Tokelau
NAIndependence none (territory of New Zealand)
Tokelau as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 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. Referenda held in 2006 and 2007 to change the status of the islands from that of a New Zealand territory to one of free association with New Zealand did not meet the needed threshold for approval.
Geography
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
17 fieldsLand useshare of 10 sq km
Location
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Environment - current issues
limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Geography - note
consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level
People
20 fieldsSchool life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total:
- 11 years
- male:
- 10 years
- female:
- 11 years (2004)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Pio TUIA (since 23 February 2008)
19 fieldsDependency status
- self-administering territory of New Zealand;
- note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand;
- a UN sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not produce the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status
Capital
none; each atoll has its own administrative center; time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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);
- represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006);
- New Zealand is represented by Administrator David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
- head of government:
- Pio TUIA (since 23 February 2008); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)
- cabinet:
- the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet
- elections:
- 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 (20 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Atafu has seven seats, Fakaofo has seven seats, Nukunonu has six seats);
- note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono
- elections:
- last held 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
- election results:
- independents 20
Economy
Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level.
22 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 rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services with 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.
Industries
- small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods;
- stamps, coins;
- fishing
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern satellite-based communications system
- domestic:
- radiotelephone service between islands
- international:
- country code - 690;
- radiotelephone service to Samoa;
- government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok);
- satellite earth stations - 3
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (one radio station provides service to all islands) (2002)
Transportation
1 fieldMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Tokelau.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/tokelau/2008.