Nauru President David Adeang
Photo: ABC News / Ian Cutmore
A constituional amendment has been tabled in Nauru to change the country’s name.
President David Adeang tabled the bill, proposing to amend Nauru’s Constitution to replace all references to ‘Nauru’ with ‘Naoero’.
He said while the name ‘Nauru’ has been recognised internationally since independence, the proposed change seeks to more faithfully honour the nation’s heritage, language, and identity.
In a statement on Thursday, the government said Nauru emerged because Naoero could not be properly pronounced by foreign tongues.
“[It] was changed not by our choice, but for convenience,” the statement said.
“Other nations have also changed their country names to better reflect and honour their cultures and languages, and bring their people together, such as Eswatini, Türkiye, and closer to home – Chuuk.”
It said the change would be reflected across the country, from the renaming of the national aircraft and ships, to official identity regionally and internationally, including at the United Nations, and across national official records and symbols.
Nauru Airlines
Photo: Facebook / The Government of the Republic of Nauru
The amendment, tabled in late January, will be laid over for 90 days as per the law, then be returned to the order paper for debate on the second reading.
To be passed by parliament, it would require a two-thirds majority of MPs to vote in favour, after which it would go to a national referendum.
The government said a referendum date will be set once it has passed parliament.