Vanuatu lays
pp. 35-37 · Read in the full issue
claim to Matthew and Hunter
Vanuatu’s Ministry of Land and Natural Resources has laid claim to the uninhabited islands of Matthew (12 hectares) and Hunter (40.5 hectares) lying south of Anatom in Vanuatu, and east of the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. A statement from the ministry read on Radio Vanuatu on May 27 declared: ‘There appears to be an increas
ing number of publications on both maps and literature which are issued by various ministries and departments of government that do not properly include the full extent of the nation’s islands. ‘This particularly applies to the two most southerly islands of Matthew and Hunter which, while they may not represent a
significant item in terms of land area, contribute vastly to the exclusive economic zone of Vanuatu. Their geographic lo cations are approximately as follows; Hunter Island 171° 18'E, 22° 21'S; and Matthew island 172° 03'E 22° 24'S. ‘Wherever possible these islands should be shown in their correct relative position to other adjacent islands, or shown as an insert to the map of the main island bodies. ‘A careful scrutiny should be made of all literature and maps prepared for domestic and over seas publications, particularly the latter, to ensure conformity with this circular. A number of tourist and travel brochures which reach a significant inter national audience have wrongly portrayed the extent of the nation and relevant ministries should endeavour to persuade the agency responsible to cor rect the information at next publication.’
The islands, of volcanic ori gin, have been shown on various maps as belonging to Vanuatu or New Caledonia. A gazetteer, compiled by the Pacific Manu-
scripts Bureau of the Research School of Pacific Studies at the Australian National University, lists them as New Caledonia’s possessions. The Pacific Islands Year Book also lists them as being possessions of New Caledonia.
The Geographical Handbook Series (vol. 3), published by British Naval Intelligence for restricted circulation, includes both Matthew and Hunter in the, then, New Hebrides. But it records that they ‘have not been claimed by France or Britain, or by any other power’.