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. 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.

agricultural land:

60%;

• arable land 0%;
• permanent crops 60%;
• permanent pasture 0%

forest:

0%

other:

40% (2011 est.)

noun:

Tokelauan(s)

adjective:

Tokelauan

total:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Tokelau

etymology:

"tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"

• 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

• many previous;
• latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948);
• amended many times, last in 2007 (2016)

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 Jonathan KINGS (since February 2011)

head of government:

Siopili PEREZ (since 23 February 2015); note - position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)

cabinet:

the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors)

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• governor general appointed by the monarch;
• administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand;
• head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term

description:

• unicameral General Fono (20 seats apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms);
• note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono

elections:

last held on 23 January 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

election results:

independent 20

highest court(s):

Court of Appeal in New Zealand (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels depending on the case)

judge selection and term of office:

judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts:

High Court, in New Zealand; Council of Elders or Taupulega

• a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side;
• the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and, in conjunction with the canoe, symbolizes the country navigating into the future;
• the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies

agriculture:

NA%

industry:

NA%

services:

NA%

• coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas;
• pigs, poultry, goats;
• fish

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

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 (2015)