Torainn

Torainn is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises three main landmasses – that of the North Island, or Raki, the Central Island, or Puku, and the South Island, or Sean Lonnaiochta. Torainn is situated some 150 kilometers east across the Cook Strait from New Zealand and about 300 kilometers south of Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans. Torainn's Capital is Horohui, while the most populous city is South Belfast. Polynesian peoples have been settled in Torainn for around 750 years.

Etymology
Torainn is derived from the Irish Gaelic Teorainn, which means Limit or Frontier. At a time when so much of the world was still uninhabited, when explorers found Torainn, they noted the vast differences in the geography, climate and native life to that of England and Ireland.

History
Torainn was born out of the Age of Exploration when it was first discovered by Abel Tasman in 1642. However, the first settlement did not come until 1673. New Bristol was settled by Refugee's from the Church of England.

Government
The Government is assembled based on the MMP system. Currently there are 62 Kaumatua seats and 96 Coimin Seats. The Kaumatua functions as the upper house, much as the senate in other countries, and the Coimin serves as the lower seat, much as a House of Representatives. The seats in the Coimin are elected as constituancy seats, in a first past the poll system, while the Kaumatua is elected in a proportional system. Currently the Kaumatua is split, 36 seats for the Conservative Party, 17 seats for Labour, 4 for the Centralist Liberals, 2 for the Maori Party, 1 for the Christian Democrats, 1 for the Libertarian Party, and 1 for the United Green Party. The Coimin is split with 61 seats for the Conservaties, 21 for Labour, 8 for the Centralist Liberals and 6 for the Maori Party. The Conservative Party has traditionally been the party of choice, with the Liberal Democrats long being their main challenger. In the 1980's the Labour Party began taking away much of the Lib-Dem base and in the early 1990's the Lib-Dem's reformed into the Centralist Liberal Party. In 2002 for the first time since the 1940's, a Labour Majority government was elected. Currently there is a Coalition government between the Conservatives, the Christian Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Maori Party.

Currently following the election of 2014, the Conservative Party holds an outright majority in the Torainnian Parliament. This lead to the more moderate Christopher Cunningham losing the position of Prime Minister in favor of the more conservative Max Mitchell.

Prime Minister
The Prime Minister is selected either by the majority Party or the new coalition before the new government is considered formed. When a single party claims a Majority as they did in 2014, it is typically one of the most senior and dedicated members of the party that is granted the title, but it is often far more contentious when a coalition government is in the process of formation. Often the Prime Minister will still be aligned with the largest single party in the government, however the person selected usually holds many views in line with the smaller parties of the coalition. This was the case following the 2011 election where Christopher Cunningham became Prime Minister. Cunningham held deeply religious views in line with the Christian Democrats, despite being a Conservative by registration. This was a point of contention for the entire tenure of the government before the 2014 Elections, when the Conservatives took a majority and ousted Cunningham.

High Court of Torainn
The High Court of Torainn is the supreme appellate court. The Court takes place in the Grand Courtroom in Horohui. Neighboring the New Parliament Building as well as the old Parliament, now known under the authority of the Department of Education. The court consists of seven justices, who hear cases brought to them and decide verdicts which set precedent for the whole of the nation. The court is the oldest surviving body of the Torainnian government, stretching back well into the Colonial period.

Geography
Torainn is a very mountainous island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. Torainn consists of three large islands, forming an archipelago with the two southern islands of New Zealand. Some flatter lands exist, mostly along the east or the west coast, depending on the specific island. Much of the West Coast of Puku is mountainous providing protection for the capital of Horohui, while the mountains are mostly found in the East of Raki, allowing fertile land around South Belfast and Wahihape. Much of the island of Sean Lonnaiochta is mountainous, allowing little space for agricultural development or urban development. The only significant development on Sean Lonnaiochta is around Bunandomhain and the Uiscebun Harbor. Other towns are sparely dotted along the coasts of Sean Lonnaiochta with even fewer inland. Many natural harbors dot the coasts of Puku and Raki.

