Rennell and Bellona is one of the nine provinces of Solomon Islands, comprising two inhabited raised coral atolls, Rennell and Bellona, or and respectively in Rennellese (a Polynesian language), as well as the uninhabited Indispensable Reef. Rennell and Bellona are both Polynesian-inhabited islands within the predominantly Melanesian Solomons. They are thus considered Polynesian outliers. The first known European to sight the islands was Mathew Boyd of Camberwell, London, commander of the merchant ship, Bellona, in 1793. The province has a combined population of 4,100 , the least populous province of Solomon Islands.

Not until after World War II (1945) did Westernization slowly influence the two islands. A closer contact with the rest of Solomon Islands sped up the modernization process. More regular shipping was initiated, and children were sent to mission schools on other islands. In the 1950s health clinics and wireless contact were established on both islands. Regular air service to both islands was established in the beginning of the 1970s.

On July 7, 1978, Solomon Islands gained its independence from Great Britain, and Rennell and Bellona became part of the newly created country. About fifteen years later, Rennell and Bellona became a province of their own. At the turn of the millennium the different churches began losing their power, especially over the younger generation. Sports, music and home brewing became leisure-time interests, and education and vocational training rose in importance.

In 2005, there were reports that the people of Rennell and Bellona province were determined to secede from the country following a lack of infrastructure investment.

The history and linkage of the Rennellese people with the Māori are explored in a documentary entitled the "Mystery of the Lost Waka (canoe)", made by Māori Television in 2007.

Provincial government

In 1993, Rennell and Bellona became a province of Solomon Islands, becoming the only Polynesian province in the predominantly Melanesian country. The province is also a single constituency, Rennell and Bellona Constituency, represented in parliament by a single Member of Parliament. Today, the current Member of Parliament for Rennell and Bellona is Hon. Tautai Kaitu'u, an Australian-based doctor from Rennell Island.

The provincial government is made up of 10 wards (provincial equivalent of a constituency) represented by 10 elected members known in the provincial assembly as Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). Rennell Island, the larger of the two islands, has six wards and Bellona only has four, namely wards seven to ten.

Administrative divisions

Rennell and Bellona Province is sub-divided into the following constituencies (or electoral districts), which are further sub-divided into wards (with populations at the 2009 and 2019 Censuses respectively):

{| class="sortable wikitable"

! rowspan=2 colspan=2 | Name

! colspan=3 | Population (2009 census)

! colspan=3 | Population (2019 census)

|-

! Total

! Male

! Female

! Total

! Male

! Female

|-

| colspan=2 | 32a. – Rennell Island

| align="right" | 2,032

| align="right" | 1,067

| align="right" | 965

| align="right" | 2,548

| align="right" | 1,417

| align="right" | 1,131

|-

| 32.a.01.

| East Tenggano

| align="right" | 367

| align="right" | 183

| align="right" | 184

| align="right" | 336

| align="right" | 157

| align="right" | 177

|-

| 32.a.02.

| West Tenggano

| align="right" | 378

| align="right" | 199

| align="right" | 179

| align="right" | 375

| align="right" | 178

| align="right" | 197

|-

| 32.a.03.

| Lughu

| align="right" | 362

| align="right" | 198

| align="right" | 164

| align="right" | 429

| align="right" | 261

| align="right" | 168

|-

| 32.a.04.

| Kanava

| align="right" | 239

| align="right" | 135

| align="right" | 104

| align="right" | 308

| align="right" | 174

| align="right" | 134

|-

| 32.a.05.

| Te Tau Gangoto

| align="right" | 569

| align="right" | 293

| align="right" | 276

| align="right" | 881

| align="right" | 512

| align="right" | 369

|-

| 32.a.06.

| Mugi Henua

| align="right" | 117

| align="right" | 59

| align="right" | 58

| align="right" | 219

| align="right" | 133

| align="right" | 86

|-

| colspan=2 | 32.b. – Bellona Island

| align="right" | 1,007

| align="right" | 482

| align="right" | 527

| align="right" | 1,552

| align="right" | 805

| align="right" | 747

|-

| 32b.07.

| Matangi

| align="right" | 144

| align="right" | 75

| align="right" | 69

| align="right" | 214

| align="right" | 122

| align="right" | 92

|-

| 32b.08.

| East Gaongau

| align="right" | 265

| align="right" | 117

| align="right" | 148

| align="right" | 225

| align="right" | 114

| align="right" | 111

|-

| 32b.09.

| West Gaongau

| align="right" | 350

| align="right" | 170

| align="right" | 180

| align="right" | 780

| align="right" | 394

| align="right" | 386

|-

| 32b.10.

| Sa'aiho

| align="right" | 250

| align="right" | 120

| align="right" | 130

| align="right" | 333

| align="right" | 175

| align="right" | 158

|-

| colspan=2 | Total

| align="right" | 3,041

| align="right" | 1,549

| align="right" | 1,492

| align="right" | 4,100

| align="right" | 2,222

| align="right" | 1,878

|}

;Note:

  • These figures changed every four years as more voters turned 18. The total number is not the total population of the Islands as they only take into account those eligible to vote in the National General Election and provincial elections.

Geography

thumb|A dugout canoe on Lake Tegano

Climate

The islands are subject to tropical storms and cyclones, with the tropical cyclone season running from 1 November to 30 June. In recent history, substantial damage was caused by Cyclone Esau and Cyclone Nina in 1992, Cyclone Fergus in 1996, Cyclone Drena in 1997, Cyclone Beni in 2003, Cyclone Ului in 2010 and Cyclone Freda in 2012.

See also

  • Rennell Island
  • Bellona Island
  • Tautai Agikimu'a Kaitu'u
  • Ajilon Jasper Nasiu

References

  • Archive of research information by Dr. Torben Monberg and Dr. Rolf Kuschel collected the scientific material on Bellona and Rennell Islands, Solomon Islands during the years between 1958 and 2007
  • Maori TV documentary Mystery of the lost waka (canoe) featuring Rennell and Bellona
  • Rennell Island
  • Bellona Island
  • Rennell Bellona Provincial Profiles from SIDAPP from the People First Network
  • Digital Photo Library of Renbel from the People First Network
  • Henua Distance Learning Centre, East Rennell