List of events that happened during 2021 in

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern and Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of and a population of around 44.5 million ...

Sovereign states

Australia

*Chief of state: Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

(since 1952)CIA Factbook: United Kingdom
retrieved 16 February 2020 * Governor-General –

David Hurley General David John Hurley, (born 26 August 1953) is an Australian former senior officer in the Australian Army who has served as the 27th governor-general of Australia since 1 July 2019. He was previously the 38th governor of New South Wales, ...

(since 2019) *

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

–

Scott Morrison Scott John Morrison (; born 13 May 1968) is an Australian politician. He served as the 30th prime minister of Australia and as Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2018 to 2022, and is currently the member of parliament (MP) for th ...

(since 2018)

Christmas Island

*Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia: Sir Peter Cosgrove (since 2014)CIA Factbook: Christmas Island
retrieved Feb 23, 2010 * Administrator:

Natasha Griggs Natasha Louise Griggs (born 24 January 1969) is an Australian former politician and the administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories from 2017 to 2022. Griggs was first elected at the 2010 federal election as a member of the Hous ...

(since 2018)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

*Governor General: Sir Peter Cosgrove (since 2014) *Administrator: Natasha Griggs (since 2018)

Norfolk Island

*Administrator: Eric Hutchinson (since 2017)

East Timor / Timor-Leste

President of East Timor The president of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste ( pt, Presidente da República Democrática de Timor-Leste; tet, Prezidente Republika Demokratika Timor-Leste) is the head of state of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. The executiv ...

Francisco Guterres Francisco Guterres, popularly known as Lú-Olo (born 7 September 1954), is an East Timorese politician who served as president of East Timor from 20 May 2017 to 20 May 2022. He is also the president of the political party Fretilin, and he was ...

(since 2017) *

Taur Matan Ruak José Maria Vasconcelos (born 10 October 1956), popularly known as Taur Matan Ruak (Tetum for "Two Sharp Eyes"), is an East Timorese politician who has served as the prime minister of East Timor since 22 June 2018. He was also President of E ...

(since 2018)

Fiji

President of Fiji The president of Fiji is the head of state of the Republic of Fiji. The president is appointed by the Parliament for a three-year term under the terms of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji. Although not entirely a figurehead, the role of president ...

George Konrote Major-General Jioji Konousi "George" Konrote, (born 26 December 1947) is a Fijian politician and retired Major-General of the Fiji Military who served as the President of Fiji from 2015 to 2021. After commanding a peacekeeping mission in Leba ...

(since 2015) *

Head of Government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, ...

Frank Bainimarama Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama (Fijian: ʃoˈsɛia βoˈreŋɡe mbɛiniˈmarama born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst ...

(since 2007) *

Speaker Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

Epeli Nailatikau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, (born 5 July 1941) (often referred to as ''Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca'') is a Fijian chief who was President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015. He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and ...

(since 2019)

Kiribati

*President: Taneti Mamau (since 2016)

Marshall Islands

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

David Kabua David Kabua (born May 26, 1951) is a Marshall Islands, Marshallese politician who has served as President of the Marshall Islands since 13 January 2020. He has represented Wotho Atoll in the Legislature of the Marshall Islands since 2008 and serve ...

(since 2020)New president for Marshall Islands
RNZ, 6 Jan 2020 * Speaker of the legislature:

Kenneth Kedi Kenneth Kedi (born 1971) is a Marshallese politician. He has been Speaker of the Legislature of the Marshall Islands since 4 January 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. Kedi is a member of the Kien Eo Ad (KEA) party. Life Kedi was born in 1971. Ked ...

(since 2016)

Micronesia

President of the Federated States of Micronesia The president of the Federated States of Micronesia is the head of state and government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The FSM president, by virtue of his or her office, is the head of the FSM Cabinet and is in charge of the admin ...

: David W. Panuelo (since 2019)Panuelo sworn in as new FSM president
The Guam Daily Post, 30 July 2019 *

Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia The vice president of Federated States of Micronesia is the second highest position in Federated States of Micronesia. The vice president is elected by the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia from among the at-large members for a four ...

