Administrative divisions of the Oan Isles
The administrative divisions of the Oan Isles are organized and constituted in the framework of the Kaupapa Ture o Nga Motuere Oa (the Constitution of the Oan Isles in Oan). The National Assembly has complete authority over the administrative divisions of the Oan Isles which includes the power to control their boundaries, powers and finances as long as it provides for an elected form of government. Details concerning these administrative divisions are provided by the Ture Kawana-a-rohe (Local Government Law in Oan).
Structural overview
The Oan Isles has two levels of subdivisions: Provincial and Local.
Provincial government
The executive branch of the provincial government consists of the Provincial Executive Council (PEC). The PEC is responsible for administering the daily affairs of the province, executing legislation and developing policies and it has the power to propose by-laws to the Provincial Assembly. The PEC consists of the Chief Minister and the Provincial Ministers. The Chief Minister is elected by the Provincial Assembly at its pleasure. Usually, the Provincial Assembly will elect a new Chief Minister at the start of each term. The Provincial Assembly can compel the Chief Minister and the entire PEC to resign by passing a vote of no-confidence in the executive branch.
The Chief Minister appoints the Provincial Ministers, designates their portfolios and assigns their responsibilities. However, the composition of the PEC must be approved a majority of the Provincial Assembly. Each Provincial Minister is in charge of a department and handles a specific area of the provincial government's work. The PEC makes decisions as a group on important issues. However, the Chief Minister has the power to control and direct the work of the PEC. Moreover, they hold the other Ministers accountable for their portfolios.
The Municipal Council is elected by the population of the municipality every four years. Council members are elected by single member constituencies by the run-off voting method. This system allows for many independent candidates to rise to prominence in local government. The Municipal Council approves appointments to crucial positions in the city namely members of the Mayoral Council. It holds regular question times with the Mayor and members of the Mayoral Council. It has the power to pass by-laws and approve expenditures.
The local authorities do not have their own judicial system. The judicial system is uniform throughout the country and is controlled by the national government. Most municipalities have at least one Magistrate Court to handle most criminal and civil cases.
Kohatu Isles
The relationship between the Oan Isles and the Kohatu Isles is legally complicated. In terms of international customary law, the Kohatu Isles is an overseas territory of the Oan Isles. Residents of the Kohatu Isles are citizens of the Oan Isles and enjoy the same rights as citizens of the Oan Isles. However, the power of the Oan Isles is not enshrined in its own laws. The primary vector of this relationship is the Kaupapa Ture o Nga Motuere Kohatu (the Constitution of the Kohatu Isles in Oan). It was passed by the Constitutional Assembly of the Kohatu Isles in 2018 which consisted of elected representatives of the Kohatu Isles.
It was preceded by the signing of the Treaty of Pounamupa (also known as the Treaty of Jewelica) in which the Oan Isles recognised the National Liberation Movement as the government of the Oan Isles. The NLM in turn dissolved itself and transferred the treaty to the newly established government of the Kohatu Isles. This treaty stated the NLM would surrender control over various areas of national interest to the Oan government. Furthermore, the Constitution which was passed also created provisions for the Oan legislature to approve all changes to the constitution of the Kohatu Isles.
Because of this complicated arrangement, the Kohatu Isles is not considered an administrative division of the Oan Isles. Nevertheless for political and practical reasons, the Kohatu Isles has been included as part of the Oan Isles.
Noamotu
Noamotu is an island in the home islands of the Oan Isles. It is among the top 5 largest and most populated islands of the Oan Isles. Its primary residents are the Noaiwi which is a tribe of the Oan Isles. Before the unification of the Oan Isles by Ahua the Great Noamotu was an independent Kingdom ruled by the Kings of the House of Rakau. However, when Noamotu was annexed, it became a member of the Oan Isles and its royal family became an Oan aristocratic family.
Despite over 1000 years of being part of the Oan Isles, the island has always insisted on maintaining a distinct and recognisable cultural identity. The island began agitating for greater control over its affairs in the 20th century. In 1940, the Noamotu Coordinating Council was created to coordinate policy among the local governments of the island. In 1960, the NCC was given control of shared affairs and ruling over jurisdictional disputes. In 1983, the NCC was restructured with its own Executive Committee and General Assembly. They were elected along the lines of the local governments as mentioned previously.
Starting in 1994, the NCC was delegated more powers by the successive acts on a case by case basis. The process of devolution culminated in 2017 when the Konoa People's Party campaigned for Noamotu to become a formally semi-autonomous region of the Oan Isles. The National Assembly agreed to this and re-established Noamotu as the Noamotu Territorial Government. The executive head of Noamotu is the Chief Minister and its cabinet is called the Territorial Executive Council and its legislature is called the Territorial Legislative Assembly.
Provinces
The Oan Isles used to be comprise of Kingdoms before Ahua the Great united them. They remain in use for descriptive purpose, but they have no government. They are called provinces.
