The Oan Isles

Serene Realm of the Oan Isles Te Rohe Rangamarie o nga Motuere Oa (OAN)
Flag of the Oan Isles Coat of arms
Motto: Haere me he mutu (OAN) Continue, regardless
Anthem: Te Tama me te Moana (OAN) The Boy and the Sea Royal anthem: Oa, makaaki te Rangitanga-a-te-Moana (OAN) Heaven bless the Emperor
Political map of the Oan Isles
Location	Map
Capital	Tokapa
Largest city	Tauranga a te Toka
Recognised national languages	Staynish Ethalrian Salovian
Official languages	Oan
Ethnic groups (2021)	Polynesian (89%) Morst (5%) Ethalrian (3%) Salovian (1%) Vulpine (1%) Other (1%)
Religion	Mauism (72%) Irreligious (21%) Thaerism (6%) Verk'ohism (1%) Clarityism (0.7%) Vayan Catholicism (0.3%) Other (1%)
Demonym(s)	Oan
Government	parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Emperor Oahoanu
• Prime Minister	Maui Uye-Ahua
Legislature	National Assembly
• Upper house	Council of Chiefs
• Lower house	Council of the People
Establishment
• Unification of the Oan Isles	1200
• Annexation of the Kohatu Isles	2017
Area
• Total	103,171 km2 (39,835 sq mi) (13th in UNAC)
Population
• 2021 estimate	18,625,000 (12th in UNAC)
• Density	180.52/km2 (467.5/sq mi) (6th in UNAC)
GDP (nominal)	2021 estimate
• Total	788,768,750,000 KRB (8th in UNAC)
• Per capita	42,350 KRB (4th in UNAC)
Gini (2018)	0.350 low
SDI (2021)	0.850 very high
Currency	Kirib (KRB)
Date format	DD/MM/YYYY
Driving side	the left
ISO 3166 code	OAN
Internet TLD	.oan

The Serene Realm of the Oan Isles (Oan: Te Rohe Rangamarie a te Motuere Oa; phonetic: /ˈoʊɪn/, also known simply as The Oan Isles) is an independent island nation. It consists of two parts. The Home Islands are surrounded by the Polynesian Sea and the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories (overseas territories of Great Morstaybishlia) to the west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Morstaybishlian Sea to the south, and Aurora to the south west. The Kohatu Isles are surrounded by the Caven Sea and Peregrinia to the north, East Gemica (a semi autonomous territory of Peregrinia) to the east, Justelvard (a constituent country of Great Morstaybishlia) to the west, the Morstaybishlian Sea and mainland Aurora to the south. The country has a total land area of 103,171 square kilometres (39835 square miles), of which 88,338 square kilometres (34,107.67 square miles) comprises the Home Islands and 14,833 square kilometres (5,727.05 square miles) comprises the Kohatu Isles. Although the country consists of two parts over 2,000 kilometres apart, their weather and geography is the same because they have similar geographic histories and lie at the same latitude. The Oan Isles is a tropical mountainous volcanic heavily forested island nation (comprising 36 islands), of which only a small portion is suitable for agriculture and human habitation confronted by earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones.

Between 1360 BCE and 1580 BCE, the first sapient beings, humans arrived on the Oan Isles. They were remarkably sophisticate and possessed exceptional knowledge of navigation and fishing. Their origins are unclear, but cultural influences from Yasteria have been identified. Unfortunately due to closer linguistic resemblance with Central and West Aurora, it is believed that they may have originated there instead. Between the first and second century CE, a confederation of West Pacific Island nations was formed, which thrived from trade and travel. However, a war between the Whareha and Takeha Kingdoms around 670 led to the Great Scattering wehreby thousands fled to neighbouring islands (mostly perishing or assimilating into other cultures) while those who remained formed the Polynesian civilization from the teachings of Hongaongaiwi.

From 730 CE Thaerist missionaries arrived bringing their culture and religion from central Aurora. This religion gradually spread and many Kingdoms adopted it. Believing himself to be the chosen hero of Maui the god of the wind and sea, Ahua the Great united the West Pacific Islands and formed the Oan Isles. He became the founder of Mauism which is a branch of Thaerism that combined with native religions. The Kohatu Isles were inhabited by unstable Polynesian settlements and were often at the whims of larger Yasterian and Auroran civilizations. In 1855, the Morsto-Oan War broke out between the Oan Isles and Great Morstaybishlia. The war saw the partition of Koroimoti Island and the ceding of many islands to Great Morstaybishlia, but it formally ended the Polynesian slave trade.

Under Emperor Rangitake the nation rebuilt, modernised and consolidated itself, with the central bank, the first university and other bodies being established during his reign. During the 13 year Great War which started in 1914, the Oan Isles became neutral acting as a middle-man between the Imperial and Central Powers, growing wealthy from the trade that arose. The Oan Isles was part of the Allied powers in the 2017 Auroran-Pacific War, emerging bruised but victorious. In November 2017, following a revolution led by the Kohatu Liberation Movement (KLM) on Gemica (now known as the Kohatu Isles), the Kohatu War broke out between the Diamond Authority and the KLM (supported by the Oan Isles. The Kohatu Isles held a referendum voting to become part of the Oan Isles. Oil was discovered in the Caven Sea and joint exploration with Peregrinia soon began leading to the high rates of economic growth. The country joined and was instrumental in the founding of the United Nations of the Auroran Continent.

The country is a high-income post-industrial economy administered through free-market socialism that has a nominal GDP of over 785 billion KRB (the 8th largest in the UNAC as of 2021). It is a world leader in information and communication technology (being the seat of Cafe Net and Metatron, some of the largest corporations by market capitalisation in Aurora among others), and has large banking and tourism sectors. Its capital, Tokapa is the seat of the Auroran Monetary Fund. Its government takes place as a unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The House of Ahua is one of the oldest monarchies in the world and presides over a highly democratic government, that ranks highly in metrics of governance, economic and political freedoms among world nations. It has enjoyed enduring political stability and economic stability for decades.

Etymology

The name "The Oan Isles" is "Nga Motuere Oa" in the Oan language. The root of this name is "Oa" which means "Heaven". This name originated around 1000 CE during the time of Ahua the Great. At the time, the Oan Isles consisted of citystates ruled by warlords. In a legend, it is believed that Ahua the Great received a vision from Maui, the folk deity of the wind and sea, to unite all the people who live on the islands which compose the contemporary Oan Isles and Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories. Mauists believe that Maui told him to dedicate the islands he conquered to "Heaven" and he instructed Ahua the Great to visit a Staynish missionary who was teaching about Thaerism on an Oan island. He was amazed by the message of Thaerism and converted immediately. Because the Oan language lacked the sounds to say "Thaer" (the Supreme deity of Thaerism), he called this deity "Atea". Maui returned in a vision in the form of a Spix Macaw, put the new faith in context and instructed him to unite the Oan people. In honor of Maui, the country is named after the Oan word for "Heaven" and the Oan people were also renamed after Heaven.

Thus, the demonym (meaning the adjective for people and things originating from the Oan Isles) is Oan (the plural of which is Oans). The formal abbreviation for the country is OAN. But it may be informally abbreviated as TOI. The long form of the country’s name is "The Serene Realm of the Oan Isles" ("Te Rohe Rangamarie o Nga Motuere Oa"). The Serene Realm part is a quote from Maui as he said that "your land and people will be blessed, enjoying eternal tranquility". Thus, when long form names became fashionable, the long form was given as "Serene Realm" and has remained for nearly 1000 years.