Yosiwo George Yosiwo Palikkun George (24 July 1941 – 13 August 2022) was a Micronesian politician, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia in the 19th (2015–2019) and 20th (2019–2022) terms of congress, under the presidencies of Peter M. Ch ...

(since 2015)

Nauru

President of Nauru The president of Nauru is elected by Parliament from among its members, and is both the head of state and the head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 19 members, with an electoral term of 3 years. Political parties onl ...

Lionel Aingimea Lionel Rouwen Aingimea (born 2 September 1965) is a Nauruan lawyer and politician. He served as the fifteenth president of Nauru from 2019 to 2022. He currently serves as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. Early life Aingimea was born i ...

(since 2019) *

Speaker of Parliament The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

Marcus Stephen Marcus Ajemada Stephen (born 1 October 1969) is a Nauruan politician and former sportsperson who previously was a member of the Cabinet of Nauru, and who served as President of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. The son of Nauruan par ...

(since 2019)

Palau

President of Palau The president of the Republic of Palau is the head of state and head of government of Palau. The president is directly elected to a four-year term, and can be reelected once in a consecutive manner. List of presidents Latest election ...

Thomas Remengesau Jr. Thomas Esang "Tommy" Remengesau Jr. (born 28 February 1956) is a Palauan people, Palauan politician; in 2013 he was elected the ninth president of Palau and was re-elected to that office in 2016. Previously he served as the seventh president of ...

(since 2013)CIA Factbook: Palau
retrieved 3 Apr 2020 *

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

Raynold Oilouch Raynold B. Oilouch (born 1965 or 1966) is a Palauan politician who served as the Vice President of Palau from 19 January 2017 to 21 January 2021. Oilouch was elected vice president in the 2016 elections.http://www.mechanglagoon.com/2016/09/tr-a ...

(until January 21) **

Uduch Sengebau Senior J. Uduch Sengebau Senior (born 1965, Ngerbeched, Koror, Palau) is a Palauan lawyer, judge, and politician who has served as the Vice President of Palau since 2021. She was previously a member of the Senate of Palau from 2013 until she took off ...

(since January 21)

Papua New Guinea

Monarchy of Papua New Guinea The monarchy of Papua New Guinea is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Papua New Guinea. The current monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III. Although the per ...

: Elizabeth II * Governor-General:

Bob Dadae Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae (born 8 March 1961) is a Papua New Guinean politician who serves as the tenth and current Governor-General of Papua New Guinea. He assumed office as the tenth governor-general on 28 February 2017, succeeding Michael Ogio. ...

(since 2017) *

James Marape James Marape (born 24 April 1971) is a Papua New Guinean politician, who is serving as the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the el ...

(since 2019)

Realm of New Zealand

The

Realm of New Zealand The Realm of New Zealand consists of the entire area in which the monarch of New Zealand functions as head of state. The realm is not a federation; it is a collection of states and territories united under its monarch. New Zealand is an indep ...

consists of the sovereign state of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, the associated states of the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

and

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

, and the dependent territory of

Tokelau Tokelau (; ; known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands) is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, a ...

. It also includes the Antarctica territorial claim of the

Ross Dependency The Ross Dependency is a region of Antarctica defined by a circular sector, sector originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160th meridian east, 160° east to 150th meridian west, 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60th para ...

. *

Monarchy of New Zealand The monarchy of New Zealand is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of New Zealand. The current monarch, King Charles III, ascended the throne following the death of his moth ...

: Elizabeth II * Governor-General of New Zealand:

Patsy Reddy Dame Patricia Lee Reddy (born 17 May 1954) is a New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman who served as the 21st governor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021. Before becoming governor-general, Reddy was a partner of a law firm, headed a majo ...

New Zealand

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Speaker may refer to: Society and politics * Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly * Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture * A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially: ** I ...

Trevor Mallard Trevor Colin Mallard (born 17 June 1954) is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party. First elected to Parliament in 1984, he was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2017 until 2022. Mallard was a Cabinet m ...

