Mava

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Kingdom of Mava
Makilaki'aké 'a Máva (A-Mava)
Coat of Arms of Mava.png
Coat of Arms
Motto: "Likaa'ki Kékalak 'a ta Kéakan'u 'a Lowka" (A-Mava)
"Take Heed of the Leadings of God"
Royal motto: "Koila kile Kiak" (A-Mava)
"Faith and Truth"
Anthem: Lowka Akalauma'ki Máva (A-Mava)
"God Bless Mava"
Mava on the Globe.png
Location of Mava (red)
Capital
and largest city
Paas
Ethnic groups
  • 94.3% A-Mava
  • 3.1% Part A-Mava
  • 2.6% Others
Demonym(s)
  • A-Mava
  • Mavanese[a]
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Kaakaia VI
• Prime Minister
Nua Kiuiáké
• Assembly Speaker
Vauta Laumasi
LegislatureLegislative Assembly
Independence from TBC
• TBC
TBC
Area
• Total
1,734 km2 (670 sq mi)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• 2020 estimate
73,129 (TBC)
• Density
42.17/km2 (109.2/sq mi) (TBC)
GDP (PPP)2019 estimate
• Total
748.25 million
• Per capita
10,232
GDP (nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
667.52 million (TBC)
• Per capita
9,120 (TBC)
CurrencyA-Mava pua (MPU)
Time zoneUTCTBC (TBC)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+218
Internet TLD.mv

Mava (A-Mava: Máva), officially the Kingdom of Mava (A-Mava: Makilaki'aké 'a Máva) is an island country located in Triania, consisting of two main islands, Mava Naik and Mava Liteki, and the smaller island of Mava Makaka. With a total area of 1,734 km2 (670 sq mi), and roughly 73,000 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest sovereign states in the world, in both land and population. The capital and largest city is Paas, located on Marva Naik.

Mava is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with Kaakaia VI as king and head of state. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Legislative Assembly, from which is appointed the Prime Minister, who serves as head of government. The economy of Mava is dependent on tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The majority of the inhabitants of Mava are indigenous A-Mava, with a small number of part A-Mava and the remainder largely immigrant workers and retired expatriates.

Etymology

History

Geography

The country comprises two main islands, Mava Naik and Mava Liteki, which are separated by the Mava Strait.

The country comprises two main islands, Mava Naik and Mava Liteki, separated by the Mava Strait, and the smaller Mava Makaka. Mava Naik is the largest of the island (1386 km2), followed by Mava Liteki (305 km2) and Mava Makaka (44 km2). Together, these islands and the surrounding rocks and islets make up the Mava Islands, for which the country is named. The two larger islands are characterised by their long east-to-west coastlines, with Mava Naik being approximately 77 km long and 18 km wide. Mava Liteki is 11 km long and 4 km wide. Despite the latters smaller size, its coastline hosts a number of the country's more famous beaches and tourist hubs. The smallest of the main islands, Mava Makaka, is approximately 15 km long and 3 km wide.

Climate

Mava has a maritime climate, sitting in the transition region between the tundra (Köppen classifications ET) and subarctic zones (Cfc). The climate is characterised my a minimal temperature range across days and seasons. There is no marked wet and dry season, with the climate influenced by the cool ocean currents and southerly winds.

The average maximum temperature in January is around 12 °C (55 °F), whilst the July maximum average temperature drops to around 2 °C (35 °F). Average rainfall ranges from around 280-300mm in lowland areas to upwards of 1,500 mm in mountain terrain. Average rainfall is 890 mm. The weather is also characterised by humidity and high winds, the latter inspiring the name of the "Windy Islands". In wintertime, gales are particularly common. Despite the cold climate, snow is not common at any time of year, although it can appear in all months.

