Post-Colonial Pacific Independence

PACIFIC COLONISATION

Decolonisation of the Pacific island nations largely occurred from the mid 20th century, particularly from  the 1960s to the 1980s, when many of the island nations regained their independence.

SAMOA

In 1962 Samoa became the first Pacific island state to regain its independence. A new constitution was accompanied by a Treaty of Friendship that guaranteed New Zealand assistance in areas such as foreign affairs and defence. On 9 May 1961, 83% of voters had backed the constitution in a referendum supervised by the United Nations.

Source: Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Samoa, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

MAU REBELLION

Samoa has a history of opposition to European rule. Formal resistance had occurred on two occasions during the German colonial era, and several petitions had already challenged New Zealand's administration. But the opposition that emerged in the late 1920s was organised and widespread.

In March 1927, the Citizens' Committee confirmed the principles of an organisation called the League of Samoa. It became known as O le Mau a Samoa - ‘the firm opinion of Samoa’ - the Mau. Its slogan, Samoa Mo Samoa – ‘Samoa for Samoans’ – envisaged a Samoa without New Zealand. 

Source: New Zealand in Samoa - The rise of the Mau movement, NZHistory

TOKELAU

New Zealand assumed control over the Tokelau Islands from Britain in 1926, and incorporated them within the territorial boundaries of New Zealand in 1948. Tokelau, which had fewer than 2,000 people on its three atolls, voted in 2006 on the proposal that the territory become a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. 349 registered voters were in favour – 60.1%, short of the required two-thirds majority. A second referendum in 2007 obtained the support of 697 voters (64.4%) – 16 fewer than needed.

In 2020 Tokelau remained a New Zealand dependent territory. 

Source: Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Nauru, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

COOK ISLANDS AND NIUE

The Cook Islands, taken under a British protectorate in 1888, became New Zealand’s first South Pacific Island colony in 1901. 

The Cook Islands secured territorial self-government through a ‘free association‘ agreement with New Zealand on 4 August 1965. Niue established a similar arrangement on 19 October 1974. Both adopted constitutions that empowered ‘Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand’, and both remained part of ‘Our Realm of New Zealand’2. 

Source: Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Nauru, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

NAURU

After the First World War, New Zealand shared in the British Empire mandate over Nauru (previously controlled by Germany). The mandate, administered by Australia, guaranteed a plentiful and cheap supply of the island’s phosphates to assist New Zealand agriculture. In 1968 Nauru became the second Pacific Island state to obtain independence.

Source: Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Nauru, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

FIJI AND TONGA

Both Fiji and Tonga were drawn into the British sphere of influence – Fiji was a colony from 1874 and Tonga was under British protection from 1900. Both gained full independence in 1970, as Britain gradually withdrew from the Pacific.

Source: Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Fiji and Tonga, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

FAST FACTS

• Many islands in the South Pacific gained their independence in the latter part of the last century.
• In a referendum held in New Caledonia late 2018, 43.6% of New Caledonians voted for independence while 56.4% voted to remain part of France.
• The Bouganville 2019 independence referendum saw 98.31% of voters wanting full independence.
• Fiji became an independent sovereign state at 10 am on 10th October 1970. Celebrations lasted 6 days.
• On 1st June Samoa celebrated fifty years of independence. Celebrations included a marching girls competition and an international kiribati (Samoan cricket) cricket competition.
• The Cook Islands has just  24 Members of Parliament.

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

Aid in the Pacific — China aid wins influence in the Pacific despite rising concerns.

China's Pacific aid — new data shows China's aid dominance in the Pacific is being overstated.

The decolonisation processes in the South Pacific — decolonisation was the key element from the 1960s to the 1980s in the Pacific.

Fiji — a timeline.

Fiji's history of coups — Mark Tran explains where the 2006 coup fits in the context of Fiji's historic volatile relations between the military and government.

Independence — a selection of Pacific independence stories from Pacific Media Centre.

Indonesia anger — West Papua independence to be raised at 2019 Pacific forum.

Independence vote — Bougainville has voted overwhelmingly for independence in a 2019 historic poll.

The Pacific — a “third option” to the independence question.

Pacific independence movements — despite UN support for self-determination after 1945, the Pacific has not been completely decolonized.

A Pacific overview — the established order in the Pacific had been fractured by World War 2. Servicemen from the Pacific had travelled and fought for freedom and individual rights.

The Pacific’s state of independence — Melanesia is becoming a region of many partners.

Which country gives the most aid to Pacific Island nations?— the answer might surprise you.

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, March 2020.