Former French/British administered archipelago in the Pacific Ocean encircled by Fiji, North Australia and New Zealand. Islands first claimed for Spain by explorer Fernandes de Queirós in 1606, and named La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo until 1906, when France and England appropriated the territory and agreed to its joint management, calling it the New Hebrides (official name, the New Hebrides Condominium; Condominium des Nouvelles-Hébrides).
Recognized as the Republic of Vanuatu upon independence in 1980.
