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nounthe islands in the southwestern part of Oceaniapart of:
Definition that contains melanesia
- maori an ethnic minority of Polynesian and Melanesian descent who speak Maori and live in New Zealand
- oceania a large group of islands in the south Pacific including Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesia (and sometimes Australasia and the Malay Archipelago)
- melanesian of or relating to Melanesia or its people or culture
- vanuatu a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980
- cargo cult (Melanesia) the followers of one of several millenarian cults that believe salvation will come in the form of wealth (`cargo') brought by westerners; some ascribe divine attributes to westerners on first contact (especially to missionaries)
- oceanica a large group of islands in the south Pacific including Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesia (and sometimes Australasia and the Malay Archipelago)
- new hebrides a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980
- republic of vanuatu a volcanic island republic in Melanesia; independent since 1980
- austronesia islands of central and South Pacific (Indonesia and Melanesia and Micronesia and Polynesia)