1. Culture of Australia & Oceania

2. What comes to your mind when we talk about Aussie culture?

3. Basic Facts on Australia
Capital: Canberra
Population: 22.6 million
Is a commonwealth of Britain
it is a government still connected to Britain whose participants are all equal
Officially recognizes Queen Elizabeth as its monarch & Head of State—as a CEREMONIAL leader
Australia operates under a parliamentary democracy and has a Prime Minister (Tony Abbott)
Also a governor-general who reports directly to the queen on behalf of Australia (Quentin Bryce)

4. Governor General Peter Cosgrove Prime Minister Martin Turnbull
The Governor General (R) has more power, technically, than the Prime Minister (L) since she is a representative of the “official” Head of State, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, the PM plays a much larger role in law-making

5. The History Aborigines have lived in the region for over 40,000 years
European contact began when Australia was founded by Captain James Cook in 1770; he claimed land for Britain
Gold rush in the late-1800s massive (European) immigration into the region
Increased population and increased exploration allowed for “Crown Colonies” to be established in the 1800s
1901: six colonies became a federation
Commonwealth of Australia was established!

6. The Flag of Australia
Union Jack flag (British)
Chosen in 1901; legally made the official flag in 1954
Only flag to fly over an entire continent

7. Australia Today: Aborigine Culture
Ceremony
Rock Art

8. Australian Culture: Non-Aborigine
Culture is heavily influenced by British colonization:
Most practice some form of Christianity
Official language: Australian English
Pastimes also influenced by the British
Still, they have things of their own! 

9. Uggs are made in Australia
Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world—partially because of a hole in the ozone layer, and partially because of the numerous outdoor activities Aussies participate in.
Vegemite to Australians is what PB & J sandwiches are to Americans
Rugby, brought by the British, is a very popular (and violent) sport in Australia

10. Famous Aussies

11. Celebrated Holidays Australia Day: January 26 ANZAC Day: April 26
Celebrates the first arrival of convicts on Botany Bay, near Sydney
(really, the first British settlement, 1788)
ANZAC Day: April 26
ANZAC= Australian & New Zealand Army Corps
Honors the Australian & New Zealand soldiers who died in WWI & WWII
Easter Sunday (depends)
Queen’s Birthday (2nd Monday in June)
Christmas: December 25
Usually celebrated on the beach (what season is it in Australia?)

12. New Zealand

13. Basic Facts: New Zealand
Capital: Wellington
Population: 4.4 million
Is a commonwealth of Britain
it is a government still connected to Britain whose participants are all equal
Officially recognizes Queen Elizabeth as its monarch & Head of State—as a CEREMONIAL leader
NZ ALSO operates under a parliamentary democracy and has a Prime Minister (John Key)
Also a governor-general who reports directly to the queen on behalf of New Zealand (Jerry Mateparae)

14. Prime Minister John Key
Similar to Australia, New Zealand’s Governor-General (R) holds more power than the PM. Jerry Mateparae is the first Maori person to hold this office! Queen Elizabeth is still the Head of State, but usually only in a ceremonial capacity

15. History Settled by Polynesians in 700s (“Maori”); created own culture
James Cook actually reached New Zealand BEFORE Australia and was the first explorer to circumnavigate the area (1769)
Was adopted into the British Empire in 1880
Eventually, Europeans took over  Maori impoverished

16. Oceania/Pacific Islands
Islands of Melanesia thought to be the first inhabited during the Ice Age
Migrated from SE Asia
Crossed the water in canoes & small boats—lower sea levels then!

17. Melanesia Original inhabitants: migration around 30,000 years ago
Melanesians make up ¾ of indigenous pop. of the islands
Includes:
Papua New Guinea
Fiji
Vanuatu
New Caledonia

18. Micronesia Have mongoloid physical characteristics:
Mongoloid: describes people of E. Asia
Lighter skin, dark, straight or wavy hair
People here generally live in coastal villages
Native culture was the last to develop in this region
Most islands are independent, but were colonized by USA, Germany & British Empire at one point
Includes:
Marshall Islands
Kiribati
Guam
Palau
Nauru

19. Polynesia
All islands are very similar in terms of culture, language & physical appearance
Physical Characteristics of natives:
Mongoloid features
Generally taller & lighter-skinned than Micronesians & Melanesians
Polynesians responsible for the stone statues on Easter Island
Includes:
Tonga
Pitcairn
Hawaii
New Zealand