The partnership between the ACT Legislative Assembly and the Maneaba ni Maungatabu Kiribati began in 2008, when the two parliaments agreed to work together under the twin parliaments program run by the Australia region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

What is a twin parliament?

Set up by CPA Australia in July 2007, the twin parliament program partners up Australian state and territory parliaments with Pacific parliaments to promote cooperation and collaboration across the region. The direct link allows Pacific parliaments to access the established knowledge of the Australian parliamentary practice and Australian parliament to be challenged to innovate and be exposed to new ideas. Though what each pair of parliaments does with this relationship differs from twin to twin, many offer staff exchanges, support professional development opportunities, and visit one another regularly.

The Kiribati Room

Three people cut a ribbon in front of artwork

In June 2012, the Kiribati Room was opened by Speaker Shane Rattenbury MLA, i-Kiribati Minister of Education Maree Tekanene MP, and Waysang Kum Kee MP (later i-Kiribati Foreign Minister). Formerly known as Committee Room 2, the room was renamed to recognise the partnership between the Legislative Assembly and Maneaba ni Maungatabu.

Used for committee meetings and public hearings, the Kiribati Room is a visible reminder to members and the public of our parliaments' enduring connection. The walls feature woven mats and cowrie shell bowls, both items of high value in i-Kiribati society. Also on display are woodcut prints by Dame Robin White DNZM (Ngāti Awa), a New Zealand artist whose work regularly depicts life and culture in Kiribati.

You can visit the Kiribati Room on our free public tours, run every Wednesday.

About Kiribati

The Republic of Kiribati (said 'ki-ri-bas') or Ribaberiki Kiribati is a large ocean state in central Pacific Ocean, made up of 33 coral atolls and islands which became independent in July 1979. Its land area makes up only 0.1% of the country, with the remaining 99.9% — almost 3,450,000 km2 — being ocean. Kiribati ocean span is significant, with roughly the same end-to-end width as the continental United States of America. Around half of its 116,000 citizens live in the capital Tarawa, with a small diaspora in Australia, New Zealand, and other Pacific nations.

Kiribati has is a unitary presidential republic with two levels of government: local and national. Local government is made up of urban and island councils which blend traditional and democratic governance together. At the national level sits the Kiribati Government, the High Court, Maneaba ni Maungatabu.

Te Maneaba ni Maungatabu

An imposing building facade in Tarawa, Kiribati

The Maneaba ni Maungatabu is Kiribati's national parliament, with a single chamber and 46 elected members. Its name — literally 'the supreme maneaba' — is a nod to the imposing meeting houses (maneaba) which are at the core of village life and community decision-making in Kiribati.

Kiribati's parliamentary system is a blend of the British and American systems. Voters elect their members of the Maneaba from single member electorates across the country using the first-past-the-post system. Kiribati voters also directly elect the Beretitenti (or President) after each election, who are always members of the Maneaba. The Beretitenti chooses who forms their cabinet from the elected members of the Maneaba. Members elect the Speaker of the Maneaba, who is not an elected member and has no vote.

The Maneaba building was built in 2000. In addition to the chamber, the building houses meeting rooms, a library, a separate wing for the executive, and a dining area.

Visit the Maneaba ni Maungatabu's website

The ACT and Kiribati compared

Republic of Kiribati

  • Population: 116,000 (2017)
  • Land area: 811 km2
  • Parliamentary system: Unicameral
  • Number of members: 46

Australian Capital Territory

  • Population: 426,700 (2019)
  • Land area: 2,385 km2
  • Parliamentary system: Unicameral
  • Number of members: 25

Activities

Our twinning relationship is active, despite the 4,700km between Canberra and Tarawa. Information on our inbound, outbound, and technical exchanges - our most common activities - are included in the accordion below. Special activities not listed in these include:

The Maneaba ni Maungatabu periodically sends members and parliamentary staff on exchanges to the ACT Legislative Assembly. These can include good-will visits, technical exchanges, and staff attachments to the Office of the Legislative Assembly.

  • February 2024
    Visit by the Maneaba Business Committee and secretary.
  • November 2018
    Visit by the Maneaba Public Accounts Committee chairperson.
  • October to November 2017
    Visit by Speaker Tebuai Uaai, the Maneaba Public Accounts Committee chairperson, and the Clerk of the Maneaba.
  • June 2017
    Training attachment of three Hansard staff from the Maneaba ni Maungatabu to the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
  • March 2017
    Training attachment for the Maneaba Public Accounts Committee secretary with the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
  • November 2014
    Study trip visit by a staff member of the Maneaba ni Maungtabu.
  • November 2012
    Visit by the Deputy Clerk of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu.
  • June 2012
    Training attachment for the Minister of Education and an Opposition Member of the Maneaba to MLAs' offices.
  • February 2010
    Visit by the Auditor-General, Accountant-General, and three members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu Public Accounts Committee.
  • November 2009
    Training attachment for the Maneaba Librarian and IT and Research Assistant with the Office of the Legislative Assembly.
  • October 2009
    Visit bya Member of the Maneaba as part of the Professional Skills Development Course for Parliamentarians.
  • July 2008
    Visit by Beretitenti Anote Tong, Speaker Taomati Iuta, and the Deputy Clerk of the Maneaba.

The ACT Legislative Assembly sends two MLAs on an official apolitical visit the Maneaba ni Maungatabu once each term. These exchanges allow us to provide in-country support, exchange knowledge, bring over requested supplies, and strengthen the relationship between our two parliaments.

A report is written after each visit. These are available below.

When requested, the Office of the Legislative Assembly provides advice and support to Maneaba ni Maungtabu staff to develop and strengthen technical parts of running a parliament.

  • February 2024
    The Clerk visits to conduct a benchmarking exercise of the Maneaba against the Latimer House Principles on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
  • July 2018 to July 2019.
    The former Deputy Clerk/Serjeant-at-Arms visits to help review the Maneaba's standing orders as part of the United National Development Program.
  • April 2016
    A former Speaker and the Deputy Clerk/Serjeant-at-Arms visits to help with an induction program for newly elected members.
  • November 2013
    The Assembly Librarian and Public Accounts Committee Secretary visit to advise on library service improvements and train a new committee secretary.
  • August 2013
    The Justice Committee Legal Advisor visits to provide legal advice and support to the Maneaba Public Accounts Committee as part of the United Nations Development Program.
  • October 2012
    The Clerk and a federal parliamentary officer visit to conduct a needs assessment as part of the Pacific Partnerships Program.
  • August 2012
    The Clerk-Assistant and Justice Committee Legal Advisor visit to run workshops on the role and functions of parliamentary privilege and the operation of procedure committees.
  • May 2012
    The Public Accounts Committee Secretary visits to run a workshop on the role and operation of the public accounts committee. The resulting Guide for Members of the Kiribati Public Accounts Committee can be found here: PDFPDF (944 KB)
  • October 2010
    The former Clerk visits to help with a seminar for newly elected members.
  • October to December 2009
    The former Clerk and a Parliamentary Counsel officer visit the Maneaba ni Maungatabu as part of the United Nations Development Program.
  • April 2009
    The Deputy Clerk/Serjeant-at-Arms and Hansard Publications Officer visit the Maneaba ni Maungatabu for IT training and website development support.