History

First Arrival

Records of the first instance of sapient habitation point to the first arrival of human beings to have been between 1380 BCE to 1560 BCE. The ancestors of modern Polynesians were remarkably advanced for their time. They possessed large vessels that were able to traverse large distances across the sea. They possessed incredible knowledge of plants, animals, marine life, geography, navigation and astronomy. Although most of their settlements were wiped out by sea waves, earthquakes, landslides, floods and volcanic eruptions, some ruins from this era have survived.

The first known polity was the Confederation of the West Pacific Tribes, a loose coalition of seafaring peoples whose Council met at least once a year to discuss and decide on matters affecting the whole of the West Pacific peoples. There is evidence that they reached as far as Gondwana and Aurora. They are also known to have practiced several polytheistic, animist and ancestral worship related religions. Some ancient texts from this era survive, such as the Teakerakau stone tablet on which a message was inscribed for future traveller’s which warned them of the dangers of the place which today comprises the Oan Isles, specifically natural disasters. This has led anthropologists to believe that this ancient civilization possessed early warning and detection technology. Despite their largely peaceful disposition, this period was filled with wars between rival tribes.

Great Scattering

The Wars of the Red Kelp arose in 670 when a Taheka princess drowned in the waters of the Whareha tribe where the water was abundant in red kelp. Her death was not only suspicious, but was regarded as a portent of future hardship. Believing that the Whareha had brought ruin on the West Pacific Tribes, the Taheka called on their alliance to destroy the Whareha. The war was unique in that it was the first recorded use of battering rams in naval warfare. But it was more notable for the string of smaller conflicts that arose. The continued period of war and mistrust led to an event known as the Great Scattering. This was when the West Pacific Tribes fled the Oan Isles and sought a peaceful life on other islands. The tribes which remained survived while those that left mostly died or were assimilated into other cultures.

Pan-Polynesian Age

This gave rise to the teachings of Hongaongaiwi, an ancient wise man who taught that the West Pacific Island nations were divinely meant to live together. This set the first stone in the foundation of the Pan-Polynesian identity that led to the unification of the Oan Isles in 1000 CE. His teachings gave rise to a society that valued collective advancement and tribal harmony. Although there were many challenges from rogue tribes, pirates and natural disasters, the first written laws emerged from this period to guide humans to do better and live peacefully. In light of this, the concept of West Pacific Human tribes being part of the greater Polynesian civilization arose.

Morsto-Oan War

Main article: Morsto-Oan War

Between 1800 and 1850, the Morstaybishlians were running low on labour for their plantations and industries, so Lord Admiral Lusergart worked with the Wakatunuye tribe to enslave Oans. The Oans discovered the ploy and attacked a Morst naval vessel-turned-slaving-ship. Before the Oans could report this violation of their sovereignty, Lord Admiral Lusergart convinced the Morst government that the Oans had attacked them first. The Morsts declared war on and attacked the Oan Isles, sparking the Morsto-Oan War in 1855. Because of their highly decentralized government and poor military leadership, the Oans were cripplingly defeated with most of their territory under Morst occupation. After soliciting the sympathy of Liberal Morstaybishlian aristocrats, the Oans managed to convince the Morsts to sign a peace treaty. Some islands were returned and slavery of Oans was outlawed, but many islands were taken by the Morsts and absorbed to the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territories.

Great War

Main article: Great War

Under construction

Toroan War

In the 1960s, an unusual period of low rain arose which resulted in economic hardships for the agriculture, timber and fishing industries of Toroa. The Toroa Communist Party was formed which believed that the government of the Oan Isles was handling the crisis abysmally. The TCP called for the independence of Toroa from the Oan Isles. In 1970, the General Secretary of the Toroa Communist Party, Manu Aketua, was elected as the Governor of Toroa. He dissolved the Toroa Legislative Assembly and called for a referendum to decide on the independence of Toroa from the Oan Isles. The Oan Isles sent military forces to the territory and stormed the capital city of Hipana where Governor Aketua and his government were located. Governor Aketua declared marshal law and fled with other members of the TCP to the west fringes of the country. They waged a brutal guerilla war against Oan forces, smuggling drugs and people to pay for the war. To end the atrocities, the Oan Isles signed a ceasefire in negotiations brokered by major Auroran nations with the TCP in which they promised to temporarily suspend fighting. The TCP declared the Toroa People’s Republic and governed that part of Toroa as a communist dictatorship. The Oan Isles has never rescinded its claim to the area controlled by the TPR and actively uses its diplomatic and economic clout to isolate it. Despite overtures to restore normalcy, only the most crucial aid is given.

Latianburg Insurgency

On April 1, 2017, the Oan Isles requested a purchase of military hardware from Stratarin. In April 2017, a group of terrorists launched an insurgency in Latianburg. Cafe Net , an Oan internet service provider had begun operations in the country. Soldiers from the Oan armed forces were sent to protect the facility. Unfortunately, in spite of their best efforts, Niana Takatunuye (the head of the branch and the sister of the CEO of Cafe Net) was captured by a terrorist called Muttar Mimahid.

On 23 April she was rescued from the Al Jaheed. Furnifoldian soldiers managed to find the Al Jaheed cell, locate and extract Miss Takatunuye. Muttar Mimahid was captured by the Kuthernburg forces. The Oan Isles joined the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth as a result of the events Latianburg. Adam Bly of the Furnifold Times criticised the Oan Isles for using the organisation to advance its interests and promote its will. Maui Uye-Ahua followed up with his own article, criticising the Oan government. On 26 April 2017, the request for military hardware from Stratarin was approved and the hardware was delivered On 18 May 2017, the Oan Isles reaffirmed relations with Latianburg and Kuthernburg. Oan companies were granted lucrative contracts to operate in those nations especially in telecommunications and information technology, aid was exchanged and general ties improved.

Auroran-Pacific War

Main article: Auroran-Pacific War

Aftermath of the Battle of Yor as Matriarchal Ethalrian forces retreat and civilians are carried away

In 26 May 2017, the Al Jaheed attacked Yor and hacked Cafe Net servers in La Rochelle. They virtually shut down the Cafe Net system for much of the world. The scope and impact of the attack led to general alarm about the Al Jaheed's technical expertise, resources and ability to inflict serious damage on Oan interest. On the same day, the Al Jaheed bombed a part of the National Security Service headquarters. Although the damage was quickly repaired, it led to a desire to engage more aggressively with the Al Jaheed. On May 27, 2017, Emperor, Ehe, received the Blue Medal from Kuthernburg on behalf of the brave actions of the Oan armed forces.

This attack was particularly damaging because it damaged the Oan Isles voting infrastructure. The Oan Isles had been a direct democracy that had used an online application to give everyone in the nation the power to vote over laws. The terrorist who conducted the attack was arrested. It was Muttar Mimahid. This attack deeply hurt the nation but led it to support the former Emperor, Ehe I (known as Ese Ulua to non-Oans). A state of emergency was declared and he was granted sweeping powers to deal with the threat that Al Jaheed posed. On 28 May 2017, Tipene Rahua, the former Ambassador of the Oan Isles to the Auroran Continental Assembly, submitted a report to the ACA outlining the threat that Al Jaheed posed and the assertive response that was needed to deal with it and criticised the ACA for failing to act effectively on the matter. On behalf of the Emperor, he declared that the Oan Isles would invade the Yor Isles (where the Al Jaheed was apparently located and operating from).

On 29 May 2017, Lambertus VII, the High King of the United Kingdom, called a meeting of countries to discuss the coup d'etat in Republican Ethalria in which the legitimate government was overthrown. They further discussed the fascist alliance formed by the new Republican Ethalrian government and Matriarchal Ethalria. This group became known as the Allies. Viktor Drugov, the leader of Stratarin, was nearly assassinated at the meeting on June 4, 2017.

