Paulias Matane
Encyclopedia
Sir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL
, GCMG
, OBE
, KStJ
(born 1931), formerly a career civil servant, was the eighth Governor-General
of Papua New Guinea
from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010.
, from East New Britain Province, a native speaker of Kuanua and a staunch United Churchman
. He has written 44 books in deliberately extremely simple English, focusing in part on his own overseas travels, three on the State of Israel, intended to persuade Papua New Guineans that books are a useful source of information and that they should not regard them as something only for foreigners.
For many years Matane wrote a column in the Malaysian Chinese-owned newspaper The National, containing the advice to the younger generation. He also founded United News Agency of Melanesia. He, together with Grand Chief the Right Honourable Michael Somare
, makes a point of wearing a lap lap (skirt) rather than trousers.
to the United States
following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
My Childhood in New Guinea had been on the school curriculum from the 1970s and he for many years wrote a column in the Malaysian-owned newspaper The National
— Sir Paulias was elected by Parliament on 27 May 2004, receiving 50 votes, while his opponent, Sir Pato Kakeraya
received 46 votes. Attempts to elect a governor-general
had failed repeatedly for six months before Matane's election because of constitutional flaws in the nomination process. Following Matane's election, Kakaraya brought a petition to the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
, seeking to invalidate the election.
Matane was sworn in on 29 June 2004, although the legal challenge to his election was still ongoing. He was officially invested as Governor-General by Queen Elizabeth II
on 13 October 2004. He was reappointed for a second term in June 2010, under what The National
called "very controversial circumstances [...], in an act likely to be challenged in court". Specifically, The National reported that there was "conflicting advice from the speaker and the prime minister" regarding the proper procedure for the appointment, and that the government had Matane reappointed by "using section 87(5) of the Constitution, arguing that the absolute majority secured for Sir Paulias meant that the exhaustive secret ballot vote was not required". The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
ruled Matane's reelection unconstitutional in December 2010.
Awards system of Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea honours system is the main system of honouring citizens of Papua New Guinea for their services to that country. It consists of three Orders and several medals. At independence, Papua New Guinea used the Imperial honours system. However, in recognition the nation's 30th...
, GCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(born 1931), formerly a career civil servant, was the eighth Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010.
Personal life
Matane is a TolaiTolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
, from East New Britain Province, a native speaker of Kuanua and a staunch United Churchman
United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
The United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands is a merged denomination dating from 1968 consisting of the former London Missionary Society , the relatively marginal Presbyterian church and the Methodist mission The United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands is a...
. He has written 44 books in deliberately extremely simple English, focusing in part on his own overseas travels, three on the State of Israel, intended to persuade Papua New Guineans that books are a useful source of information and that they should not regard them as something only for foreigners.
For many years Matane wrote a column in the Malaysian Chinese-owned newspaper The National, containing the advice to the younger generation. He also founded United News Agency of Melanesia. He, together with Grand Chief the Right Honourable Michael Somare
Michael Somare
Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, KStJ, MP was Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then...
, makes a point of wearing a lap lap (skirt) rather than trousers.
Career
Matane served as the first Papua New Guinean ambassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
following the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Governor-General
A longstanding person of celebrated (albeit perhaps largely self-promoted) prominence — his memoirMemoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
My Childhood in New Guinea had been on the school curriculum from the 1970s and he for many years wrote a column in the Malaysian-owned newspaper The National
The National (Papua New Guinea)
The National is a daily, English language newspaper published in Papua New Guinea. It is also published online. The paper is owned by Malaysian logging company Rimbunan Hijau.-External links:*...
— Sir Paulias was elected by Parliament on 27 May 2004, receiving 50 votes, while his opponent, Sir Pato Kakeraya
Pato Kakeraya
Sir Pato Kakaraya, KBE, is a Papua New Guinea politician and Cabinet Minister. Kakaraya was the second person considered for the elections for Governor-General of Papua New Guinea in 2004...
received 46 votes. Attempts to elect a governor-general
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
had failed repeatedly for six months before Matane's election because of constitutional flaws in the nomination process. Following Matane's election, Kakaraya brought a petition to the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has been the highest court of Papua New Guinea since 16 September 1975, replacing the pre-Independence Supreme Court and the overseas appellate tribunals from 1902 to 1975 of the High Court of Australia and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council...
, seeking to invalidate the election.
Matane was sworn in on 29 June 2004, although the legal challenge to his election was still ongoing. He was officially invested as Governor-General by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 13 October 2004. He was reappointed for a second term in June 2010, under what The National
The National (Papua New Guinea)
The National is a daily, English language newspaper published in Papua New Guinea. It is also published online. The paper is owned by Malaysian logging company Rimbunan Hijau.-External links:*...
called "very controversial circumstances [...], in an act likely to be challenged in court". Specifically, The National reported that there was "conflicting advice from the speaker and the prime minister" regarding the proper procedure for the appointment, and that the government had Matane reappointed by "using section 87(5) of the Constitution, arguing that the absolute majority secured for Sir Paulias meant that the exhaustive secret ballot vote was not required". The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea
The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has been the highest court of Papua New Guinea since 16 September 1975, replacing the pre-Independence Supreme Court and the overseas appellate tribunals from 1902 to 1975 of the High Court of Australia and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council...
ruled Matane's reelection unconstitutional in December 2010.