Paulias Matane

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Governor General of Papua New Guinea
The Right Honourable Sir Paulias Nguna Matane GCL GCMG OBE KStJ
At the Ramoaaina NT Dedication at Molot Village Duke of York
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 June 2004
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Michael Somare
Preceded by	Jeffrey Nape (Acting)

Born	1931

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 Grand Chief the Right Honourable Sir Paulias Matane's election because of constitutional flaws in the nomination process, and though Matane was sworn in, controversy continued, as Kakaraya brought a petition to the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea to attempt to invalidate the election.

Matane 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. Grand Chief the Right Honourable Sir Paulias Matane takes a firm line on expatriates, especially those of European descent.

For many years Matane 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 Michael Somare, makes a point of wearing a laplap (a type of skirt) rather than trousers. His wife, now Lady Matane, is invariably referred to in accordance with Papua New Guinea practice as Lady Kanudia, her given name.

Government offices
Preceded by Jeffrey Nape Acting	Governor General of Papua New Guinea 2004 – present	Incumbent

Persondata
NAME	Matane, Paulias
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Paulias Nguna Matane
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Governor-General of Papua New Guinea
DATE OF BIRTH	1931
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH