The Parliament of Nauru has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to officially rename the country as Naoero, marking a major step toward recognising the nation’s heritage and identity.
The Constitution (Amendment) (No2) Act 2026 was passed Tuesday after all 16 Members of Parliament present voted in support of the amendment during Parliament sitting.
The bill was first tabled by David Adeang on 29 January 2026 before returning to Parliament following a mandatory 90-day layover period for debate and voting.
In his second reading speech delivered in January, President Adeang said, “while the name Nauru has been recognised internationally since independence, this proposed change seeks to more faithfully honour our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity”.
Under the amendment, the name change to Naoero will be reflected across official national records, symbols and the country’s international identity, including at the United Nations.
A national referendum will now be held to complete the constitutional process required for the amendment to take effect.
