Tokelau

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.

0-14 years:

42%

15-64 years:

53%

65 years and over:

5% (1996 est.)

total population:

NA years

male:

68 years (2001)

female:

70 years (2001)

noun:

Tokelauan(s)

adjective:

Tokelauan

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Tokelau

• self-administering territory of New Zealand;
• note - Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand

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)

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

head of government:

Aliki Faipule Pio TUIA (since NA 2002)

cabinet:

the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders - one from each atoll - functions as a cabinet

• unicameral General Fono (48 seats; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms);
• note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono

Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - 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.

agriculture:

NA%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA%

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods;
• stamps, coins;
• fishing

fossil fuel:

NA%

hydro:

NA%

other:

NA%

nuclear:

NA%

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

total:

NA km

paved:

NA km

unpaved:

NA km