Prime Minister of New Zealand The prime minister of New Zealand ( mi, Te pirimia o Aotearoa) is the head of government of New Zealand. The prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, took office on 26 October 2017. The prime minister (inform ...

Jacinda Ardern Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician who has been serving as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017. A member of the Labour Party, she has been the member of ...

(since 2017) * Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand:

Grant Robertson Grant Murray Robertson (born 30 October 1971) is a New Zealand politician and member of the Labour Party who has served as the 19th deputy prime minister of New Zealand since 2020 and the minister of Finance since 2017. He has served as Member ...

(since 2020)

Cook Islands

* Queen's Representative:

Tom Marsters Sir Tom John Marsters, (born 4 August 1945) is the seventh and current King's Representative to the Cook Islands (formerly Queen's Representative). He is a former Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Foreign Minister, and Deputy Leader ...

(since 1973) *

Prime Minister of the Cook Islands The prime minister of the Cook Islands is the head of government of the Cook Islands, a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The office was established in 1965, when self-government was ...

: Mark Brown (since 2020) *

Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament is the presiding officer of the Cook Islands Parliament. The manage the House in accordance with its Standing Orders and according to the traditions of the Westminster system. The current Speaker is ...

Niki Rattle Niki Rattle (born 1951) was Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament from 22 May 2012 to 15 February 2021. Rattle was born in Manihiki. She is a Registered Nurse. Before her appointment she served as Secretary of the Cook Islands Red Cross for 1 ...

(since 2012)

Niue

Premier of Niue The Premier of Niue is Niue's head of government. They are elected by the Niue Assembly, and forms a Cabinet consisting of themselves and three other members of the Assembly. Sir Robert Rex was continuously re-elected every three years from N ...

Dalton Tagelagi Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi (born 5 June 1968) is a Niuean politician and Premier of Niue since June 2020. He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7. Tagelagi is th ...

(since 2020)

Tokelau

* Administrator of Tokelau:

Ross Ardern David Ross Ardern (born 28 February 1954) is a New Zealand diplomat and former police officer. He was the Administrator of Tokelau from 2018 to 2022, having previously served as the High Commissioner of New Zealand to Niue from 2014 to 2018, a ...

(since 2018) * Head of Government of Tokelau: Kerisiano Kalolo (since 2019).

Samoa

*Head of state: ''

O le Ao o le Malo The ''O le Ao o le Malo'' ( Samoan for "Head of State") is the head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of st ...

'':

Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II Afioga Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Eti Sualauvi II (born 29 April 1947) is a Samoan politician who is the current O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) of Samoa, in office since 2017. He was appointed to the Tama-a-ʻaiga title of Tuimalealiʻifa ...

(since 2017) * Prime Minister of Samoa ** Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi (until 24 May) **

Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataafa (born 29 April 1957) () is a Samoan politician and High Chiefess ('' matai'') who has served as the seventh Prime Minister of Samoa and leader of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party since 2021. The ...

(since 24 May)

Solomon Islands

*Governor-General:

David Vunagi Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi, (born 5 September 1950), is a retired Solomon Islands Anglican bishop and incumbent governor-general of Solomon Islands. He was the archbishop of Melanesia and bishop of the Diocese of Central Melanesia from 2009 ...

(since 2019)CIA Factbook: Solomon Islands
retrieved 26 Feb 2020 *Prime Minister:

Manasseh Sogavare Manasseh Damukana Sogavare (born 17 January 1955) is the sixth and current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, serving since 24 April 2019. He previously held the office in 2000–2001, 2006—2007 and 2014–2017; in all he has served over ni ...

(since 2019)

Tonga

Monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority and power i ...

: King Tupou VI (since 2012) *

: Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (since 2019)

Tuvalu

*Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II *

Governor-General of Tuvalu The governor-general of Tuvalu is the vice-regal representative of the Tuvaluan monarch, currently King Charles III, in the country of Tuvalu. The monarch is the head of state of Tuvalu, with the governor-general performing the monarch's duti ...

: Teniku Talesi Honolulu (since 2019) *

Prime Minister of Tuvalu The prime minister of Tuvalu is the head of government of Tuvalu. According to Tuvalu's constitution, the prime minister must always be a member of the parliament, and is elected by parliament in a secret ballot. Because there are no political ...