Rurin Lukin, his deputy, was killed along with others in the Stratarin line of succession. Mikhail Starikov took on the position of head of state of Stratarin. The Oans and others were suspicious of this - likening the take over to a coup. Emperor Ehe I was a vocal critic of the South-East Pacific Coalition and believed that it ought to be disbanded, but there was fear that Starikov would use war to achieve that.

On June 8, 2017, assassins from Matriarchal Ethalria killed Thadeus, King of Horales and Crown Prince of Staynes. The attack sent shockwaves throughout the world and further fixed Oan resolve against the Axis powers. The Axis powers was an alliance made up of Republican Ethalria, Matriarchal Ethalria and Stratarin, against whom the Allies, of which the Oan Isles was a part, fought. On June 10, the Oan Isles sent a request to the Staynish government to invade Republican Ethalria and sent humanitarian and military aid to Kostoria Obertonia in preparation for a Republican Ethalrian invasion. On June 11, Caltharus invaded Matriarchal Ethalria.

The Oans undertook a diplomatic assault on Stratarin to isolate and weaken them. On June 12, 2017, the Oan Isles imposed sanctions on Stratarin. When asked for reasons for this action, the Oan Isles cited the alleged coup d'etat, the relegation of SEPC laws and other reasons, and imposed further conditions on Stratarin. These were deflected by the Stratarians. The diplomatic tensions culminated in the resignation of Fyodr Lyvov, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Stratarin two days later. Tretrid supported the Oan demands. On June 18, 2017, Ehe I (also known as Ese Ulua) called the leaders of four Atlantian countries to a meeting in La Rochelle to ask for assistance for the war. Mister Leader II of Mexregiona, Bartholomew Smith of Tretrid, King Calvin I of the Atlae Isles and Queen Naomi II of Kuthernburg attended and resolved to lend help. Monoherra Markka IV of Asian Pacific Islands attended as an observer. Another war erupted in Atlantia when various rogue states and former members of the Atlae Isles attempted to cede from the country and join sides with the Axis powers. Only Kuthernburg was eventually able to lend a hand. On 24 June, 2017, an Oan task force was sent to assist Kostoria-Obertonia. On the next day, troops were flown into North Yor as part of an assault to reclaim the islands from the Republican Ethalrian Republic.

On June 29, 2017, the Oan soldiers took the Rob Matterson Military Hospital in the capital of the Yor Isles. On June 30, 2017, Kuthern and Oan forces failed to take an airbase. On July 10, 2017, a part of the capital city of Yor was successfully taken. On July 11, 2017, the Oans had failed to take a powerplant and 80 soldiers were killed. This caused a great political stir in the Oan Isles. On 15 July, during the Coronation of the Asendavian Kaiser, the new Emperor, Oahoanu, spoke to Erwin Pipua, and they agreed to end the war. On July 16, the Kutherns began the process to declare a ceasefire. On the same day, the Oan soldiers evacuated out of the area. Of the 7,000 soldiers deployed there, 700 men were killed.

On July 17, 2016, a commission of inquiry was set up to investigate Oan involvement in the war. It mostly cleared the Oan government of guilt. On 20 July 2017, Maui Uye-Ahua submitted a petition for a referendum on the autonomy of the Noan Isles (also known as Konoa in the Oan language).

On August 3, propaganda pamphlets were dropped in Kostoria Obertonia and Republican Ethalria, encouraging dissent against the Greater Republican Ethalrian Imperial government. Aid was sent to Yor the next day which was in fact hidden drones. On 5 August 2017 Oan/Kuthern drones attacked three Republican Ethalrian cities. On 6 August 2017, the referendum was held and autonomy for the Noan Isles (Konoa) was overwhelmingly approved. On the same day, the Oan navy began fighting the remnants of the Republican Ethalrian navy.

On August 7 2017, the Oan navy sank all but two Republican Ethalrian ships. On 9 August 2017, a boy was arrested in Asian Pacific Islands for treason. This sparked protests. Oahoanu was sent to mediate. On same day, the Oans blockaded Yor and attacked Nuremkastel in Kostoria Obertonia.

Konoan Autonomy

On 14 August 2017, the deputy head of the Portfolio on Finance and the Economy published a gloomy report on the Oan economy. On the whole, it was expected to and did, indeed, shrink. On August 15, 2017, a law was passed that formally put Noan autonomy into practice. On 16 August 2017, the state of emergency that had given Ehe I and his son Oaloanu sweeping powers since April 2017 was ended. On August 25, 2017, the Noan Territorial Government passed its fundamental law. On 30 August 2017, elections were held for the Noan Territorial Assembly. The Konoan People's Party, led by Maui Uye-Ahua, won resoundingly. On 31 August 2017, was appointed the Leader of the Noan Territorial Government.

Auroran Union and UNAC

The Oan Isles was bitter that despite the Allied victory over the Axis powers, Republican Ethalria was not punished. The Oan government felt that the Auroran Continental Assembly had lost its legitimacy and usefulness. It invited Allied countries to a conference in Sani Bursil to form the Auroran Union, a short-lived political, economic and military alliance among Allied states of Aurora. The United Kingdom, Tivot, Tuvaltastan, Blueacia and the Yor Isles agreed to the invitation while Axdel and Emberwood Coast had their apprehensions.

Mass protests from university student-led organisations convinced many Allied countries to view the new alliance in a negative light. They felt that the Auroran Union would entrench post-War divisions and diminish the ability for the Allies to maintain peace throughout out the continent. Moreover the new Union would disrupt free trade, freebtravel and peace. The nations decided to terminate the Auroran Union.

All nations of Aurora, former Allies and Axis power alike, held another summit in which the decided to found the United Nations of the Auroran Continent. They hoped to address the concerns and criticisms of not only the Oan Isles, but of others who found fault with the manner in which the ACA had handled and subsequently brought about the Second Auroran Imperial War. Unfortunately, Republican Ethalria was still not punished, but the political leadership of the Oan Isles believed that Pan-Auroran political thought could still be useful in preventing future wars.

War of the Kohatu Isles

Main article: Kohatu War

The Kōhatu Isles (also known as Gemica in Staynish) are a small group of islands south of East Malaysia. They were ruled by a dictatorial one party state called the Diamond Authority (Ka Mana Daimana). The National Liberation Movement (Ka lahui ho'okuu lahui) had organised workshops, boycotts, protests and distributed pamphlets in opposition to the state, but it operated in secrecy and had little impact. After being invited by one of its leaders, Moissanite, Lazuli (Palauokole), a miner, organised a protest in a mine in Agate City ( 'Eka kai), that gained international attention after being seen by Oan investors who went to visit.

Emboldened by Lazuli's actions, the NLM organised protests and propaganda throughout the country, culminating in a protests in front of the main government building in which people burnt their identity books and proclaimed their support of the Oan Isles. They were met with repression by the state which downgraded diplomatic relations with the Oan Isles. The Oans decided to provide support to the NLM. Together with NLM members, they entreated Opal (Papa), Lazuli's wife, to be the face of the revolution. After destroying her home fleeing to the autonomous Jewelica Island, she agreed.

After cyclone Mable, the Oans offered disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Shortly after the cyclone passed, the NLM led protests in Peridot City on Jewelica Island. Oan soldiers were present officially as observers. The Diamond Authority sent troops and fired live ammunition at the crowd. This precipitated a military response from the Oan Isles expelled Gemican forces from Jewelica and placed the island under military occupation. Given questions around how the invasion was carried out, the Cabinet suspended Locklyn Le Roy as Prime Minister, placing Sylvia Anāute as the acting Prime Minister.

