Rat Island
| Disputed island Native name: Motuopuhi (Māori) | |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | Tauranga Harbour |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Major islands | Rat Island |
| Area | 0.01 km2 (0.0039 sq mi) |
| Length | 0.27 km (0.17 mi) |
| Width | 0.06 km (0.037 mi) |
| Coastline | 0.65 km (0.40 mi) |
| Highest point |
|
| Administered by | |
 Arstotzkan Union | |
| Largest city | Kapitol (0) |
| Executive Councillor | Ethan Brinkman |
| Claimed by | |
 New Zealand | |
 Ward Empire | |
 Empire of the Benereich | |
Rat Island (known as by the Arstotzkan Union: Moutere Hapori Administrative Region[1], Empire of the Benereich: Empire Rat Island, Ward Empire: Island Province) is a disputed territory located in Tauranga, New Zealand. For much of the history of the island, sovereignty lay with New Zealand until 2022 when a major regional war sparked claim over the island with Commonwealth Forces invading the island to prevent the island being used by the Empire of Him.
By November 2022 following the end of the Commonwealth-Empire War, the Arstotzkan Union and Ward Empire began working to proclaim their sovereignty over the island as it had been agreed that the Ward Empire held sovereignty over the island following a claim they made to it in late July 2022.
Lore
For the most part of the history of Tauranga, Rat Island has sat as a small place to adventure to. During the 1930s however, a couple did settle on the island. As the city grew the couple eventually left the island and it has sat in the hands of the Tauranga City Council. Until 2022, where for the first time in the islands history it became a battle ground in the largest micronational conflicts in New Zealand.
On 28 August 2022, forces of the Tauranga Commonwealth of Micronations, Philosostan Volunteer Brigade and Democratic Armed Forces of UDROR invaded the island as a part of Operation: Sea Rodent. Which was a military operation endorsed by the TCM and JARDAB to help take down Empire of Him insurgents on the island.
On 31 August 2022, the Tauranga Commonwealth of Micronations established the island a Administered Region and would hold the island until the end of the war. When the war ended the area was given to the Empire of Him as a part of the Commonwealth - Empire Peace Treaty Agreement. Following this, war erupted over the island. The Empire of the Benereich, which was a small micronation that had grown to be very eccentric with their actions had launched an invasion of the island. Taking it on 31 October 2022.
On 4 November 2022, the Arstotzkan Union Defense Forces, launched a military invasion of the island and took it for Arstotzkan control. Three days later, the Arstotzkan Union was invaded by the Empire of the Benereich and they claimed sovereignty over the island and forced the Arstotzkan Union to surrender the island. The Arstotzkan Union signed the Handover of the Krysinyy Ostrov Territory Act and ended the war.
In April 2023 the Executive Committee and Ministry of Justice in the Arstotzkan Union ruled the invasion by Benerian forces to be in volition of international law and their claim to the island to be under the sovereignty of the Arstotzkan Union. This sparked fierce debate in the Coalition of United Micronations and ultimately led to the Inter Coalition War in May 2023.
Sovereignty Claims
Arstotzkan Union
The Arstotzkan Union has claimed the island to be apart of its sovereign territory since November 2022. As the Arstotzkan Union is strong allies with the Ward Empire, the nation wished to capture the island and incorporate it as a part of the Union and retain some land for its ally to continue the claim it made in July 2022.
From 17 November 2022 to 30 April 2023 the Arstotzkan Union did not make any attempt to re-assert its claim until passing the Arstotzkan Territorial Sovereignty Act 2023. Since then the Arstotzkan Union has continued its claim to the island and is the only country with an operating governing body over the island.
Officially the Arstotzkan Union actually recognizes the sovereignty claim made by the Ward Empire on the south of the island. The Arstotzkan Union even had plans for a joint-administration of the island under both states control, however the plan has not yet been implemented and the Arstotzkan Union administers both areas.
Ward Empire
The Ward Empire has claimed the island since July 2022. In August 2022 it lost its claim when the island was invaded by Him Insurgents. In late-October 2022 the Ward Empire agreed to a joint military invasion of the island as it was under the command of the Empire of Him. The Arstotzkan Union would be joining the First Supreme Army and the two nations would split the island between two zones of control along the Ward Channel in the near centre of the island.
Following the Benerian invasion in November 2022, the Ward Empire agreed to sanction a military invasion by the Arstotzkan Union to re-assert the two nations claims to the island however following the end of the Benerian - Coalition War on 17 November 2022, the Ward Empire has made no new attempts to regain sovereignty over the island however still claims its designated zone as part of its territory. The Ward Empire does recognize the Arstotzkan Union's claim to the island and allows for it to administer both areas of the island.
New Zealand
New Zealand has claimed the island as a part of its sovereign territory since 1840. However when the Tauranga County became larger, Rat Island became incorporated into the town with it becoming part of Tauranga by the 1900s. From analysis of old maps and documents, the island has been administered as a part of Tauranga since the 1930s. As it is part of New Zealand and is included in its sovereign area, New Zealand claims the island as its property.
Empire of the Benereich
The Empire of the Benereich has claimed the island since 17 November 2022 but had previously claimed it to be a part of its sovereign territory since 31 October 2022. The Empire fought twice to gain control of the island and has been supported by the Coalition of United Micronations since its second invasion of the island.
Government
Rat Island was controlled by the Special Temporary Territorial Regional Authority, which was civil and military contingent of the Tauranga Commonwealth of Micronations. They reported to the General Assembly of the Tauranga Commonwealth of Micronations and it was up to the General Assembly to govern the actions of the TCM on the island.
During the war, Rat Island became part of the Commonwealth Defense Region (CDR) and had a Garrison for Commonwealth Forces against the Empire of Him.
From 4 November 2022 till 17 November 2022, Rat Island was administered as a territory of the Arstotzkan Union, and was under the control of the Government of the State and Territories of the Arstotzkan Union, the nations territorial governing body. This was until 30 April 2023 when the Arstotzkan Union reclaimed its sovereignty and placed it under the Eastern Arstotzkan State Representation Office, now the State Council of Rangitaiki. It is currently the only governing authority focused at the affairs of the island, with the State Council overseeing affairs of both the Arstotzkan Union's territory and Ward Empire territory.
References
- ↑ Renamed from Krysinyy Ostrov Territory to the Moutere Hapori Administrative Region following the passing of the Moutere Hapori Administrative Region Act 2023 in December.