Rangitanga-a-te-Moana

Emperor of Polynesia
Rangitanga-o-te-Moana
Incumbent
Oahoanu since 2017
Details
Style	His/Her/Their Serene Majesty
Heir apparent	Crown Prince (Uri ki te Torona) Moana
First monarch	Ahua the Great
Formation	1000 CE
Residence	Palace of Putangitangi

The Emperor of Polynesia is the monarch of the Oan Isles, and its dependent territories such as the Kohatu Isles. The powers of the Crown are enshrined in the Constitution of the Oan Isles (Kaupapa Ture o nga Motuere Oa). Succession to the crown is by absolute primogeniture. The reigning sovereign is His Serene Majesty, Emperor Oahoanu who ascended the throne in 2017. The office was established 1000 years ago by Ahua the Great. His line remains unbroken as the House of Ahua has provided heirs to the throne the Oan Isles was established.

Origin

Ahua the Great, the first sovereign of the Oan Isles

The office of the Emperor of Polynesia was established around 1000 BCE by the first Emperor, Ahua the Great. According to legend, Ahua the Great was instructed by Maui to unite and rule over the people of Polynesia. After unifying the islands which today comprise the Home Islands of the Oan Isles and formerly the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories, the office of the Emperor of Polynesia was established. The name used by the people of Polynesia, which remains in force today, is Rangitanga-o-te-Moana, which is transliterated into Staynish as Ruler of the Sea. However, when Morstaybishlian scholars translated the name into their own language, they felt that the title used by the Polynesians to refer to their sovereign challenged the position of Great Morstaybishlia as a naval power. Thus, the title was translated to Emperor of Polynesia and it has remained ever since.

Title and style

In the Oan language, the sovereign of Polynesia is referred to as the Rangitanga-o-te-Moana. Although the literal translation of this term is Ruler-of-the-Sea, the term Emperor of Polynesia is used in everyday and academic use in Staynish language publications. Recently, the Serence Council, approved changes to the style of the monarch to be inclusive of potential transgender and gender non-conforming sovereigns. Thus, the Staynish style of the monarch are His, Her or Their Serene Majesty depending on their gender identity. In the Oan language there are no gendered pronouns so all sovereigns regardless of gender use the style Tona Kororia Rangamarie. The direct style of Your Serene Majesty - or Tau Kororia Rangamarie in the Oan language - is used when addressing the sovereign directly. The monarch has also been referred to as Defender of the Realm - or Kaitiaki o te Rohe - when speaking in context specifically concerning the Oan Isles.

Holder and succession

The Polynesian people believe that the office is specifically bestowed by Maui on those whom he believes are worthy. As such they believe that Maui found Ahua I worthy. This arises from a legend that says when Ahua set sail to declare war on a neighboring island, a Spix Macaw, the sacred bird of Maui, alighted upon his shoulder, a symbol recognising that he is the rightful holder of the throne. They further believe that the office was not only given to Ahua alone, but to all his descendants to carry out and continue to work of the Crown of Polynesia. The Serene Council is comprised of representative of all the recognised tribes of Polynesia, including those officially outside of the Oan Isle such as tribes in MWPT and the Kohatu Isles. It verifies the claims of potential heirs, approves amendments to the Succession Law, and prepares the order of succession.

Formerly, the throne passed among male heirs, but as of February 2021, the Serene Council approved a change to the Succession law stating that any child of the reigning emperor can inherit the crown in order of age. The current Emperor is Oahoanu who succeeded his father Emperor Ehe. Emperor Oahoanu assumed the role in 2017 when his father abdicated due to Parkinson's disease. The heir apparent is Crown Prince (Uri ki te Torona) Moana, Emperor Oahoanu's eldest child.

Powers and duties

Peacetime powers

The Emperor wields the following powers and duties:

• Entertain foreign guests on behalf of the government.
• Receive the accreditations of foreign ambassadors
• Bestow and revoke orders of chivalry and medals of merit
• Confer, disestablish and change chiefly titles
• Dissolve, prorogue and convene the Council of the People on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Grant pardons
• Sign treaties on behalf of the government on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Appoint and dismiss Ministers of the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Appoint and dismiss Justices of the Supreme Court of the Oan Isles, on the advice of the Prime Minister from recommendations of the Commission on Judicial Appointments.
• Grant, withhold or reserve royal assent to laws on the advice of the Prime Minister
• Appoint the person most likely to command the confidence of the Council of the People as Prime Minister, usually on the recommendation of the majority of the political parties in the Council of the People.
• Designate days for commemoration or reflection on an event or theme.
• Designate official recognition of the special status and historical value of cultural heritage such as monuments, artefacts, events and customs

Emergency powers

In the event of an emergency, the Emperor has the power to:

• Control and direct relations with foreign nations
• Exercise supreme command over the Military of the Oan Isles
• Control and direct the work of the executive branch of the government.
• Dissolve or prorogue sessions of the Council of the People without the advice of the Prime Minister

During the Auroran-Pacific War, Emperor Oahoanu effectively controlled foreign relations and heavily influenced ,military operations and strategic objectives. Following the end of the war, Freedom International brought a case against the government of the Oan Isles arguing that the Emperor's influence was disproportionate to the situation. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Freedom International and set out the criteria by which the Emperor was allowed to exercise emergency powers and the extent to which the government would be allowed to involve him in decision-making.

Prosecutorial immunity

The Emperor cannot be prosecuted for any crimes or misdemeanors. He cannot be compelled to appear before and give testimony to a court of law. He cannot be held personally accountable for actions exercised in his capacity as the sovereign. Thus the Crown is sued in his place. In civil matters involving his estate, his personal estate is sued. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court of the Oan Isles has the power to compel the sovereign to abdicate if the Crown, during his tenure, is found guilty of violating the law. When an Emperor has been compelled to abdicate (akin to being dethroned), he can be prosecuted like every other citizen and is no longer shielded by the Crown.

Social role

The Emperor's personal influence transcends the formalities of his legal role.

• The Emperor's face appears on coins, stamps and banknotes.
• The personal moko (or tattoo) of Ahua the Great, which is used as an emblem by the House of Ahua, is the central part of the Emblem of the Oan Isles.
• Although the Emperor exercises no active role in the judiciary, all judgements are given in the name of the Emperor, even when the Crown is being sued.
• The Emperor is a patron of many charities, the most prominent of which is the Oan humanitarian aid non-profit organisation OANAID.
• Oaths of Office and Allegiance by civilian and military officials of the government respectively are sworn to the monarch personally.
• The Emperor undertakes foreign tours on behalf of the government to help promote the Oan Isles

Academics such as Arana Rotorua argue that the Emperor forms the basis of the Oan political system, the unity and cultural affinity of the Polyensian tribes, and the symbolic head of the Mauist religion. Moreover, the monarch exerts influence over cultural matters in conjunction with tribal chiefs such as bridal price, restoration of honour, and cultural festivals.