The government stopped the invasion, placed Jewelica under a quarantine and sent military advisers to train the NLM in light of a plan by NLM leader, Sapphire Sardonyx, to turn the NLM into a military force. The government entered into negotiations with the Jewelican Free State to allow the Oan Isles to annex Jewelica. Negotiations broke down after the Diamond Authority conducted air strikes that killed 140 people. The Oan air force retaliated with air strikes on the JFS main building with Gemican forces in Jewelica surrendering to the NLM. NLM occupied and took over the island. The Oan government and the NLM agreed that Jewelica would become an autonomous overseas territory of the Oan Isles.

Princess Consort Aroha and other notable Oan women organised a conference on women empowerment in Jewelica as part of a broad program to integrate Jewelica into Oan political and economic life. The Oan Isles built a military base on island. It declared war on Gemica. Soon after, Gemica was blockaded and broader sanctions were imposed.

Gemica broke its agreement to treat political prisoners humanely when it abandoned the prison in which Lazuli and others were being held. This formed the pretext for a full-scale invasion. During a night attack, they first captured the prison and freed political 8. They attacked Gemican forces stationed in villages and towns. After a night of operations, the Diamond Authority capitulated and Gemica was integrated into the Jewelica overseas territory as the Overseas Territory of the Kōhatu Isles.

In the aftermath of the War, the Oan Isles and East Malaysia agreed on joint oil and natural gas exploration in the Caven Sea around and near the Kōhatu Isles and East Gemica Islands (which were part of the territory of East Malaysia). They established a joint venture to explore and exploit those resources which the Kohatu government got control of 2020.

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Oan Isles

Clockwise: the highest mountain - Aoraki Mountain, the longest river - Waikato River, the largest body of water by surface area - Lake Taupo - with a mountain-face carving in the middleground, undersea volcanic vents, one of the most devastating cyclones in recorded history - Cyclone Mable and high-altitude rainforests - also known as the cloud forests.

Oan Isles is located on the planet Urth. The Home Islands lie at the eastern end of the Morstaybishlian and Polynesian Seas, separating them from the Pacific Ocean, between 140°E and 155°E, and between 5°S and 15°S. The Home Islands comprise approximately 33 islands. Its only land border is with the Morstaybishlian West Pacific Territory on Koroimotu. The Kohatu Isles separate the Caven Sea from the Morstaybishlian Sea. They lie to the south and west of Peregrinia and to the east of Justelvard. The Oan Isles has an combined area of approximately 103,171 km² (39,835 mi²). The home islands make up around 88,338 km² (34,107.67 mi²) while the Kohatu Isles make up 14,833 km² (5,727.05 mi²).

The Oan Isles has an average height above sea level of 675 meters (2214.57 feet). The lowest point is sea level. The height here is 0 metres above sea level. The highest point is Aoraki Mountain at 1,385 metres (4543.963 feet) above sea level. Most islands are topographically similar. The largest body of fresh water is Lake Taupo. It has a surface area of 340km² (131.275 mi²). The longest river is the Waikato River. It is 178 kilometres (110.604 miles) long. The biggest island is Toka Island. The Oan Isles has a monsoon jungle climate. It rains for much of the year. It is humid. It is generally warm. This stems from its proximity to the Aequator. It is classified as a tropical monsoon jungle climate. Precipitation averages above 60mm, although it is higher in the monsoon season and lower in the drier months of the year. Extreme weather is not uncommon. Cyclones sometimes occur. For example, Cyclone Mable tore through the area in 2017, causing damage to infrastructure and death to livestock.

Oan Isles was formed millions of years ago from movement in the Urth's tectonic plates particularly the Pacific and Yasteria Major tectonic plates. The mineral composition of the island reflects this process. Most of the islands are geologically similar due to the uniformity of the process by which they were formed. Most of the rock is igneous rock. Over millions of years, undersea volcanoes spewed forth millions of tonnes of lava that hardened to form the islands. Kōa has generally fertile soil. Various minerals are present in the ground, particularly feldspars, quartz, micas, amphibole and olivine.

Biodiversity

Clockwise: the largest bird in the world - Giant moa bird, the national bird - the Spix macaw, the largest ray in the world - manta ray, coral reef, one of the tallest trees in the world - the Kahikatea, the national tree - the silver fern, and the national flower - the orchid

The Oan Isles has a large amount of animal, plant and fungal species, many of which are endemic to the country. The predominant biomes are rainforests, wetlands, sand dune islands, alpine forests and thickets. Kōa is very close to the equator. Due to the country’s proximity to the Aequator, the climate is usually very humid, rainy and hot. Vegetation thrives under these conditions. Coupled with the relative geographic isolation, the country has a disproportionately high level of biodiversity. Most of the country is covered by rainforest. The forests of the country tree ferns such as Ponga (or silver fern), Mamaku or Tuakura, conifers such as Kauri, Kahikatea and Manoao and flowering trees such as Akeake, Kanono and Hīnau.

Birds are the most abundant non-human warm blooded animals. There are flightless birds such as kiwi, cassowary and the moa - the latter two are among the largest birds in the world. Flying birds include the Haast's eagle - one of the largest birds of prey in the world - tropicbirds, toroa (or albatross), Takapu (a type of gannet), Karuhiruhi (a type of cormorant), Putangitangi (a type of duck), ibis, spoonbill, Torea (a type of oystercatcher), pheasant, Tuturuatu (a type of plover) and Weka (a type of crake). Cold-blooded vertebrates include tuatara, Oligosoma (skinks such as aorangi, kakahu, tatahi, small eared, small-scaled, spotted, shore, green and moko) and geckos (almost all of which are viviparous such as kawekaweau, takitimu, green, jewelled, common, forest and black eyed). Of note, are the endemic frogs of the Leiopelma genus such as the hamiltoni, horchstetteri, pakeka and waitomo. Strangely, mammalian life is surprisingly absent with mainly the kurī dog, kiore rat, and three types of bats: short-tailed, lesser short-tailed and long-tailed. Almost all other mammals are domestic animals.

There are many marine animals such whales, dolphins and porpoises. The seas teem with crabs, lobster, shrimp and prawns, many types of rays and Moray eels. There are many types of salt water fish such as herring, haddock, pilchards, hake, tuna, sailfish, and angelfish. Freshwater bodies house fish such as elephantnose, pufferfish, catfish, butterflyfish, bushfish, mudfish and lungfish.

The biodiversity of Oan Isles faces many challenges. Deforestation and pollution from heavy industry has threatened the existence of many species. Fortunately, the government has implemented numerous policies such as banning the hunting of rare animals and collection of endangered plants, limiting economic activity and human habitation in areas of high biodiversity and many more. The nation is a signatory of international conventions that protect endangered species and works in international organizations to foster multilateral cooperation to tackle environmental challenges.

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Oan Isles

From left to right: former Emperor Ehe, reigning Emperor Oahoanu, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Locklyn Le Roy, incumbent Prime Minister and former Governor of the Konoa Semi-Autonomous Region Maui Uye-Ahua

The political system of the Oan Isles takes place in the framework of a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. The Constitution of the Oan Isles (Ture Ture o nga Motuere Oa) is the fundamental law of the country. It vests immense power in the Crown of Polynesia. The hereditary Emperor of Polynesia, who is the head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is constrained by democratic traditions in the exercise of his powers. Thus, he is a largely symbolic figure head with reserve powers in case of an emergency. The reigning Emperor is Oahoanu who succeeded his father, Emperor Ehe, in 2017. All monarchs are direct descendants of Ahua the Great, who is credited as the founder of the Oan Isles and of the Mauist religion.

