Paulias Matane
Grand Chief Sir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL, GCMG, OBE, KStJ (born 1931), formerly a career civil servant, became Governor-General of Papua New Guinea from June 29 2004.
He was elected by Parliament on May 27, 2004, receiving 50 votes, while his opponent, Sir Pato Kakeraya received 46 votes. Attempts to elect a governor-general had failed repeatedly for six months before Matane's election because of constitutional flaws in the nomination process, and though Matane has been sworn in, controversy continues, as Kakaraya has brought a petition to the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea to attempt to invalidate the election.
Grand Chief Sir Paulias is a Tolai, from East New Britain Province, a native speaker of Kuanua and a staunch United Churchman. He has written many books in deliberately extremely simple English, focusing in part on his own overseas travels, 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. Sir Paulias takes a firm line on expatriates, especially those of European descent.
For many years Sir Paulias wrote a column in the Malaysian-owned newspaper The National, containing the advice of an elder to the younger generation. He also founded United News Agency of Melanesia. He, together with Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, makes a point of wearing a laplap (a type of skirt) rather than trousers. His wife, now Lady Paulias Matane, is invariably referred to in accordance with Papua New Guinea practice as Lady Kanudia, her given name.
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