Kausea Natano Kausea Natano (born 5 July 1957) is a Tuvaluan politician who is serving as Prime Minister of Tuvalu, in office since 19 September 2019. He is also serving as an MP for Funafuti, having also served as the country's deputy prime minister and mi ...

(since 2019)

Vanuatu

President of Vanuatu The president of Vanuatu (french: Président du Vanuatu) is the head of state of Vanuatu. The president is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils. The preside ...

: Tallis Obed Moses (since 2017) *

Prime Minister of Vanuatu The prime minister of Vanuatu is the head of government of the Republic of Vanuatu. The office of Prime Minister was created under the Constitution of Vanuatu upon the country's independence in 1980, with independence campaigner Walter Lin ...

: Bob Loughman (since 2020)

Dependencies

British Overseas Territories

*Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)

Pitcairn Islands

*Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands: Laura Clark (since 2018)CIA Factbook: Pitcairn Islands
retrieved 26 Feb 2020 *Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council: Charlene Warren-Peu (since 2020)

Chile

President of Chile The president of Chile ( es, Presidente de Chile), officially known as the President of the Republic of Chile ( es, Presidente de la República de Chile), is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Chile. The president is r ...

Sebastián Piñera Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique OMCh (; born 1 December 1949) is a Chilean billionaire businessman and politician who served as president of Chile from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. The son of a Christian Democratic polit ...

(since 2018)CIA Factbook: Chile
retrieved February 23, 2020

Insular Chile

* Intendant of Valparaíso Region: Jorge Martínez Durán *

Commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

of the

Juan Fernández Islands The Juan Fernández Islands ( es, Archipiélago Juan Fernández) are a sparsely inhabited series of islands in the South Pacific Ocean reliant on tourism and fishing. Situated off the coast of Chile, they are composed of three main volcanic i ...

**Mayor: Felipe Paredes Vergara *

Province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Easter Island Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its ne ...

**Governor:

Laura Alarcón Rapu Laura Tarita Alarcón Rapu is a Rapa Nui Chilean politician, current governor of Easter Island since 16 March 2018. She earned a degree in anthropology and until 2018 was member of the Valparaíso Region Council for the province of Easter for tw ...

(since 2018)

France

President of France The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency i ...

: Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)CIA Factbook: France
retrieved 25 Feb 2020 * Prime Minister of France:

Jean Castex Jean Castex (; born 25 June 1965) is a French politician who was the country's Prime Minister from 3 July 2020 to 16 May 2022. He was a member of The Republicans (LR) until 2020, when he joined La République En Marche! (LREM). Castex served f ...

(since 2020)

French Polynesia

President of French Polynesia , flag = , flagsize = , flagcaption = , insignia = Coat of arms of French Polynesia.svg , insigniasize = , insigniacaption = Coat of arms of French ...

Édouard Fritch Winfred Édouard Tereori Fritch (born 4 January 1952) is a French politician who has served as President of French Polynesia since 2014. He previously presided over the Assembly of French Polynesia on three occasions: from April 2007 to February ...

(since 2014)CIA Factbook: French Polynesia
retrieved 25 Feb 2020 *High Commissioner of the Republic:

Dominique Sorain Dominique Sorain (born 31 July 1955 in Caudéran, France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the A ...

(since 2019) * President of the Assembly of French Polynesia:

Gaston Tong Sang Gaston Tong Sang (born August 7, 1949 in Bora Bora) is a French politician and is the former President of French Polynesia. He served terms as President of French Polynesia from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 ...

(since 2018)

New Caledonia

*High Commissioner: Laurent Prevost (since 2019)CIA Factbook: New Caledonia
retrieved 25 Feb 2020 *President of the Government:

Thierry Santa Thierry Santa (born 29 August 1967) is a French politician in New Caledonia who served the 9th President of the Government of New Caledonia, elected by the cabinet on 6 July 2019. He left office on 22 July 2021. Santa is the leader of The Rally ...