The Emperor appoints the Council of Elders to advise him on the exercise of royal powers. The Council of Ministers is a sub-structure of the Council of Elders. It forms the executive branch of the government. It consists of Ministers of the Crown, the most powerful of whom is the Prime Minister. Because the Prime Minister is usually the most influential politician in the National Assembly, the chair of the Council of Ministers and wields the power to direct the work of the executive branch, the Prime Minister is the de facto head of government and most powerful political figure in the country. The incumbent Prime Minister is Maui Uye Ahua, who succeeded Locklyn Le Roy in 2017 following political disarray in the ruling party at the time.

The Palace of Putangitangi in Tokapa, Tokamotu, is the workplace and official residence of the Emperor of Polynesia

The legislative branch consists of the National Assembly. It is composed of the Emperor, Council of the People and the Council of Chiefs. The Council of Chiefs consists of all the hereditary traditional leaders in the country and has an advisory role. The Council of the People is democratically elected every four years and wields all the real political power. The Emperor promulgates laws and has the power to dissolve the Council of the People.

The Kohatu Isles and the Noan Isles, which sit in the Caven Sea and in the northern Home Islands respectively, have an elected Territorial Assembly which has the power to make laws on a few areas such as schools, hospitals and parks. The Emperor appoints their respective Governors who chair and appoint a regional Executive Council to carry out the law. The Kohatu Isles were guaranteed semi-autonomy upon annexation to the Oan Isles while the Noan Isles received autonomy following a protest movement in that part of the country in 2017.

The judiciary interprets and applies the law of the Oan Isles. The final court of appeal is the Supreme Court. The Commission on Judicial Appointments recommends candidates for judicial posts to the Prime Minister and Council of the People - in turn the Emperor. The highest judge is the Chief Justice. Magistrate Courts are courts of first instance for most cases, with the intensity of the cases increasing the higher the rank of the court.

Foreign affairs

Main article: Foreign relations of the Oan Isles

The Prime Minister oversees foreign relations. He is advised on foreign policy by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, currently Arana Marama. The Emperor receives the accreditations of foreign ambassadors and has symbolic precedence over all Oan officials in diplomatic protocol. Faced with a lack of natural resources, the threat of invasion and economic competition from other nations, the country adopted multilateralism and pacifism in the latter half of the 20th century. This policy was supplanted by strategic interventionism, expansionism and selective allegiance in 2017. The nation's foreign policy focuses on building alliances with and defending the shard interests of capitalist democratic monarchies. Historically Oan royalty has used strategic marriages to foreign powers to strengthen its global position, for instance the marriage of former Emperor Ehe to Princess Eleanor of Staynes.

After the Auroran-Pacific War, the Oan Isles called for Allied nations to leave the then-Auroran Continental Assembly and join the Auroran Union. It quickly faded and the Oan Isles joined the United Nations of the Auroran Continent. It is also a member of the Kirib Monetary Union, Intercontinental Regional Security Accords, International Forum, and the Peacekeeping Forces of Urth. The country's closest allies are Great Morstaybishlia, Kuthernburg and Tuvaltastan (and their respective spheres of influence). The country maintains cordial relations with Tivot, South Hills, Emberwood Coast, Tretrid, Atlae, Gordic Council and Mexregiona. The Matriarchy of Ethalria was once considered an enemy but, after its partition, relations with Faethalria, Thalria and the North Ethalrian Confederacy have been mild, but suspicious. Once a cordial partner, Stratarin is considered an enemy.

Military

Main article: Military of the Oan Isles

Clockwise: Ahua the Great class destroyer, Leopard 2 main battle tank, F-35 fighter jet, Oan Elite Infantry Battalion

The Oan Defence Forces (Te Kaha Kōrero a te Motuere Oa) comprises the military of the Oan Isles. As the Emperor is the commander in chief of the armed forces, he has the power to declare war. In practice, the Prime Minister has supreme political oversight of the armed forces. The Minister of Defence, General Oahuoa Uye, advises the government on defence policy and runs the Department of Defence. The Department of Defence administers the daily affairs of the armed forces. The Chief of Defence Staff is the highest ranking professional officer of the armed forces. The primary objective of the armed forces is to protect the Oan Isles and its allies and advance their interests abroad. It consists of the Oan Navy, the Oan Air Force and the Oan Army.

The country spends 35 billion KRB on defence. 5 billion KRB of this amount is military aid from Great Morstaybishlia. The remaining 30 billion KRB comes from the country’s budget and makes up 3.8% of annual GDP. The country has a total manpower of 559,500 soldiers, but the professional volunteer full-time military consists of 186,500 officers (1% of the population) and a reserve force of 373,000 reservists (2% of the population). The country has an innovative and internationally reputable domestic arms manufacturing industry. It imports weapons from Great Morstaybishlia and Kuthernburg and formerly imported weapons from Stratarin. As an island nation, it has invested in its navy to protect its territory and project power. With the ability to carry out combat at high sea in surrounding oceans in more than one threatre at once, it is considered a green-water naval power. When coupled with military bases on the Kohatu Isles in the Morstaybishlian Sea, Indigo Islands in the Azure Sea and in the deep Pacific Ocean, the military has immense force projection power. Having fought and won major international conflicts such as the Latianburg Insurgency, Auroran-Pacific War and War of the Kohatu Isles, the armed forces is considered highly experienced and battle-ready.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Oan Isles

Clockwise: the largest and busiest container port - Port of Tauranga a te Toka - and the central business district in the background, the largest and busiest airport - Tokapa International Airport, the Waikato Hydroelectric Dam, the Kokorutaone Nuclear Power Plant, Tokapa to Tauranga a te Toka Magnetic Levitation Train, one of the Anapa Public Electric Buses

The economic system of the Oan Isles takes place in the framework of a mixed economy. While the government intervenes in the economy through high tax rates, a wide social safety net and private sector regulation, private property is respect and the factors of production are controlled through free market forces. Total economic output stands at a nominal GDP of 788,768,750,000 KRB. With a nominal GDP per capita of 42,350 KRB, the Oan Isles is considered a post-industrial highly developed upper income economy. After the annexation of the Kohatu Isles and the discovery of fossil fuels, the Oan economy has grown at an average rate of 6% annually, among the highest in the region. As a member of the Kirib Monetary Union, the kirib is the legal tender and the Auroran Central Bank controls monetary policy. However, the Bank of the Oan Isles remains the central bank.

The economy maintains a substantial annual balance of payments account of 5 billion KRB. Prior to the discovery of fossil fuels, the debt to GDP ratio was high, but has now declined. With stable accounts and prudent financial management, the economy is a net lender and major exporter of goods and services. The country's biggest exports are fossil fuels, lumber, fish, high value-added manufactured goods like military hardware, optic fibres and semi-conductors. With only a quarter of the land being arable, the country is a net importer of food and its major imports include raw materials and motor vehicles. As an export driven market, its largest trade partners are in Aurora and to a lesser extent Novaris and Concord. As a developed economy, the service sector makes up a substantial share of economic output, with financial services, information technology services, tourism and transshipment being the largest components.

The Oan Isles is home to many large multi-national corporations such as Oan Airways, Metatron Corporation, Cafe Net, and Standard National Bank. It is also the regional headquarters of large international companies such as Guildhall (known as Gildezaal in Vistari is a massive retailer and subsidiary of INTCO from Vistaraland). It is also the seat of the Auroran Monetary Fund.

Infrastructure

As an island nation, the primary mode of transport is by air and sea. Thus, there are several small airports and seaports connecting the country. The largest airport is the Tokapa International Airport on the island of Tokamotu, the hub of the country's flag carrier and largest airline Oan Airways. The port of Tauranga a te Toka is among the busiest container ports in the Auroran region. The main form of land transportation is by rail or bus. Because of the mountainous terrain, the construction of roads is challenging and expensive. Furthermore, the high population density in habitable areas of the country results in congestion and high air pollution. Thus, the country has prioritized public transport as the main form of transport. The fastest rail line is the Tokapa to Tauranga a te Toka maglev line at around 400km per hour. On average a commute in any of the 8 major Home Islands takes 40 minutes or less.

