Tokelau
none conventional short form: Tokelau
NAIndependence none (territory of New Zealand)
Tokelau as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925. According to a UN report, these low-lying islands will disappear in the 21st century, if global warming continues to raise sea levels.
Geography
Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
16 fieldsLocation
Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Land use
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
People
16 fieldsReligions
- Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa;
- on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic;
- on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
19 fieldsDependency status
territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with Wellington
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll;
- functions as a cabinet elections: none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand;
- the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Legislative branch
- unicameral General Fono (45 seats - 15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms);
- note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono
Economy
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level.
29 fieldsEconomy - overview
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
Budget
revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)
Industries
- small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods;
- stamps, coins;
- fishing
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- adequate domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Samoa;
- government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satellite earth stations, established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of unknown type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports (1998)
Transportation
6 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tokelau.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tokelau/2001.