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Year of independence: 1975; historical context: Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia, which had been administering the territory since World War I on behalf of the League of Nations.

Year of independence: 1907 (dominion status), fully independent in 1947 with the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act; historical context: New Zealand gradually attained full sovereignty after being a British colony, with significant steps including the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and gaining dominion status in 1907.

Year of independence: 1968; historical context: After being a German colony, and later administered by Australia, New Zealand, and the UK through a League of Nations mandate and then a UN trusteeship, Nauru achieved independence.

Year of independence: 1901 (Federation of Australia); historical context: Australia became a federated nation after six British self-governing colonies agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia.

Year of independence: 1978; historical context: The Solomon Islands gained independence from the United Kingdom after being part of the British protectorate that formed in the late 19th century.

Year of independence: 1980; historical context: Vanuatu, formerly known as the New Hebrides, was a unique condominium colony jointly governed by the United Kingdom and France before gaining independence.

Year of independence: 1962; historical context: Samoa was the first country in the Pacific to gain independence, which came after being a New Zealand territory that was formerly under German control.

Year of independence: 1970; historical context: Tonga was a British protected state rather than a colony and retained a degree of sovereignty until it regained full independence.

Year of independence: 1978; historical context: Formerly part of the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Tuvalu separated and later became fully independent as part of a gradual decolonization process.

Year of independence: 1970; historical context: Fiji became independent after nearly a century as a British crown colony, with ethnic considerations playing a role in the transition to independence.

Year of independence: 1986; historical context: The Marshall Islands, also part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands administered by the United States, achieved independence through a Compact of Free Association with the U.S.