13 Facts About Paulias Matane

Paulias Matane was a long-time contributor and columnist for The National.

Paulias Matane was a Tolai, a native speaker of Kuanua, and a staunch United Churchman.

Paulias Matane wrote 44 books which deliberately use extremely simple English, focusing in part on his own overseas travels, including three on the State of Israel.

Paulias Matane's writing is intended to persuade Papua New Guineans that books are a useful source of information and that they should not regard them as something only for foreigners.

For many years Paulias Matane wrote a column in the Malaysian Chinese-owned newspaper The National, containing advice for the younger generation.

Paulias Matane was married to Lady Kaludia Matane who served her country with "great distinction" and died on 20 December 2016.

Paulias Matane attended Toma Village Higher School and then Keravat High School.

Paulias Matane was PNG's Ambassador to the United Nations from 1975 and in 1979 was elected as a vice-president of the General Assembly.

Paulias Matane was elected Governor-General by Parliament on 27 May 2004, receiving 50 votes, while his opponent, Sir Pato Kakaraya received 46 votes.

Paulias Matane was sworn in on 29 June 2004, although the legal challenge to his election was still ongoing.

Paulias Matane was officially invested as Governor-General by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 October 2004.

Specifically, The National reported that there was "conflicting advice from the speaker and the prime minister" regarding the proper procedure for the appointment, and that the government had Matane reappointed by "using section 87 of the Constitution, arguing that the absolute majority secured for Sir Paulias meant that the exhaustive secret ballot vote was not required".

Paulias Matane died on 12 December 2021, in his native village of Viviran.