(since 2019) *

Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia The vice president of the Government of New Caledonia (french: Vice-Président du gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie) is a political position in the Government of New Caledonia. According to the Nouméa Accord, the vice president in the colle ...

Gilbert Tyuienon Gilbert Tyuiénon (born 28 March 1958) is a New Caledonian politician. He is a pro-independence ethnic Kanak. Tyuiénon-was elected Vice President of New Caledonia on 11 March 2011 in the collegial cabinet of Harold Martin and held that positio ...

(since 2019)

Wallis and Futuna

Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna The Administrator Superior of Wallis and Futuna is the representative of the President of France in Wallis and Futuna. The current Administrator Superior is Hervé Jonathan, since 11 January 2021. The post was created in 1961, after Wallis and ...

: Hervé Jonathan (since January 11) * President of the Territorial Assembly: Atoloto Kolokilagi (since 2019) *There are three traditional kings with limited powers.

United States

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

(until January 20)CIA Factbook: United States
retrieved 16 February 2020 ** Joe Biden (starting January 20) *

Vice President of the United States The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice ...

** Mike Pence (until January 20) **

Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well ...

(starting January 20)

American Samoa

*Governor **

Lolo Matalasi Moliga Lolo Letalu Matalasi (born August 12, 1947) is an American Samoan politician, educator, and businessman. He served as the 7th Governor of American Samoa, from 2013 to 2021. Early life and education Moliga was born in Taʻū, Manu'a, American ...

(until January 3) **

Lemanu Peleti Mauga Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga (born January 1, 1949) is an American Samoan politician and the 8th governor of American Samoa since January 3, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Mauga served as a senator in the American Samoa Senate, where he ...

(since January 3)

Guam

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Lou Leon Guerrero Lourdes Aflague "Lou" Leon Guerrero (born November 8, 1950) is an American politician who has served as the 9th governor of Guam since 2019. She was president and CEO of the Bank of Guam from 2007 to 2017, having previously served as a senator of ...

(since 2019)

Hawaii

Governor of Hawaii The governor of Hawaii ( haw, Ke Kiaʻaina o Hawaiʻi) is the head of government of the U.S. state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a direct ...

David Ige David Yutaka Ige (; born January 15, 1957) is an American politician and engineer who served as the eighth governor of Hawaii from 2014 to 2022. A Democrat, he served in the Hawaii State Senate from 1995 to 2014 and the Hawaii House of Repres ...

(since 2014) *

Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii The lieutenant governor of Hawaii ( haw, Hope kiaʻāina o Hawaiʻi) is the assistant chief executive of the U.S. state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Article V, Sections 2 though 6 of the Constitution of H ...

: Josh Green (since 2018)

Northern Mariana Islands

*Governor:

Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (born August 6, 1979) is a Northern Marianan politician currently serving as the ninth governor of the Northern Mariana Islands since December 29, 2015. He is a Republican from Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mar ...

(since 2015)

Events

January and February

*January 1 – 2021 New Year Honours in the Commonwealth *January 15 – Nazahat Shameen Khan of Fiji wins the presidency of the

United Nations Human Rights Council The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), CDH is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. ...

(UNHRC). *January 19 –

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

detains Chinese fishing boats ''Dong Gang Xing 13'' and ''Dong Gang Xing 16'' plus a Russian yacht for operating illegally in its waters near

Hiu Island Hiw (sometimes spelled ''Hiu'') is the northernmost island in Vanuatu, located in Torba Province. Name The island's name ''Hiw'' is taken from the local Hiw language; it is known as ''Hiu'' in neighboring Lo-Toga. Etymologically, these forms r ...

. *January 26 – Former president

Xanana Gusmão José Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmão (; born 20 June 1946) is an East Timorese politician. A former rebel, he was the third President of the independent East Timor, serving from 2002 to 2007. He then became its fourth prime minister, serving from ...

of East Timor meets with

Roman Catholic priest The priesthood is the office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ("ordained") with the Holy orders of the Catholic Church. Technically, bishops are a priestly order as well; however, in layman's terms ''priest'' refers only ...

and self-proclaimed

pedophile Pedophilia ( alternatively spelt paedophilia) is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of puberty a ...