Climate
Torainn is a very temperate maritime climate, much like New Zealand. High Temperatures rarely exceed 85 degrees, but have reached as high as 106 Degrees Farenheit. Temperatures on average

Transport
Most travel around Torainn occurs via automobile. Tunnels connect all three islands via the Bealach Naisiunta Feithicli, also designated BF-01. BF-01 is controlled access highway that stretches over 2500 kilometers from Bunandomhain in the far south of the country to the Taumatakura Highlands in the North. Along it's route it serves the National Capital of Horohui, largest city of South Belfast, Whenuahouian Capital of Wahihape and the northern city of Kuraoire, the capital of Taumatakura Province. A total of around 147,000 kilometers (91,000 miles) of roadway serve Torainn.

Air Travel is common in Torainn. Major airports include Nuaeire International Airport situated between Wahihape and South Belfast, the largest airport in the nation for both passenger and cargo traffic. Coastal Airport also serves as a domestic location for flights. Horohui is served by King Edward VII International Airport. Most air travel in the nation is regional, with many airlines flying the Bunandomhain-Maungakomoana-Wahihape-Horohui Route. The flag carrier Hauara Torainn is based out of Nuaeire. Saorair is a low cost airline based out of King Edward. Both serve most all of Oceania with International flights to Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Port Moresby and Suva. Domestic travel is generally handled by Hauara Aitiuil.

Rail in Torainn serves over 95% of the population. Most towns have some sort of train station, with major cities having a large train depot, including Horohui and South Belfast. Railways are also run alongside the BF-01 in the tunnels between the three islands. Torrail is the national rail carrier.

Language
There are two official languages in the Commonwealth of Torainn, English and Irish Gaelic. In practice however, Irish Gaelic is rarely spoken, and much of the population has little working knowledge of it. English is spoken by nearly 100% of the population and Maori is the second most widely known language. Japanese is also a popular language, especially in the parts of South Belfast that have become home to many Japanese immigrants over time.

Education
see Also Education in Torainn Education in Torainn starts at age 6 and public education ends at age 18. From there Post-Secondary education is an option, or joining the workforce. Primary education consists of the first six years, this is achieved in Elementary School. Students then are channeled into larger High Schools and Secondary Schools for their secondary education. This goes up until Year 10, when students take the TSAAST after which they are funneled into Preparatory Schools designed to prepare students for College, or Industrial schools designed to prepare students for the work force. In rural areas students can receive waivers into schools in the larger towns and cities where there are dormitories set up. Tertiary education consists of Public Universities, Private universities and additional trade schools to further learn trades.

Entertainment
Music and Theater play a large part in the entertainment sector. Little film making takes place apart from documentaries in Torainn. Rock, Pop and Country music are most prevalent in Torainn, along with traditional Maori music, usually played among the Maori population.

Sports
Much of the sport in Torainn has British and Irish Origins. Rugby Union is the most popular sport in Torainn, much as it is in neighbors New Zealand and New Duveland. Association Football is a relativly close second compared to other nations in Oceania. Six clubs compete for the Golden Kamaka each year in the Nui Kapu. Likewise 12 teams constitute the Torainn Cup League.

Single and double player sports that have gained popularity in Torainn include Tennis and Golf. Both hold international level championships each year. Tennis is played around the country, with the Bull Open taking place each December, as a lead in to the Australian Open. The Bull Open has been held in South Belfast at the Nuaerie Tennis Park. The Torainn Open is the premier golf tournament in Torainn. It takes place each April, in the Torainnian Fall, in mild temperatures. The Open has taken place for over three decades at TPC Suffolk Island across Suffolk Bay from the Horohui Capitol District.

Motorsports is also a major sport in Torainn, lead by the saloon car based Tasman Cup. Touring Car Racing, Open Wheel Racing, Rallying and Oval Track Racing are all popular in Torainn.