- Tokamotu
- Koroinotu
- Tongamotu
- Ataahuamotu
- Nga Motuere Whenua
- Manaakitangamotu
- Noamotu
- Maungamotu
- Waimotu
- Nga Motuere Tartaru
- Nga Motuere Rakau
- Rawhitimotu
- Nga Motuere Raki
- Tokowha Nga Tuatana
List of local governments
| Official Oan Name | Staynish name | Province | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga a te Toka | Port of the Rock | Tokamotu | Home Islands | 3624195 |
| Tokapa | La Rochelle | Tokamotu | Home Islands | 2866295 |
| Noapa | Harmony City | Noamotu | Home Islands | 1865295 |
| Anapa | Serenity City | Manaakitangamotu | Home Islands | 1380770 |
| Maungapa | Mountain City | Maungamotu | Home Islands | 1103295 |
| Mahakatepa | Malachite City | Gemica | Kohatu Isles | 1047800 |
| Tongapa | Southern City | Tongamotu | Home Islands | 857470 |
| Koroipa | Crystal City | Koroimotu | Home Islands | 617470 |
| Moataone | Moa Town | Ataahuamotu | Home Islands | 332470 |
| Akatepa | Agate City | Jewelica | Kohatu Isles | 331000 |
| Pounamupa | Pounamu's City | Stonica | Kohatu Isles | 327000 |
| Pangopa | Black City | Stonica | Kohatu Isles | 317000 |
| Kokorutaone | Bay Town | Tokamotu | Home Islands | 214470 |
| Oparapa | Opal City | Gemica | Home Islands | 214000 |
| Mikaeretaone | Mikaere III's Town | Koroimotu | Home Islands | 213470 |
| Nohongataone | Obsidion Town | Jewelica | Kohatu Isles | 211000 |
| Maritirihataone | Matilda's Town | Gemica | Kohatu Isles | 205000 |
| Okiokipa | City of Rest | Stonica | Kohatu Isles | 199000 |
| Miharopa | Marvel City | Jewelica | Kohatu Isles | 194000 |
| Waipa | Water City | Jewelica | Kohatu Isles | 187000 |
| Haupa | Air City | Gemica | Kohatu Isles | 183000 |
| Ateapa | Thaer's City | Jewelica | Kohatu Isles | 182000 |
| Ahipa | Fire City | Stonica | Kohatu Isles | 180000 |
| Rangitakenuitaone | Rangitake the Great's Town | Manaakitangamotu | Home Islands | 93000 |
| Kuritaone | Dog Town | Gemica | Kohatu Isles | 92000 |
| Ahuanuitaone | Ahua the Great's Town | Ahuanuimotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 91000 |
| Ikapa | Fish City | Tongamotu | Home Islands | 88000 |
| Mauipa | Maui's City | Noamotu | Home Islands | 87000 |
| Maramapa | Light City | Noamotu | Home Islands | 85000 |
| Tupunirakau | Blue Galaxy | Maungamotu | Home Islands | 81000 |
| Orunetaone | Olune's Town | Orunemotu, Nga Motuere Raki | Home Islands | 80000 |
| Rakitaone | Northern Town | Rakimotu, Nga Motuere Raki | Home Islands | 76000 |
| Rawhitipa | East City | Rawhitimotu | Home Islands | 75000 |
| Aotearoanuitaone | Aotearoa the Great's Town | Aotearoanuimotu, Nga Motuere Raki | Home Islands | 73000 |
| Kaipuketaone | Ship Town | Kaipukemotu, Nga Motuere Raki | Home Islands | 71000 |
| Wekakainga | Crake Village | Wekamotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 70000 |
| Toroakainga | Albatross Village | Toroamotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 69000 |
| Kapuakainga | Cloud Village | Kapuamotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 68000 |
| Uakainga | Rain Village | Uamotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 67000 |
| Totokainga | Blood Village | Totomotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 66000 |
| Warokainga | Coal Village | Waromotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 65000 |
| Kakarikikainga | Green Village | Kakarikimotu, Nga Motuere Whenua | Home Islands | 61000 |
| Harikoakainga | Happy Village | Harikoamotu, Nga Motuere Rakau | Home Islands | 59000 |
| Tawhirikainga | Faraway Village | Tawhirimotu, Nga Motuere Rakau | Home Islands | 57000 |
| Mohoaokainga | Wild Village | Mohoaomotu, Tokowha nga Tuakana | Home Islands | 54000 |
| Ukukainga | Clay Village | Ukumotu, Tokowha nga Tuakana | Home Islands | 52000 |
| Wherokainga | Red Village | Wheromotu, Tokowha nga Tuakana | Home Islands | 50000 |
| Maperekainga | Marble Village | Maperemotu, Tokowha nga Tuakana | Home Islands | 42000 |
| Total | 18625000 | |||