Richard Daschbach in Dili. *February 4 **

Henry Puna Henry Tuakeu Puna (born 29 July 1949) is a Cook Islands politician, and the current secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. He was Prime Minister of the Cook Islands from November 2010 to October 2020. Since 2006 he has been leader of th ...

of the Cook Islands is elected

Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is the chief executive officer of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). The Secretariat is based in Suva, Fiji. The Secretary General of the Secretariat is appointed to a t ...

. **For the second time in 2021 and the third time in the last ten weeks, a

ship A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...

reports losing containers due to rough weather in the South Pacific. **Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of the

University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and is owned by the go ...

and his wife are deported from Fiji to Australia. *February 10 –

Tsunami A tsunami ( ; from ja, 津波, lit=harbour wave, ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater exp ...

alert after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake east of Voh, New Caledonia. Waves between 30 centimeters and one meter high are reported in Fiji, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. *February 16 – Australia is accused of "exporting its problems" by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after cancelling the citizenship of a

dual national Multiple/dual citizenship (or multiple/dual nationality) is a legal status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a national or citizen of more than one country under the laws of those countries. Conceptually, citizenship is focused on t ...

Australian-New Zealander who joined the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS).

March and April

*March 2 –

2021 Micronesian parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in the Federated States of Micronesia on 2 March 2021,Federated States O ...

*March 3 – Simon Thompson, chairman of Rio Tinto mining corporation, resigns after a scandal resulting from the destruction of 46,000-year-old rock shelters at

Juukan Gorge Juukan Gorge is a gorge in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, about from Mt Tom Price. It was named by the daughter of Puutu Kunti Kurrama man Juukan, also known as Tommy Ashburton, who was born at Jukarinya (Mt Br ...

, Western Australia, in May 2020. *March 4 – An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 strikes 178 kilometers (111 miles) northeast of the city of

Gisborne, New Zealand Gisborne ( mi, Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa "Great standing place of Kiwa") is a city in northeastern New Zealand and the largest settlement in the Gisborne District (or Gisborne Region). It has a population of The district council has its headquarte ...

, at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). No injuries or serious injuries are reported, but a

tsunami A tsunami ( ; from ja, 津波, lit=harbour wave, ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater exp ...

warning is in place. Other large earthquakes were reported near Ohunua, ʻEua, Tonga (8.1) and one near

Sola, Vanuatu {{Infobox settlement , name = Sola , other_name = , native_name = , settlement_type = Village , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_caption = , pushpin_map ...

(6.1). *March 5 – Thirteen people are charged for workplace-related violations that took 22 lives in the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption in New Zealand. *March 9 **Admiral Philip S. Davidson, head of the

United States Indo-Pacific Command United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) is a unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Pacific region. Formerly known as United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) since its inception in 1947, ...

testifies before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee needs an Aegis Ashore missile system to protect Guam and the United States from China. Davidson wants $27 billion, including $1.6 billion for the Aegis system. **Hawaii Governor

(D) declares an emergency in all five counties after heavy rains bring floods, landslides and fear of dam failures. *March 13 –

2021 Western Australian state election 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. ...

*March 28 – President Surangel Whipps of Palau begins a four-day visit to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

to promote tourism.

Scheduled

Elections

*April 9 –

2021 Samoan general election General elections were held in Samoa on 9 April 2021 to determine the composition of the 17th Parliament. In March 2021, Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, a former member of the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and a former Deputy Prime Mini ...

*November 2 –

2021 United States elections The 2021 United States elections were held in large part on Tuesday, November 2, 2021. This off-year election included the regular gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia. In addition, state legislative elections were held for the Ne ...

*November – 2021 Tongan general election

Major national and territorial holidays

*January 23 – Bounty Day, Public holidays in the Pitcairn Islands *January 26 –

Australia Day Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port ...

*February 8 –

Waitangi Day Waitangi Day ( mi, Te Rā o Waitangi), the national day of New Zealand, marks the anniversary of the initial signing – on 6 February 1840 – of the Treaty of Waitangi, which is regarded as the founding document of the nation. The first Wai ...

celebrated, New Zealand. *March 1 –

Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands) Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands), formally known as Nuclear Victims' Day and Nuclear Survivors' Day, occurs on March 1 and is a national holiday in the Marshall Islands. The day honors the victims and survivors of nuclear testing done in the area ...