Climate data for Mava
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 25.6
(78.1)
23.4
(74.1)
22.1
(71.8)
22.9
(73.2)
16.6
(61.9)
14.3
(57.7)
13.0
(55.4)
14.8
(58.6)
15.6
(60.1)
18.0
(64.4)
19.7
(67.5)
21.9
(71.4)
25.6
(78.1)
Average high °C (°F) 12.0
(53.6)
12.1
(53.8)
11.3
(52.3)
9.5
(49.1)
6.7
(44.1)
5.4
(41.7)
4.8
(40.6)
5.0
(41.0)
5.7
(42.3)
7.2
(45.0)
8.8
(47.8)
10.7
(51.3)
8.3
(46.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 8.2
(46.8)
8.4
(47.1)
7.7
(45.9)
6.1
(43.0)
3.8
(38.8)
2.6
(36.7)
2.0
(35.6)
2.2
(36.0)
2.7
(36.9)
3.9
(39.0)
5.2
(41.4)
7.0
(44.6)
5.0
(41.0)
Average low °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
4.7
(40.5)
4.0
(39.2)
2.8
(37.0)
1.0
(33.8)
−0.1
(31.8)
−0.7
(30.7)
−0.6
(30.9)
−0.4
(31.3)
0.5
(32.9)
1.7
(35.1)
3.4
(38.1)
−0.7
(30.7)
Record low °C (°F) −1.7
(28.9)
−1.2
(29.8)
−2.4
(27.7)
−4.6
(23.7)
−7.4
(18.7)
−8.7
(16.3)
−9.1
(15.6)
−9.7
(14.5)
−7.8
(18.0)
−5.3
(22.5)
−4.6
(23.7)
−3.5
(25.7)
−9.7
(14.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 52.4
(2.06)
44.6
(1.76)
59.4
(2.34)
64.6
(2.54)
70.4
(2.77)
69.3
(2.73)
69.6
(2.74)
60.9
(2.40)
56.5
(2.22)
46.3
(1.82)
51.0
(2.01)
52.1
(2.05)
697.1
(27.44)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.2 mm) 7.9 7.3 9.2 9.7 12.0 10.7 12.1 9.7 9.1 8.1 8.4 9.1 113.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 187.4 158.6 145.8 114.7 95.5 74.9 86.1 106.7 128.4 153.6 166.8 182.5 1,601
Source: Government of Mava

Government and politics

Mava is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, in which political power is shared between an hereditary monarch and an elected parliament. The monarch, at present King Kaakaia VI, serves as head of state, reigning by right of descent from the king Ta Kaikeka. Although nominally chief executive and vested with significant constitutional powers, the King is largely a figurehead, but nonetheless possesses certain significant constitutional powers within the government.

Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Legislative Assembly, which is composed of 45 members elected from single-member constituencies every two years. 38 members are elected in single-member constituencies, with the remainder elected to represent a national constituency on a party list. All laws are required to be submitted to the assembly and approved by its members before they are promulgated, with the power of the assembly significantly increasing from a previously rubber-stamp body to a powerful political body. The government is appointed from amongst the largest party or grouping in the Legislative Assembly by the King; the Prime Minister is appointed to head the government.

A-Mava politics continues to be characterised by the dominance of the nobility, with the King's political power leading many observers to characterise Mava's political system as a semi-constitutional monarchy or a "monarchical anocracy". Political figures across parties continue to affirm their allegiance to the King, and policies affecting the King and royal family are largely avoided because of their controversial nature. In recent years, the King has devolved political power to the elected government, although he still formally retains all powers granted in the constitution.

Law

The Constitution of Mava is the fundamental law of the Kingdom of Mava, providing for a government based on the principles of human dignity, democracy, the rule of law, sustainability, and societal cohesion. The A-Mava legal system is based on civil law implemented through a four-level court structure. The first level consists of summary courts, which deal with low-level crimes. The second level consists of criminal courts and district courts, which deal with criminal and significant financial cases respectively. The High Court hears appeals from the criminal and district courts, with the Supreme Court the court of final appeal. The Supreme Court also conducts constitutional reviews.

The judiciary is independent, with political interference explicitly prohibited. Judges are usually appointed for life, but are expected to retire at 75 unless requested to continue. Appointments are made by the King with the consent of the Legislative Assembly. Judges may only be removed by the King on the request of the Minister of Justice by command of the assembly.

Military

The defence of Mava is entrusted to the Royal A-Mava Armed Forces, which consists of the Royal A-Mava Army, the Royal A-Mava Naval Service, and the Royal A-Mava Air Force. The military is governed primarily through the National Defence Act, which provides that the armed forces, in the name of the King, is to defend Mava against internal and external threats, secure and patrol its territorial waters, and provide assistance and relief during times of disaster.

The A-Mava Armed Forces, in its current form, came into existence on 1 May 1951. It was formed through the merger of the separate Royal A-Mava Ground Forces and Royal A-Mava Naval Force, and the creation of an independent air service as a third branch. There are currently around 1,200 service personnel enlisted in the armed forces, with 16 coastal patrol crafts and 3 aircrafts.

Administrative divisions

Mava is divided into 19 districts. 14 are located on the island of Mava Nui, 4 on Mava Liteli, and Mava Mahalita constitutes one district. Each district is governed by a locally-elected district council, except for Mava Mahalita which, because of its small population, is treated as part of Tonelua District for local government purposes. For the Legislative Assembly, each district sends one representative, with the remainder elected from a national constituency.

Economy

Tourism

Agriculture

Energy

Demographics

Ethnic groups

Languages

Religion

Health

Education

Culture

See also

  • Politics of Marva
  • Culture of Marva

Notes

  1. Unofficial; commonly used.

External links

  • Marva. The Global Factbook. United Nations