The Oan Isles is a net energy exporter and has a healthy energy mix. Fossil fuels, nuclear energy and hydroelectric power provide a roughly equal share of the nation's energy needs. Because the country is prone to flooding due to monsoon storms, the nation has an extensive network of canals and levees to mitigate the effects of high rainfall. Due to its small area, the country does not have large natural lakes. Thus, rain-fed artificial reservoirs provide most of the country’s water needs. High rates of urbanisation have led to a high concentration of water delivery infrastructure.

Science and technology

Etuariti Takatunuye, the Oan Isles' wealthiest man (valued at 18 billion KRB), is the founder of Cafe Net and the Lumen blockchain and is regarded the greatest computing mind in the country.

The Oan Isles is major centre of scientific and technological development. Cafe Net, currently a subsidiary of Damehowe Inc headquartered in and operating from the Oan Isles, Great Morstaybishlia, runs the most commonly used internet search engine in Aurora. The company also runs a highly successful cloud services business and social media platform, the former of which was a target of an Al Jaheed cyberterror attack in 2017 because it stored and processed Oan government information. Nevertheless, its innovations in data encryption, which were part of its success, were demonstrated by the speed at which it bounced back from the attack. The country is a leader in bioscience, having contributed in scientific minds and economic resources to the Great Seed Repository at the International Icelab, Sempiterna, where over 10 million seeds and 6,000 plant species have been stored and studied. The collaboration, which brought together scientists from the University of Tokapa in the Oan Isles and the Royal Bursil University in Great Morstaybishlia, spawned inventions such as the chlorophyll polymer solar panel which can absorb ultraviolet and work in cloudy weather. A testament to the biotechnological research of the Oan Isles is the Tokapa Zoological and Botanical Gardens which have made major contributions in scientific research around marine biology, botany, aviology, insectology, and hepatology.

Outside of bioscience and biotechnology, the country excels in consumer electronics and robotics. For example, in 2017, Metatron Corporation, a consumer electronics manufacturer and the largest company in the country developed the curved smartphone screen and was an early pioneer in touchscreen mobile devices. In aviation, artificial intelligence and military technology, the nation has made substantial contributions. Working kAE Systems, a Kuthern technology mega-corporation, Oan scientists developed and produced unmanned aerial combat vehicles which were used in the Auroran-Pacific War against Matriarchal Ethalrian forces. Founder of Cafe Net, scientist Etuarti Takatunuye, was instrumental in the development of machine-learning-based search algorithms, pioneered digital security and hypercomplex data structures. The Oan Academy of Science is the national agency which brings together academics and professionals in the STEM fields to promote research and development and advise the government on scientific policy. The Oan Isles participates in scientific initiatives with other member states of the UNAC through ASTRA ( the Auroran Science and Technology Research Agency).

Demographics

Personal Development

The Oan Isles is one of the most developed countries in the world. Its people enjoy high standards of living and quality of life. Based on the International Poverty Line, the Oan Isles does not have extreme poverty at all. When adjusted for the cost of living in the Oan Isles, about 1% of the population is estimated to live below the poverty line. Nevertheless, a wide safety net of free housing, subsidized food and fuel, free education and universal health care means that Oan people who would otherwise be destitute in other nations enjoy higher standards of living.

Some of these nets include tax deductions to help people especially middle to low income families meet their living expenses such as tax breaks for having children, paying a mortgage, living with an older relative, having a chronic medical condition or disability, and many others. These aim to provide relief for families with additional responsibilities. In some instances the government will provide a grant to young people to pay the down payment on a house or car to help the youth get started. This has been one of the critical issues affecting young people globally: the difficulty of accessing the tools to start a family. Furthermore, the low levels of air pollution, abundance of social activities, well regulated working environment, access to pristine natural areas and arts and culture give Oans a quality of life. Metrics of happiness are surprisingly difficult to collect and study. The most reputable attempts include the National Quality of Life Satisfaction Index conducted by the Department of Home Affairs in 2020 states that among a representative sample of 5,000 people, 75% are extremely satisfied, 24% are satisfied, 1.8% are dissatisfied and 0.2% are extremely dissatisfied with their lives in the Oan Isles. Some of the dampeners of the quality of life in the Oan Isles include the population density, intensity of the rainy season, the late age at which people get married and have children because of social norms, and the anxiety around natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and floods.

Population distribution

The Oan Isles has a total population of 12 million people being the 18th most populated country in the UNAC. The average population density is 240 people per square kilometer (621 people per square mile), making the Oan Isles one of the most densely populated countries in the UNAC. Of the 36 Islands which comprise the Oan territory (including the three islands in the Kohatu archipelago in theCaven Sea), most of the population, about 70%, inhabits the following ten islands: Tokamotu, Koroimotu, Noamotu, Maungamotu, Manaakitangamotu and Gemica. This is probably because these islands have the largest contiguous areas of flat land and a disproportionate amount of deep natural harbours.

Over 80% of the population inhabit towns and cities. High population density and competition for resources and opportunities has made the cost of living of Oan cities very high. Nonetheless, people enjoy high standards of living. Cities and towns have committed to and implemented programs to increase green spaces and control carbon emission. The largest city is Tauranga o te Toka (with 2 million people) followed by the capital Tokapa (with 1 million people). The remaining top ten cities take up 75% of the population alone, with smaller towns housing the remaining 5% of the population that dwells in urban areas. Smaller islands such as the Sand Dune Islands house most of the rural population.

Mobility

The total number of people entering the country on visas or permits longer than 6 months annually is around 100,000 to 150,000 people. The largest sources of immigrants are Great Morstaybishlia, Axdel, Tuvaltastan, Kuthernburg and Latianburg. Usually these are students and fixed-term contract workers in the construction, fossil fuel and information technology sectors. A very small amount of refugees, about a few thousand every year, are registered. These are usually people from Thalria, Kostromastan, Fortuna, Stratarin and Nilovia. Despite the frigid diplomatic relations, the Oan Isles accepts refugees and asylum seekers from these nations because of the persecution they face back home.

The number of Oans who leave the Oan Isles for longer than 6 months every year is around 40,000 to 80,000 people. These are usually students, military personnel on foreign deployment, workers in the financial services, information technology or scientific sectors. The largest destination for Oan emigrants is Great Morstaybishlia followed distantly by Kuthernburg. When The Kohatu Isles were absorbed into the Oan Isles and new business, working and living opportunities opened up in that area, a massive transfer of people has occurred. On average, about 200,000 people from the Kohatu Isles move to the Oan Isles for 6 months or longer and about 280,000 people move to the Kohatu Isles for 6 months or longer.

Language

According to the 2020 census, the most widely spoken first/native/mother tongue languages are Oan (Te Reo Oa) at 87%, Kohatu (Olelo Kohatu) 7%, Staynish at 5% and others at 1% such as Salovian, Fortunan and Axdan. The most widely spoken second language is Staynish followed by Oan and Kohatu. All children in the Oan Isles learn Staynish at school and get exposed to it because of International media and business. Staynish also helps people from other countries communicate with the local population so they prefer to use that. People from the Home Islands who move to the Kohatu Isles or work regularly with businesses in the Kohatu Isles learn Kohatu, while people from the Kohatu Isles learn Oan. Immigrants who live long enough in the countrg eventually adopt Oan as a second or first language. Most people in the Oan Isles (about 98%) can speak at least 2 languages.

