BACKGROUND
The area of the Commonwealth was once called Aotearoa. It was settled by various tribes of Maori people between the period between 800AD - 1300AD.
These tribes arranged themselves into groups referred to Iwi and then in addition into hapū (sub-tribes). They formed a highly hierarchical society based around the role of the Iwi Chief and Iwi Council.
Throughout history the various tribes have always fought small scale battles however this was usually over resources, as farming techniques and yields increased these became less common and Iwi began working together rather than competing.
Between 1500-1600 AD the Commonwealth was settled by various foreign settlers originating from the area of modern day Mercia. These people believed they could conquer this new territory and their superior military technology subjugated the people quickly & established non-native rule. Following their victory at the Battle of Wahaiko in 1708 the invaders' began inviting other non-native groups to the area to establish the Empire of Hassop. They Iwians were treated as slaves and forced off their land.
In 1817 Chief Rangi Umaga began a movement known as Pan-Iwism which sought to break through tribal barriers that the Hassopites had used to keep the Iwians under control. The Invaders would often aid one Iwi in their quest to be the superior, as such this kept the Iwi's competing against each other rather than challenging the invaders. By 1822 Chief Rangi had united around 18 of the 30 Iwi's into one waka and began a guerilla military campaign against the occupiers. This often brought brutal retribution from the ruling government and their collaborators.
In 1830 Chief Rangi was captured and executed , he was denied a traditional burial, something that even those Iwi fighting against him protested, this did much to move even more Iwi over to the side of the Pan-Iwi movement. The war continued with Rangi's son Jehu as leader.
By 1868 the Pan-Iwi movement had conquered much of the region from the invaders who found themselves with less local allies and dwindling support from the other two Mercian Kingdoms who were appalled by the brutal actions. Effectively the nation was split in two "The Empire of Hassop" and the newly formed "Land of the Iwi"
In 1890 the Hassopites which still contested the territory of the "Land of the Iwi" began withdrawing to the Empire. As such the local governing body of the Hassopites made the decision to stop fighting and signed the Treaty of Wahabalu which split the territory between them and the Maori formally. The peninsular was then referred to as Occupied Iwi and Free Iwi by the Maori.
In 1891 a large gathering of all Free Iwi took place and officially formed the Commonwealth. This was a new system where each Iwi was represented on a tribal council. The leader of the Pan-Iwi movement at this time was Piripi Sevasi, he was elected unanimous King and became King Piripi Sevasi the First.
In 1897 the Treaty of Wahablu was broken by Occupied Iwi who attacked the newly formed Commonwealth starting a period of warfare that saw the Commonwealth pushed back. Through various treaties the Commonwealth became a vassal state of the Hassopites once more with the Sevasi family kept as mere puppets.
In 1950 the Hassopites began a brutal destruction of Maori culture in their nation and as such Queen Mara Sevasi ordered an uprising against the Hassopites. This war last almost thirty years and in 1983 the occupying government surrendered and all the territory was absorbed into the Commonwealth. Some factions still held out in hopes of a Hassop return until 2001 when fighting was finally declared over and a formal national constitution put into place forming an elected assembly under a monarch.
Government Type:- Tribal Monarchy
Population:-:- 62million
Capital City:- Hunter's Bay (1.2million)
Demonym:- Maori / Iwian
ECONOMY
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Currency:- Paeu (P)
GDP per Capita:- $20,400
Unemployment Rate:- 4%
Main Industries:- dairy products, meat and edible offal, logs and wood articles, fruit, bauxite, wine
PEOPLE
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Ethnicity:- 75% Maori 10% Islanders 15% Others
Languages:- Maori & English
Religions:- 80% Native Maori Faith, 20% Christainity
Average Life Expectancy:- 78 years of age
Citizenship Rules:- At least one parent must be an Iwian to claim citizenship. Residency Qualification for Citizenship is 3 years , plus adoption into an Iwi.
GOVERNMENT
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Head of State:- King Piripi Sevasi
Head of Government:- Prime Minister Melika Suvatu
Name of Legislative Body:-A body called The Kaitiaki (The Guardians) is formed from each of the Iwi and acts like a House of Commons in the UK. "Guardians" are elected every five years using a system of proportional representation within each Iwi.
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