Oceania

Originally referring to all of the Pacific Islands from the Malay Peninsula to the American shores, the term Oceania was coined in 1812 by Conrad Malte-Brun (1755–1826), a Danish geographer, and derives from the French Océanie. Geopolitically, it is conceived to include the Pacific Islands from Papua New Guinea to Hawaii, Australasia, and New Zealand.

Nearly 40 million people live in the 25 countries that make up the continent of Oceania. In land area it is the smallest continent, and it is second only to Antarctica in population. However, it covers more of the Earth’s surface area than all the other continents combined.

The indigenous peoples of Oceania settled it in two widely separated migrations. Europeans overtook native populations in Australia and New Zealand while significant numbers of Asians settled in many of its islands.

The five nations with the largest populations are Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, respectively. With just over 11,000 citizens, the smallest country is Tuvalu.

The economies of Oceania range from large and robust ones in Australia and New Zealand to subsistence living in areas of Papua New Guinea and some of the Pacific Islands. Oceania’s countries rely heavily on imported goods.

Much of Oceania’s flora and fauna lives in and around the sea. Combined with the plants and animals inhabiting Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand, the biodiversity of Oceania is extensive. Much of the environmental damage that has occurred may be irreversible, but major conservation efforts are under way.

Geography and Climate

In addition to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand, thousands of smaller islands in three groups—Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia—comprise Oceania.

Most of the islands of Oceania bask in an equatorial, tropical, and subtropical climate. Australia is arid except for coastal regions that range from equatorial to tropical, subtropical, and temperate. New Zealand experiences a subtropical and temperate climate in most areas, but there are also alpine conditions on some of its higher summits and winter snows in the south.

The vast majority of Oceania’s islands are volcanic in origin, while others are coral reefs. Australia’s land mass is among the world’s oldest, and New Zealand’s glacial past explains its varying and mostly rugged terrain.

The Darling and Murray Rivers of Australia, New Zealand’s Waikato River, and the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea are among Oceania’s longest rivers. Lake Eyrie, Oceania’s largest lake, varies by size because of its arid Australia location. Lake Taupo in New Zealand is the continent’s largest permanent lake.

Papua New Guinea and Australia share some of the most unusual plants and animals in the world. The marsupial populations of Australia live alongside some of the world’s deadliest reptiles and arachnids.

Much of Papua New Guinea’s plant and animal life remains to be discovered. It is especially characterized by a wide diversity of bird life, tropical marsupials, and thousands of orchid species unique to the island.

Human activity threatens the wildlife and plants of Oceania. Especially alarming is the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and native habitats in Papua New Guinea.

Economy

Economies range from hunting and gathering in Papua New Guinea to fishing and tourism among many of the islands to a vast diversity in the large industrial economies of Australia and New Zealand, which are among the world’s strongest economies. Australia’s principal economic activities include manufacturing, forestry, fisheries, farming, and mining. A highly efficient agricultural system allows New Zealand to be a major exporter of dairy products, meat, vegetables, and fruits. Forest products are also important.

The standard of living varies widely. For example, while the per capita gross domestic product of Tonga is just under $8,000, Australia’s is over $43,000.

Because all of Oceania is primarily comprised of islands, it imports many of its goods. Australia and New Zealand are also major importers, but they also export goods nearly $400 billion in value.

Significant manufacturing sectors in Australia and New Zealand include petrochemicals, food and tobacco products, machinery, and metal products. The continent is not rich in oil and natural gas, so most of the petroleum needed for industry is imported. Both countries experienced a significant loss in manufacturing to China and India.

Among Oceania’s most important natural resources is access to the greatest diversity of fishing products in the world. Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and produces most of its opals. It is also rich in iron ore, gold, and zinc. New Zealand produces significant amounts of coal, silver, and limestone. Nearly 75 percent of Papua New Guinea’s exports are from mining operations. Among the Pacific Islands, 10 percent of the world’s nickel is in New Caledonia, and Fiji has a thriving gold mining industry.

Australia and New Zealand’s currencies are among the world’s most stable, and Sydney is one of the world’s ten-largest financial centers. In Fiji, Suva has become host to many Pacific financial institutions.

Oceania’s economy is set to grow, but this growth confronts the vast biodiversity of the region. As increased human activity reduces native habitats, environmental protection becomes one of Oceania’s major challenges.

Demographics

Oceania is the least populated of the continents. Its peoples include a blend of European whites, Asians, and aborigines. In New Zealand and Australia whites make up the majority; mostly native populations and non-European immigrants comprise the majority in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands. Relations have sometimes been tense between native peoples and immigrants, especially in Australia and New Zealand.

Nevertheless, an emerging theme among the countries of Oceania is unification of economies and consolidation of power. Papua New Guinea has one of the most diverse populations in the world, yet demonstrates the idea of unification at the national level by constitutionally recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples. Tourism, art, and sports all serve to nurture this sense of unity among the far-flung islands of Oceania.

The continent is emerging as a unified economic power, solidifying this effort through trade agreements that include the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement and trade agreements between Australia and several of its Pacific partners.

The Pacific theater of World War II centered in Oceania, and some of its effects still remain, such as the displacement of tens of thousands of people from their homes. Nuclear tests conducted in the region have had a devastating impact on the local people, who suffer much higher cancer rates.

Bibliography

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Lilley, Ian. Archaeology of Oceania: Australia and the Pacific Islands. Malden: Blackwell, 2006. Print.

Matsuda, Matt K. Pacific Worlds: A History of Seas, Peoples, and Cultures. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.

McKnight, Tom L. Oceania: The Geography of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1995. Print.

Meredith, David, and Barrie Dyster. Australia in the Global Economy: Continuity and Change. New York: Cambridge UP, 2012. Print.

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Wesley-Smith, Terence, and Edgar A. Porter. China in Oceania: Reshaping the Pacific? New York: Berghahn, 2010. Print.