The two native languages, Oan and Kohatu, belong to the Polynesian language family. The Polynesian language family is so ancient and unique that there are few link to languages from other parts of the world. Linguists sometimes argue that Polynesian has links to mainland Auroran languages because of similar consonants and their analytical grammar. Naturally, some linguists believe that the Polynesian languages are too old and unique to be reliably grouped with another group. Moreover, because research in speech and language development across sentient species is patchy at best, further understanding of the origins of Polynesian languages is non-existent.

Religion

Main article: Mauism

Sacred Mauist Shrine, a place where Mauist gather to pay respects to their ancestors and to the divine beings. Mauism is the largest religion in the Oan Isles

The Spiritual Self Expression Survey conducted by the University of Tokapa is the largest and most reliable source of information on religious beliefs in the Oan Isles as the government does not conduct surveys or include questions in the census concerning religion. Usually about 20,000 people are interviewed to compile the data for the survey. It must be noted that the statistics do not include people below the age of 15.

As of 2020, the survey has found the following information:

• 95% of the population profess belief in a supernatural being or force that directs their lives or the world around them. 3% are undecided or ambiguous and 2% do not have any belief in such a force.
• 90% of the population believe in an afterlife or spirit of some sort. 7% are undecided or ambiguous and the remaining 3% do not believe in a spirit Orr afterlife.
• 80% of the population are adherents of a religion. Unlike other surveys, this survey does not look at the intensity of religiosity given that the religions practiced in the Oan Isles do require intense participation.

From this, the following information was unveiled: 65% of the population follow Mauism, 8% of the population follow Polynesian Traditional Religion (especially people from the Kohatu Isles), 6% follow some mainland variation of Thaerism (mostly people from mainland Aurora, especially Great Morstaybishlia), 1% follow Verk'ohism (usually by migrants and refugees from former Salovian countries like Tuvaltastan and Kostromastan) and 1% follow other religions especially Clarityism mostly by Fortunan refugees and Vayan Catholicism (largely by refugees and asylum seekers from Stratarin who are persecuted for being adherents).

Ethnic groups

A 4th generation Morst woman who traces her origins to Staynes with traditional Oan tattoos is an example of the cultural exchange between Oans and Morsts over the span of their habitation

An old Oan male with traditional tattoos. The tattoos signify personal information about the person, their family, totem and tribe. Thus tattoos are an important part of Polynesian identity.

The various ethnic groups of the Oan Isles are distributed as follows:

• Polynesians (i.e. indigenous people of the West Pacific Islands) are the largest ethno-linguistic group in the Oan Isles. They consist of the Oans and Kohatuans sub-ethnic groups. These groups are closely related and share many cultural, historical and ancestral traits.
• Morsts form the second largest ethnic group. They consist of Calth, Staynish and Valerian peoples who originate from Great Morstaybishlia. Many of them are descendents of the explorers who arrived in 1600 when Great Morstaybishlia was granted some islands in what today comprises the MWPT. However, Morsts trace their lineage over a thousand years when the first missionaries introduced Thaerism to the Oan Isles.
• Salovians are mostly first or second generation immigrants. Most of them came fleeing persecution and violence when Salovia broke up due to the Salovian Civil War. Many Salovians came in the second wave when Kostromastan broke up into Volova and Nolova and a large part of it was annexed by Tuvaltastan.
• Ethalrians are the fourth largest minority after Salovians. Many of them came as refugees due to the collapse of the Grand Matriarchy of Ethalria into the Republic of Ethalria and Matriarchy of Ethalria. A second wave of Ethalrians came after the Auroran-Pacific War when the Allies invaded and partitioned the Matriarchy of Ethalria and Greater Ethalrian Empire (the state which succeeded the Republic of Ethalria following a fascist coup).
• Vulpines are represented by a few thousand individuals. Most of them arrived from Ambravia and Stratarin in the late 2010s. Ambravian Vulpines are distinct from Strataric Vulpines in that they speak Fortunan and they fled due to the invasion of Eridani Theta by the Second Fortunan Empire. Strataric Vulpines speak Strataric and they came when Mikhail Starikov's regime persecuted Vayan Catholics.

Health

The executive department which oversees the health care system of the Oan Isles is the Department of Health. The Minister of Health runs that department and is the highest adviser of the government on health care policy in the country. Various government institutions are responsible for important health care functions. The Institute of Infectious Diseases is the state agency responsible for research relating to infectious disease, vaccination, immunology, epidemiology and related matters. It directs the Oan Isles' response to pandemics. The standards for medical and clinical training and regulation of the health care practice are set by the Board of Healthcare Professionals. Public hospitals and clinics are administered by the national government. The Tokapa Medical Center is the largest and most advanced hospital in the Oan Isles and was the birthplace of the monarch of Kuthernburg, Queen Naomi Truden II. Oan citizens and permanent residents have free healthcare and all working individuals are required to make compulsory contributions to the Oan Universal Health Insurance Scheme (UHIS).

The people of the Oan Isles have an average life expectancy of 78 years of age. Males have an average life expectancy of 76 years of age and females have an average life expectancy of 80 years of age. The leading cause of death in the Oan Isles is old age and related conditions, followed distantly by cardiovascular diseases and motor vehicle accidents. The annual number of people who die is 120,000 people while the annual number of people who are born is 180,000 people. Thus, births contribute 0.5% to the population growth rate. The Kohatu Isles have a higher rate of births than the Home Islands. Unfortunately, they have a higher rate of infant mortality. The average infant mortality rate in the Oan Isles is about 1.1 per 1,000 births.

Education

Main article: Education in the Oan Isles

The Emperor Rangitake Library is the centrepiece of the University of Tokapa's main campus in Tokapa and one of the largest libraries in the country as it is a national deposit library.

The education system of the Oan Isles has been shaped by its cultural, technological and economic development. In ancient times there were few formal schools with most people learning their trade from a master or from family. Although herbal healers, diviners and spiritual leaders of Oan folk religions had formal periods of training and induction under an organize society of their peers, it was through the introduction of Thaerism over 1400 years ago that formal schools (formal institutions at a fixed location) were established: seminaries for aspirant clergy. When Mauism was established 1021 years ago, the state spread reading and writing to as many people as possible to follow its precepts. Coupled with the founding of the printing press a few centuries later, formal institutions of education in the secular space emerged. With the first industrial revolution, the education system developed tiers and was organized under state decree with supporting government bodies. The nature of education shifted from solely liberal arts and classical vocations to technical and scientific skills in the wake of the second industrial revolution. The third industrial revolution saw the integration of technology into education. The government is preparing for the fourth industrial revolution through cryptographic microcredentials and online and lifelong education.

Primary and secondary education, provided mostly through co-educational non-boarding secular schools. Although education policy arises from the Ministry of Education, the Board of Education has independence and ample discretion in the management of public schools and development of the curriculum. Oan schools are known for their academic rigour and holistic approach to education, offering adequate preparation for the International School Leaving Exams which provides successful candidates with an internationally recognised and accredited certification that offers entry into Oan institutions of higher education. With Oan students being ranked among the best in the world for performance in mathematics and language, the system is broadly considered a success.

Higher institutions of education are among the foremost institutions in tertiary education and research. They offer admittance to foreign students and attract talented and renowned academics from around the world. The most prestigious among them are the University of Tokapa (Whare Wanaga a Tokapa) and the National University of the Oan Isles (Whare Wanaga Iwi to Motuere Oa). Oan institutions excel in health, electronics, robotics, geological and oceanographic research.

Culture

Dress and appearance

Oan woman in traditional attire

Oan people usually let their hair grow long, wearing it loose or in a bun. They sometimes put a comb or pin through it. This is usually made of wood or whale bone. It is typically decorated with carvings which usually include swirly forms reminiscent of clouds or waves. Some people also wear feathers in their hair. Males often have extensive intricate tattoos over their face, chest and arms. These are called moko. Females usually only have a tattoo under the lips and over the chin and like to wear black lipstick.

Both men and women wear skirts and dresses. Dresses typically go across the chest, leaving the neck and shoulders exposed. Men sometimes wear skirts that expose their buttocks. Skirts are typically worn with a wide belt. Skirts and dresses typically have geometric patterns such as chevrons repeated. People sometimes wear mantles and cloaks. These cloaks and mantles can be made from the feathers kiwi bird or moa bird. Fabrics are usually made from flax. Earth, potash rock, plant resin or other dyes.

Social norms and everyday life

An Oan man and an Oan woman greeting one another according to the Honga traditional greeting of the Oan Isles.

Most Oan people live in the cities. As people moved from the farms and villages to the towns and cities, their lifestyles became more fast-paced. Despite the abundance and accessibility of resources and opportunities, commercialism and competition for promotions and business opportunities increased. People became more educated. As a result, most households became monogamous with parents having, on average, one to three children.

There is a relatively high cost of living in the cities, so many people stay in apartments or lease townhouses. Middle-class and upper-class people are able to enjoy life in quiet suburban spaces. Cities offer many amenities that make life more convenient such as shops and public transport and have easy access to entertainment such as pubs, theatres and museums.

In Oan society people who are intimate or familiar greet each other by pressing their noses against one another. Women and men are treated equally. Men and women share equally in domestic tasks. Children are taught to respect their elders and become independent at a young age. Elders occupy places of esteem in society. Oans are generally friendly, polite and courteous. Oans have strong cultural and spiritual links. They often pray and meditate in private and in public as individuals or groups. They partake in many ceremonies and rituals such as lighting incense and offering crop sacrifices to honour the dead. They have many festivals and feasts such as annual parades of young people who have been initiated into adulthood.

Sports

Oan national rugby union team performing the traditional haka war chant

The Oan Isles has a large number of sports fans, players and teams. Some of the leagues are internationally rated in their respective disciplines. The biggest sport, by far, is rugby. The Oan Isles produces many international players, participates and does very well in international tournaments and has world-class venues and training facilities dedicated to the sport. The second is boxing. Oans typically enjoy water sports. These include canoeing. Open sea and river rapid canoeing are popular. Canoeing was use by the ancient people to voyage between islands. Voyagers turned this into a sport that has survived until now. Oans also enjoy surfing, diving, sailing, wind-surfing and competitive swimming. They also enjoy sports such as competitive tree-climbing, mountain-climbing and stick fighting.

Arts and Performance

Main article: Firelight theatre

Oans enjoy open air live shows such as outdoor theatre and choral music. Firelight theatre arose from the ancient past-time where people would gather around a fire to tell stories and sing. Theatre often employs music, dance and poetry. Oan music typically involves singing particular in groups. There is often very little instrumental accompaniment. Of the few instruments that are used, woodwind or percussive instruments appear most often. Oans have a war chant called a haka. This war chant was used in the ancient days to instill fear in the enemy. It is now a form of cultural expression and is commonly used by the Oan national rugby team before a match. There is a rich culture of carving and tapestry. Homes are often decorated with intricate carvings on panels and poles. Tapestries are often hung in people's homes.

Symbols

Spix Macaw, the national animal of the Oan Isles

Pink Orchid, the national flower of the Oan Isles

Silver fern, the national tree of the Oan Isles

The flag of the Oan Isles has the Kori symbol in the centre with red and green on either side. The Kori symbol is a stylized version of an unfolding silver fern, a tree that is indigenously found in the Oan Isles. The tree represents the unfolding of the nation's potential and the emergence of its true form. This symbol traces its origins to 1000 BCE when it was allegedly used by Ahua the Great. Some scholars believes that the symbol was used centuries before that as evidence of it has been found in caves, on wooden carving, and pottery. But its historic and cultural significance prior to Ahua the Great's reign is unclear.

The emblem of the Oan Isles is used on state documents. It comprises the Face of Ahua the Great in the centre, encircled by long form of the name of the country in the Oan language: Te Rohe Rangamarie o Nga Motuere Oa. The Face of Ahua is based on Ahua's shrunken mummified head which was placed in the shrine on the grounds of the Palace of Putangitangi. It is the symbol of the Clan of Ahua and the Emperor of Polynesia. The head is surrounding by a stylised glory to represent the divine favour that lies upon the Emperor, the Royal family and the country.

The official motto is Haere me he mutu which is translated to Continue regardless in Staynish. It is thousands of years old and has no known origins. It was used among many mottos and greetings, but the earliest mention was a pictograph on a tablet that alludes to the concepts expressed by the motto: to persevere in the face of adversity despite the challenges one might face or the misgivings one might harbour.

The National animal is the Spix’s Macaw (known in the Oan language as Makao Rakau or Blue Macaw). This animal is sacred to the Mauist religion and killing, or smuggling one is a criminal of fence. All Spix’s Macaws legally belong to the Emperor of Polynesia and they have been given as gifts to the most outstanding Oans and the closest foreign heads of state. The bird is believed to be the form in which Maui came to Ahua the Great.

The National Tree is the silver tree fern (known in the Oan language as Ponga). The tree's cultural significance also comes from a Mauist legend that it entangled its roots around a great evil and sealed it deep within the ground and it will escape at the end of the world to sow havoc on all the Urth. Most Mauist scholars believe that the story is a myth. Nevertheless, as discussed in the flag of the Oan Isles paragraph, the silver fern is a powerful symbol of unfolding and growth.

The National Anthem is actually not a song, but an Oan Traditional war chant called a haka that Oan soldiers would say before going into battle. The Anthem is based on a poem and its title comes from the first line: Te Tama me te Moana which means The Boy and the Sea. The chant is a ballad about Ahua the Great, the founding of the Oan Isles, the Annunciation of Maui and the royal line. The Royal anthem is Oa maakaki o te Rangitanga-o-te-Moana (Heaven bless the Emperor of Polynesia).

The National flower is the pink orchid.

Holidays

Maui, the titular supernatural spirit behind Mauism, is the central figure of one of the most significant days of the Oan calendar: the Annunciation of Maui.

Holidays are special days designated by the Rangitanga-a-te-Moana to commemorate or celebrate a historic event or theme. The Council of Ministers may designate the day as a no-working day (except where it is impossible or impractical for work to stop). Holidays are designated using the Oan lunar calendar called Maramataka:

• Lunar New Year (Makariki) is celebrated in June-July (Pipiri)
• The Great Voyage celebrates the arrival of modern humans on the islands. This day has changed tremendously as its primary sources are myths and legends. Its date is now largely symbolic.
• Annunciation of Maui celebrates the first encounter of Lord Maui in the form of a Spix’s macaw with Ahua the Great. This ushered the unification of the Oan Isles and the founding of the Mauist religion.
• Proclamation of Rangitake celebrates the day Emperor Rangitake overthrew his father Tamatea and declared himself the Emperor. His reign ushered in incredible change for the Oan Isles.
• Revelation of the Blessed Matilda commemorates the day the Prophet Matilda received a revelation about Atea (Thaer) and the universe. This day marks the founding of the Thaerist religion.
• Coronation of Oahoanu celebrates the day Oahoanu became the Rangitanga-a-te-Moana. Every new Rangitanga-a-te-Moana gets their own holiday when they become sovereign.
• Coming of the Rains celebrates the start of the monsoon season, when cold winds would come from the south, bringing torrential rains.
• The Last Moon celebrates the last full moon of the year and marks the end of the year.