that have a constitutional monarchy system of government. This includes New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Each of these countries has unique characteristics and relationships with their monarchies, showcasing the diversity of constitutional monarchies in the region.
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New Zealand's monarchy
New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The current sovereign and head of state is King Charles III, who is legally considered a distinct monarch from the monarch of the United Kingdom. The King's constitutional roles have been delegated to a governor-general, Dame Cindy Kiro, whom he appoints on the advice of the prime minister.
The New Zealand monarchy has evolved to become a distinct institution, represented by unique symbols. This evolution began with the passage of the Statute of Westminster, which introduced the concept that while Britain and its former dominions have a shared sovereign, they are legally and constitutionally distinct. The Constitution Act 1986 further solidified the unique nature of the New Zealand monarchy, declaring that "The Sovereign in right of New Zealand is the head of State of New Zealand, and shall be known by the royal style and titles proclaimed from time to time".
The Māori King Movement, or Kīngitanga in Māori, arose in the 1850s among the Māori iwi (tribes) of New Zealand's central North Island. This movement sought to establish a role similar in status to that of the British colonial monarch, as a way to halt the alienation of Māori land. The Māori monarch operates in a non-constitutional capacity, with no legal or judicial power within the New Zealand government. However, reigning monarchs retain the position of paramount chief of several iwi and hold some power, especially within the Tainui iwi.
In addition to the Māori King Movement, New Zealand has a history of monarchist organisations, such as the Monarchist League of New Zealand (later rebranded as Monarchy New Zealand), which was active from 1995 until its dissolution in 2019. The group campaigned on issues such as the retention of titular honours in the New Zealand royal honours system and held celebrations for significant events in the lives of the royal family, such as the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.
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Solomon Islands' shared sovereign
The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as its head of state. The country shares its sovereign with a number of Commonwealth realms, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The King's constitutional roles have been mostly delegated to the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands, who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister. The Governor-General is advised solely by Solomon Island ministers on all matters concerning the Solomon Islands State.
The Solomon Islands, also known as the Solomons, is an island country in Melanesia, Oceania, comprising six major islands and over 1000 smaller islands. The country has a population of around 734,887 people as of mid-2023, with the majority of its population being ethnically Melanesian. The capital and largest city, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
The history of the Solomon Islands dates back to ancient times, with evidence of human settlement as early as 30,000 to 28,800 BC. The islands were first visited by Europeans in 1568 when the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña arrived. In 1893, the southern Solomon Islands became a British protectorate, and during World War II, the islands saw fierce fighting between the United States, British Imperial forces, and the Empire of Japan. The Solomon Islands gained independence from British rule in 1978 and became a constitutional monarchy.
In recent years, the Solomon Islands has made headlines for its growing relationship with China. In 2022, the country signed a security agreement with China, which has raised concerns among neighbouring countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The agreement could allow for an ongoing Chinese military and naval presence in the Solomon Islands, potentially destabilising the region.
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Tonga's constitutional monarchy
Tonga is one of the six constitutional monarchies in Oceania, alongside Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. The first constitutional monarch of Tonga was King George Tupou I, who enacted the Constitution of Tonga on November 4, 1875. The Constitution stipulates the makeup of the Tongan Government and the balance between its executive, legislature, and judiciary.
The Constitution of Tonga is divided into three parts. The first part is a declaration of the rights of the Tongan people, which includes basic human rights and freedoms of worship, press, speech, petition, and assembly. It also establishes a national tax in return for protection of life, liberty, and property, and sets an age of maturity for the inheritance of titles or land. Additionally, it states that foreigners who have lived in Tonga for at least five years can become naturalized citizens by taking an oath of allegiance, granting them the same rights as natural-born Tongans, except for the right to hereditary tax allotments.
The second part of the Constitution addresses the form of government, which includes the hereditary monarch, who appoints all members of the cabinet, including the prime minister and deputy prime minister. The Legislative Assembly is composed of representatives from both the Nobles and the people, with 17 of the 26 representatives being directly elected. The third part of the Constitution provides laws for land ownership, succession, and sale.
In terms of the power held by the monarch, Tonga's constitutional monarchy appears to fall somewhere between a ceremonial monarchy and an executive monarchy. While the monarch has significant power, including the ability to appoint all cabinet members, they do not have absolute power, as they are bound by the Constitution and the laws it sets out.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 6 countries in Oceania that use a constitutional monarchy.
The following countries in Oceania use a constitutional monarchy: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Yes, Papua New Guinea has its own monarchy, which it established after gaining independence from Australia in 1975. New Zealand also has a distinct monarchy from the United Kingdom, with its own unique symbols and a separate sovereign.
