Tokelau
Tokelau
Introduction
Background
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
Location
Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates
9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references
Oceania
Area
total: 12 sq km
country comparison to the world: 241 land:12 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
101 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
Climate
tropical
moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain
low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Land use
arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
lies in Pacific typhoon belt
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 and Society
Nationality
noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective:Tokelauan
Ethnic groups
Polynesian
Languages
Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Religions
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
Population
1,384 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 234
Age structure
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years:53%
65 years and over:5% (2009 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.011% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Birth rate
NA
Death rate
NA
Net migration rate
NA
Urbanization
urban population: 0% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA
male:NA
female:NA
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA
male:NA
female:NA
Total fertility rate
NA
Drinking water source
improved:
rural: 97% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved:
rural: 3% of population
total: 3% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
rural: 93% of population
total: 93% of population
unimproved:
rural: 7% of population
total: 7% of population (2008)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
63.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 2
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:13 years (2003)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Tokelau
Dependency 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
Government type
NA
Capital
none
each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference:UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948
amended in 1970
Legal system
common law system of New Zealand
Suffrage
21 years of age
universal
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 Jonathan KINGS (since February 2011)
head of government:Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009)
note – position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet:the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors), functions as a cabinet
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary
governor general appointed by the monarch
administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand
the head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Legislative branch
unicameral General Fono (20 seats
members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms based upon proportional representation from the three islands – Atafu has 7 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats, Nukunonu has 6 seats)
note – the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections:last held on 17-19 January 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:independents 20
Judicial branch
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders
none
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
International organization participation
PIF (observer), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description
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 symbolizes the country’s navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies
National symbol(s)
tuluma (fishing tackle box)
National anthem
name: “Te Atua” (For the Almighty)
lyrics/music:unknown/Falani KALOLO
note:adopted 2008
in preparation for eventual self governance, Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem
as a territory of New Zealand, “God Defend New Zealand” and “God Save the Queen” are official (see New Zealand)
Economy
Economy – 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 $10 million annually in 2008 and 2009 – to maintain public services. New Zealand’s support amounts to 80% of Tokelau’s recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly US$32 million, was established in 2004 to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 227
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP – real growth rate
NA%
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$1,000 (1993 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
GDP – composition by sector
agriculture: NA%
industry:NA%
services:NA%
Labor force
440 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 228
Unemployment rate
NA%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Budget
revenues: $430,800
expenditures:$2.8 million (1987 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
Agriculture – products
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas
pigs, poultry, goats
fish
Industries
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods
stamps, coins
fishing
Electricity – production
NA kWh
Electricity – consumption
NA kWh
Oil – proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Exports
$0 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 222
Exports – commodities
stamps, copra, handicrafts
Imports
$969,200 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 222
Imports – commodities
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.3874 (2010)
1.6002 (2009)
1.4151 (2008)
1.3811 (2007)
1.5408 (2006)
Transportation
Ports and terminals
none
offshore anchorage only
Military
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
Tokelau included American Samoa’s Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution