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Years:	2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

List of events that happened during 2021 in Oceania.

Sovereign states

Australia

Main article: 2021 in Australia

Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)^[1]
Governor-General – David Hurley (since 2019)
Prime Minister – Scott Morrison (since 2018)

Christmas Island

Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia: Sir Peter Cosgrove (since 2014)^[2]
Administrator: Natasha Griggs (since 2018)^[2]

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Governor General: Sir Peter Cosgrove (since 2014)^[2]
Administrator: Natasha Griggs (since 2018)^[2]

Norfolk Island

Administrator: Eric Hutchinson (since 2017)^[3]

East Timor / Timor-Leste

President of East Timor: Francisco Guterres (since 2017)
Prime Minister: Taur Matan Ruak (since 2018)

Fiji

Main article: 2021 in Fiji

President of Fiji: George Konrote (since 2015)
Head of Government: Frank Bainimarama (since 2007)
Speaker: Epeli Nailatikau (since 2019)

Kiribati

President: Taneti Mamau (since 2016)

Realm of New Zealand

The Realm of New Zealand consists of the sovereign state of New Zealand, the associated states of the Cook Islands and Niue, and the dependent territory of Tokelau. It also includes the Antarctica territorial claim of the Ross Dependency.

Monarchy of New Zealand: Elizabeth II^[1]
Governor-General of New Zealand: Patsy Reddy

New Zealand

Main article: 2020 in New Zealand

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives: Trevor Mallard
Prime Minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern (since 2017)
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand: Grant Robertson (since 2020)

Cook Islands

Queen's Representative: Tom Marsters (since 1973)
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands: Mark Brown (since 2020)
Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament: Niki Rattle (since 2012)

Niue

Premier of Niue: Dalton Tagelagi (since 2020)

Tokelau

Administrator of Tokelau: Ross Ardern (since 2018)
Head of Government of Tokelau: Kerisiano Kalolo (since 2019).

Samoa

Head of state: O le Ao o le Malo: Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II (since 2017)
Prime Minister of Samoa
- Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi (until 24 May)
- Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa (since 24 May)

Solomon Islands

Governor-General: David Vunagi (since 2019)^[7]
Prime Minister: Manasseh Sogavare (since 2019)

Tonga

Monarch: King Tupou VI (since 2012)^[8]
Prime Minister: Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa (since 2019)

Tuvalu

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Governor-General of Tuvalu: Teniku Talesi Honolulu (since 2019)
Prime Minister of Tuvalu: Kausea Natano (since 2019)

Vanuatu

President of Vanuatu: Tallis Obed Moses (since 2017)^[9]
Prime Minister of Vanuatu: Bob Loughman (since 2020)^[10]

Dependencies

British Overseas Territories

Monarch: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)^[11]

Pitcairn Islands

Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands: Laura Clark (since 2018)^[11]
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council: Charlene Warren-Peu (since 2020)^[11]

Chile

Main article: 2021 in Chile

President of Chile: Sebastián Piñera (since 2018)^[12]

Insular Chile

Intendant of Valparaíso Region: Jorge Martínez Durán
Commune of the Juan Fernández Islands
- Mayor: Felipe Paredes Vergara
Province of Easter Island
- Governor: Laura Alarcón Rapu (since 2018)

France

Main article: 2021 in France

President of France: Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)^[13]
Prime Minister of France: Jean Castex (since 2020)^[13]

French Polynesia

President of French Polynesia: Édouard Fritch (since 2014)^[14]
High Commissioner of the Republic: Dominique Sorain (since 2019)^[14]
President of the Assembly of French Polynesia: Gaston Tong Sang (since 2018)

New Caledonia

High Commissioner: Laurent Prevost (since 2019)^[15]
President of the Government: Thierry Santa (since 2019)^[15]
Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia: Gilbert Tyuienon (since 2019)^[15]

Wallis and Futuna

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

United States

Main article: 2021 in the United States

President of the United States
- Donald Trump (until January 20)^[16]
- Joe Biden (starting January 20)
Vice President of the United States
- Mike Pence (until January 20)^[16]
- Kamala Harris (starting January 20)

American Samoa

Governor
- Lolo Matalasi Moliga (until January 3)
- Lemanu Peleti Mauga (since January 3)

Guam

Governor: Lou Leon Guerrero (since 2019)^[17]

Hawaii

Governor of Hawaii: David Ige (since 2014)
Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii: Josh Green (since 2018)

Northern Mariana Islands

Governor: Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres (since 2015)^[18]

Events

January and February

January 1 – 2021 New Year Honours in the Commonwealth^[19]
January 15 – Nazahat Shameen Khan of Fiji wins the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).^[20]
January 19 – Vanuatu 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.^[21]
January 26 – Former president Xanana Gusmão of East Timor meets with Roman Catholic priest and self-proclaimed pedophile Richard Daschbach in Dili.^[22]
February 4
- Henry Puna of the Cook Islands is elected Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.^[23]
- For the second time in 2021 and the third time in the last ten weeks, a ship reports losing containers due to rough weather in the South Pacific.^[24]
- Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific and his wife are deported from Fiji to Australia.^[25]
February 10 – Tsunami alert after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake 415 kilometres (258 mi) east of Voh, New Caledonia. Waves between 30 centimeters and one meter high are reported in Fiji, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.^[26]
February 16 – Australia is accused of "exporting its problems" by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after cancelling the citizenship of a dual national Australian-New Zealander who joined the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS).^[27]

March and April

March 2 – 2021 Micronesian parliamentary election
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, Western Australia, in May 2020.^[28]
March 4 – An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 strikes 178 kilometers (111 miles) northeast of the city of Gisborne, New Zealand, at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). No injuries or serious injuries are reported, but a tsunami warning is in place.^[29] Other large earthquakes were reported near Ohunua, ʻEua, Tonga (8.1) and one near Sola, Vanuatu (6.1).^[30]
March 5 – Thirteen people are charged for workplace-related violations that took 22 lives in the 2019 Whakaari / White Island eruption in New Zealand.^[31]
March 9
- Admiral Philip S. Davidson, head of the United States Indo-Pacific Command 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.^[32]
- Hawaii Governor David Ige (D) declares an emergency in all five counties after heavy rains bring floods, landslides and fear of dam failures.^[33]
March 13 – 2021 Western Australian state election
March 28 – President Surangel Whipps of Palau begins a four-day visit to Taiwan to promote tourism.^[34]

Scheduled

Elections

Main article: List of elections in 2021 § Oceania

April 9 – 2021 Samoan general election
November 2 – 2021 United States elections
November – 2021 Tongan general election

Major national and territorial holidays

January 23 – Bounty Day, Public holidays in the Pitcairn Islands^[35]
January 26 – Australia Day^[36]
February 8 – Waitangi Day celebrated, New Zealand.^[37]
March 1 – Remembrance Day (Marshall Islands), Public holidays in the Marshall Islands^[38]
March 6 – Norfolk Island Foundation Day^[39]
April 6 – Self Determination Day, Public holidays in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands^[40]
April 26 – Anzac Day celebrated, Public holidays in Australia^[36] and Public holidays in New Zealand^[41]
June 1 – Independence Day (National Day), Public holidays in Samoa^[42]
June 7 – Independence Day (National Day), Public holidays in the Solomon Islands^[43]
June 12 – Queen's Official Birthday, Commonwealth countries^[44]
June 29 – Autonomy Day, Public holidays in French Polynesia^[45]
July 4/5 – Independence Day, United States′ territories and associated states^[46]
July 12 – National Day, Public holidays in Kiribati^[47]
July 14 – Bastille Day, French territories
July 29 – Territory Day, Public holidays in Wallis and Futuna^[48]
July 30 – Independence Day, Public holidays in Vanuatu^[49]
October 4 – Tuvulu Day celebrated^[44]
October 11 – Fiji Day celebrated, List of festivals in Fiji^[50]
October 26 – Angam Day, Public holidays in Nauru^[51]
November 3 – Independence Day, Public holidays in the Federated States of Micronesia^[52]
November 4 – National Day celebrated, Tonga^[53]

Culture

Sports

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

Deaths

February 5 – Paul Tovua, 73, Solomon Islands politician, MP (since 1976), Speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands (1994–2001).^[54]
February 26 – Michael Somare, 84, first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (Father of the Nation); pancreatic cancer^[55]
March 15 – Miriama Rauhihi Ness, New Zealand Māori activist and social worker.^[56]

