Decolonisation of Oceania

The decolonisation of Oceania followed World War II. It includes the process of gradual evolution from British rule through self-government to full independence of Australia and New Zealand and the more straightforward decolonisation of the other countries in Oceania.

Timeline

Country	Colonial name	Colonial power[1]	Independence date[2]	First head of state[3]	War for independence
Indonesia[4]	Dutch East Indies	Netherlands	27 December 1949[5]	Sukarno	Indonesian National Revolution
Samoa	UN Trust Territory	Germany; British New Zealand	1 January 1962	Malietoa Tanumafili II and Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole[6]	-[7]
Nauru	UN Trust Territory	Germany; British Australia[8]	31 January 1968	Hammer DeRoburt	-
Tonga	Tonga	Britain	4 June 1970	Taufaʻahau Tupou IV	-
Fiji	Fiji	Britain	10 October 1970	Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara	-
Papua New Guinea	Papua and New Guinea	Germany/Britain;[9] British Australia	16 September 1975	Michael Somare	-
Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	Britain	7 July 1978	Peter Kenilorea	-
Tuvalu	Ellice Islands	Britain	1 October 1978	Toaripi Lauti	-
Kiribati	Gilbert Islands	Britain	12 July 1979	Ieremia Tabai	-
Vanuatu	New Hebrides	Britain/France[10]	30 July 1980	George Kalkoa	-[11]
Australia	Australia	Britain	1901/1942/1986	n/a	-
Marshall Islands	UN Trust Territory	Germany; Japan; USA	21 October 1986	Amata Kabua	-
Micronesia	UN Trust Territory	Germany; Japan; USA	3 November 1986	Tosiwo Nakayama	-
New Zealand	New Zealand	Britain	1907/1947/1986	n/a	-
Cook Islands	Cook Islands	New Zealand	1965/1992/current[12]	n/a	-
Palau	UN Trust Territory	Germany; Japan; USA	1 October 1994	Kuniwo Nakamura	-
Niue	Niue	New Zealand	1974/1994/current[13]	n/a	-
Timor-Leste[14]	Portuguese Timor; Timor Timur	Portugal; Indonesia	28 November 1975; 20 May 2002[15]	Francisco Xavier do Amaral; Xanana Gusmão	Carnation Revolution; Indonesian occupation

See also

Oceania portal

• Current United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
• Current List of dependent territories
• Colonialism
• Colonization of Australia
• Colonization of New Zealand
• Decolonization
• Wars of national liberation

Notes

1. ^ Some territories changed hands multiple times, so in the list is mentioned the last colonial power. In addition to it the mandatory or trustee powers are mentioned for territories that were League of Nations mandates and UN Trust Territories.
2. ^ Date of decolonization for territories annexed by or integrated into previously decolonized independent countries are given in separate notes.
3. ^ First head of state after independence. For current and former Commonwealth realms instead of first head of state is listed the first head of government.
4. ^ Transcontinental country, partially located in Asia.
5. ^ Netherlands New Guinea was separated from the Dutch East Indies on 29 December 1945. Following skirmishes with Indonesia in 1961 and the New York Agreement, the Netherlands transferred authority of Dutch New Guinea to a UN protectorate on 1 October 1962 and it was integrated into Indonesia on 1 May 1963.
6. ^ Joint position known as O Ao o le Malo, whose individuals are severally referred to as O le Ao o le Malo.
7. ^ The Mau was a non-violent movement for Samoan independence from colonial rule during the early 1900s.
8. ^ As a League of Nations mandate and later UN Trust Territory Nauru was under effective Australian administration with the United Kingdom and New Zealand as nominal co-trustees.
9. ^ The main part of German New Guinea after the World War I became a League of Nations mandate and later a UN Trust Territory as the Territory of New Guinea under Australian administration. The Territory of Papua was a British colony transferred to the British Dominion of Australian administration in 1902.
10. ^ Vanuatu was a joint British-French Condominium
11. ^ The Coconut War was a brief clash between rebels opposing independence and prime minister-elect sanctioned Papua New Guinea forces.
12. ^ Since 4 August 1965 the Cook Islands are a state in free association with New Zealand. The UN recognized them as state under international law in 1992. The Cook Islands are fully independent in their foreign relations and defence, but retain a residual constitutional link with New Zealand in relation to citizenship.
13. ^ Since 19 October 1974 Niue is a state in free association with New Zealand. The UN recognized it as state under international law in 1994. Niue is fully independent in its foreign relations and defence, but retain a residual constitutional link with New Zealand in relation to citizenship.
14. ^ Transcontinental country, sometimes considered Asian.
15. ^ Independence was declared on November 28, 1975, but nine days later began the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. Independence was restored after UN intervention from October 25, 1999 till May 20, 2002.