Public holidays in the Marshall Islands This is a list of public holidays in the Marshall Islands. References External links {{Oceania topic, Public holidays in Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aol ...

*March 6 – Norfolk Island Foundation Day *April 6 – Self Determination Day, Public holidays in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands *April 26 – Anzac Day celebrated,

Public holidays in Australia Public holidays in Australia refer to the holidays recognised in law in Australia. Although they are declared on a state and territory basis, they comprise a mixture of nationally celebrated days and holidays exclusive to the individual jurisdict ...

and

Public holidays in New Zealand Public holidays in New Zealand (also known as statutory holidays) consist of a variety of cultural, national, and religious holidays that are legislated in New Zealand. Workers can get a maximum of 12 public holidays (eleven national holidays plu ...

*June 1 – Independence Day (National Day), Public holidays in Samoa *June 7 – Independence Day (National Day), Public holidays in the Solomon Islands *June 12 –

Queen's Official Birthday The King's Official Birthday (alternatively the Queen's Official Birthday when the monarch is female) is the selected day in the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those ...

, Commonwealth countries *June 29 – Autonomy Day,

Public holidays in French Polynesia This is a list of public holidays in French Polynesia. References {{Oceania topic, Public holidays in Lists of public holidays by country French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_ty ...

*July 4/5 – Independence Day, United States′ territories and associated states *July 12 – National Day, Public holidays in Kiribati *July 14 –

Bastille Day Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called the (; "French National Celebration"); legally it is known as (; "t ...

, French territories *July 29 – Territory Day, Public holidays in Wallis and Futuna *July 30 – Independence Day, Public holidays in Vanuatu *October 4 – Tuvulu Day celebrated *October 11 – Fiji Day celebrated, List of festivals in Fiji *October 26 – Angam Day, Public holidays in Nauru *November 3 – Independence Day, Public holidays in the Federated States of Micronesia *November 4 – National Day celebrated, Tonga

Culture

Sports

*January 13–23 — 2021 UCI Oceania Tour in New Zealand

Deaths

*February 5 –

Paul Tovua Sir Paul Joshua Tovua (1947 – 5 February 2021) was a Solomon Islander politician, who served in Parliament representing the Central Guadalcanal constituency since 1976. He was a founding member of the first National Parliament of Solomon Isla ...

, 73, Solomon Islands politician, MP (since 1976),

Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands The Speaker of the National Parliament is the Speaker of the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands. The position was established under section 64 of the Constitution of the Solomon Islands of 1978, when the country became independent from ...

(1994–2001). *February 26 –

Michael Somare Sir Michael Thomas Somare (9 April 1936 – 26 February 2021) was a Papua New Guinean politician. Widely called the "father of the nation" (), he was the first Prime Minister after independence. At the time of his death, Somare was also the lo ...

, 84, first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (

Father of the Nation The Father of the Nation is an honorific title given to a person considered the driving force behind the establishment of a country, state, or nation. (plural ), also seen as , was a Roman honorific meaning the "Father of the Fatherland", best ...

); pancreatic cancer *March 15 – Miriama Rauhihi Ness, New Zealand Māori activist and social worker.Poroporoaki: Miriama Rauhihi Ness
/ref>

References

{{Year in Oceania, 2021

Sovereign states

Australia

Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Norfolk Island

East Timor / Timor-Leste

Fiji

Kiribati

Marshall Islands

Micronesia

Nauru

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Realm of New Zealand

New Zealand

Cook Islands

Niue

Tokelau

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Dependencies

British Overseas Territories

Pitcairn Islands

Chile

Insular Chile

France

French Polynesia

New Caledonia

Wallis and Futuna

United States

American Samoa

Guam

Hawaii

Northern Mariana Islands

Events

January and February

March and April

Scheduled

Elections

Major national and territorial holidays

Culture

Sports

Deaths

See also

References