Editing History of Oceania (section)

== Modern age ==

[[File:SH 60F Sea Hawk helicopter in the Solomon Islands.jpg|thumb|New Zealand and Australian military personnel boarding a Sea Hawk helicopter as part of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands in 2007]]

In 1946, French Polynesians were granted French citizenship and the islands' status was changed to an overseas territory; the islands' name was changed in 1957 to Polynésie Française (French Polynesia).

Australia and New Zealand became [[British Dominions|dominions]] in the 20th century, adopting the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster Act]] in 1942 and 1947 respectively, marking their legislative independence from the United Kingdom. Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959.

Samoa became the first pacific nation to gain independence in 1962. Nauru became second in 1968, followed by Fiji and Tonga in 1970 and numerous other nations in the 1970s and 1980s. The South Pacific Forum was founded in 1971, which became the [[Pacific Islands Forum]] in 2000. [[Bougainville Island]], geographically part of the [[Solomon Islands (archipelago)|Solomon Islands archipelago]] but politically part of [[Papua New Guinea]], tried unsuccessfully to [[Republic of the North Solomons|become independent]] in 1975, and a civil war followed in the early 1990s, with it later being granted autonomy.

On 1 May 1979, in recognition of the evolving political status of the Marshall Islands, the United States recognized the constitution of the Marshall Islands and the establishment of the Government of the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]]. The constitution incorporates both American and British constitutional concepts.

In 1852, French Polynesia was granted partial internal autonomy; in 1984, the autonomy was extended. French Polynesia became a full overseas collectivity of France in 2004.

Between 2001 and 2007 Australia's [[Pacific Solution]] policy transferred asylum seekers to several Pacific nations, including the [[Nauru detention centre]]. Australia, New Zealand and other nations took part in the [[Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands]] from 2003 after a request for aid.