References

^ ^a ^b CIA Factbook: United Kingdom retrieved 16 February 2020
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d CIA Factbook: Christmas Island retrieved Feb 23, 2010
^ Administrator of Norfolk Island Territories of Australia, retrieved 25 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b New president for Marshall Islands RNZ, 6 Jan 2020
^ ^a ^b Panuelo sworn in as new FSM president The Guam Daily Post, 30 July 2019
^ CIA Factbook: Palau retrieved 3 Apr 2020
^ CIA Factbook: Solomon Islands retrieved 26 Feb 2020
^ "Tonga country profile". BBC News. January 23, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
^ "Vanuatu country profile". BBC News. June 11, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
^ Cain, Tess Newton (April 20, 2020). "Vanuatu elects new prime minister as country reels from devastating cyclone". The Guardian. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c CIA Factbook: Pitcairn Islands retrieved 26 Feb 2020
^ CIA Factbook: Chile retrieved February 23, 2020
^ ^a ^b CIA Factbook: France retrieved 25 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b CIA Factbook: French Polynesia retrieved 25 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b ^c CIA Factbook: New Caledonia retrieved 25 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b CIA Factbook: United States retrieved 16 February 2020
^ National Governors Association: Guam retrieved 7 March 2020
^ [National Governors' Association: Northern Mariana Islands] retrieved 7 March 2020
^ "The New Year Honours list 2021". thegazette.co.uk. The Gazette official record. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ Farge, Emma (January 15, 2021). "Fiji wins presidency of U.N. rights body after vote unblocks leadership impasse". msn.com. Reuters. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^ "Vanuatu detains Chinese fishing boats, Russian yacht". news.yahoo.com. AFP. January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
^ Neubauer, Ian Lloyd (February 17, 2021). "Xanana Gusmão condemned over visit to paedophile priest". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
^ "Pacific countries select new chief diplomat after fractious vote". msn.com. Reuters. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ "Another Ship in Rough Pacific Ocean Spills Containers Overboard". msn.com. Bloomberg. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ "Fiji deports university leader in blow to regional relations". msn.com. AP. February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^ "Alerta al sur del Pacífico por sismo de 7.7 que causó tsunami". jornada.com.mx (in Spanish). La Jornada. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
^ Torre, Giovanni (February 16, 2021). "New Zealand furious at Australia for cancelling citizenship of Islamic State terror suspect with dual nationality". news.yahoo.com. The Telegraph. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
^ "Rio Tinto chairman quits over Aboriginal site damage in Australia". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^ "Powerful quake hits near New Zealand; tsunami warning issued". AP NEWS. March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ "Today's Earthquakes in South Pacific Ocean". earthquaketrack.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ Redmayne, James (March 5, 2021). "Accused in NZ volcano disaster make first court appearance". news.yahoo.com. Reuters. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
^ Gould, Joe (March 9, 2021). "'Guam is a target today.' Pacific chief pitches Aegis Ashore to Congress". news.yahoo.com. Defense News. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
^ "Hawaii declares emergency due to floods, orders evacuations". news.yahoo.com. Reuters. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
^ "Palau president visits Taiwan to open travel bubble". msn.com. AFP. March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^ "Pitcairn Islands Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "National Holidays in Australia in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "New Zealand Public Holidays 2021 (ANZ/APEC/Oceania/OECD)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ Losinio, Louella (March 2, 2020). "RMI marks Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day". PNC News First. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Norfolk Island Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Cocos (Keeling) Islands Public Holidays 2021 (ANZ/APEC/Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "National Holidays in New Zealand in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Samoa Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Solomon Islands Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Tuvalu Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "French Polynesia Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Guam Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Kiribati National Day in Kiribati in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Wallis and Futuna Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Vanuatu Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Fiji Public Holidays 2021". PublicHolidays.asia. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "ANGAM Day - Nauru, National Day". Pacific Tourism Organisation. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Micronesia Public Holidays 2021". PublicHolidays.asia. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Tonga Public Holidays 2021 (Oceania)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^ "Sir Paul Tovua passes on". Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
^ "Michael Somare, PNG's 'father of the nation', dead at 84". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. February 26, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ Poroporoaki: Miriama Rauhihi Ness

v t e 2021 in Oceania
Sovereign states	Australia East Timor (Timor-Leste) Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Federated States of Micronesia Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Associated states of New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue
Dependencies, colonies and other territories	American Samoa Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands French Polynesia Guam Hawaii New Caledonia Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Pitcairn Islands Tokelau Wallis and Futuna