Oceania

Oceania is a region encompassing Australia, New Zealand, and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Its boundaries vary among geographic, cultural, and political definitions.

Australia: A country and continent in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is Oceania’s largest landmass and a central part of the region.
Pacific Islands: The islands and archipelagos scattered across the Pacific Ocean. The term overlaps with Oceania but can exclude Australia and New Zealand.
Lapita culture: An archaeological culture of the western Pacific, known especially for distinctive pottery dating from about 1600 to 500 BCE. Lapita sites trace early settlement across parts of Melanesia and western Polynesia.
Coral Triangle: A marine region in the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean with exceptionally high coral and reef-fish diversity. It includes parts of Oceania and illustrates the region’s global ecological importance.
Pacific regionalism: Political and cultural cooperation among Pacific states, territories, and peoples. It expresses efforts to build shared regional identity and collective influence.
New Zealand: An island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprising the North Island, South Island, and smaller islands. It is a major country commonly included in Oceania.
Australasia: A regional term usually centered on Australia and New Zealand, sometimes including nearby islands. It is narrower than many definitions of Oceania and has variable boundaries.
Polynesian navigation: Traditional wayfinding practices that enabled long-distance voyages across the Pacific without modern instruments. These skills enabled settlement across immense distances within Oceania.
Great Barrier Reef: The world’s largest coral reef system, located off northeastern Australia. It is a prominent example of Oceania’s marine ecosystems and conservation challenges.
Blue Pacific: A political vision that presents the Pacific Ocean and its island communities as a connected region. It reframes Oceania around ocean connections and Pacific-led priorities.

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