Tokelau

Dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean

For other uses, see Tokelau (disambiguation).

Dependent territory of New Zealand

Tokelau

Dependent territory of New Zealand

Flag

Badge

Motto:

"Tokelau mo te Atua" (Tokelauan)
("Tokelau for the Almighty")

Anthem: "Te Atua o Tokelau"[1]
Royal anthem: "God Save the King"[2]

Map of all Tokelau Islands. Swains Island is shown to the south.

Sovereign state|  New Zealand
Protectorate created| June 1889
British colony| 29 February 1916
Assigned to New Zealand| 11 February 1926
New Zealand sovereignty| 1 January 1949
Capital| None[a]
Largest city| Atafu
Official languages|

* Tokelauan
* English[3][4]

Demonym(s)| Tokelauan
Government| Devolved parliamentary dependency under a constitutional monarchy

• Monarch

| Charles III

• Administrator

| Don Higgins[5]

• Ulu-o-Tokelau

| Esera Fofō Tuisano
Legislature| General Fono
Area

• Total

| 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi)

• Water (%)

| negligible
Highest elevation

| 5 m (16 ft)
Population

• 2025[7] estimate

| 2,608

• 2016 census

| 1,499[6] (237th)

• Density

| 115/km2 (297.8/sq mi) (86th)
GDP (nominal)| 2017 estimate

• Total

| US$9,406,225[8]

• Per capita

| US$6,275
Currency| New Zealand dollar (NZ$) (NZD)
Time zone| UTC+13:00
Date format| dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side| Left
Calling code| +690
ISO 3166 code| TK
Internet TLD| .tk

Tokelau (/ˈtoʊkəlaʊ/ ⓘ; lit. 'north-northeast' or 'north wind';[9] known previously as the Union Islands, and, until 1976, known officially as the Tokelau Islands)[10] is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. They have a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). In addition to these three, Swains Island (Olohega), which forms part of the same archipelago, is the subject of an ongoing territorial dispute; it is currently administered by the United States as part of American Samoa. Tokelau lies north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the more distant Line Islands, and northwest of the Cook Islands.

Tokelau has a population of approximately 1,500 people; it has the fourth-smallest population of any sovereign state or dependency in the world. As of the 2016 census, around 45% of its residents had been born overseas, mostly in Samoa or New Zealand.[11] The populace has a life expectancy of 69, which is comparable to that of other Oceanian island nations. Approximately 94% of the population speak Tokelauan as their first language. Tokelau has the smallest economy of any nation. It is a leader in renewable energy, being the first 100% solar-powered nation in the world.[12]

Tokelau is officially referred to as a nation by both the New Zealand government and the Tokelauan government.[12][13][14] It is free and democratic, with elections every three years. However, in 2007, the United Nations General Assembly included Tokelau on its list of non-self-governing territories.[15] Its inclusion on this list is controversial, as Tokelauans have twice narrowly failed to reach a two-thirds majority for further self-determination in referendums,[b] and the islands' small population makes the viability of self-government challenging. The basis of Tokelau's legislative, administrative and judicial systems is the Tokelau Islands Act 1948, which has been amended several times. Since 1993, the territory has annually elected its own head of government, the Ulu-o-Tokelau. Before 1993, the administrator of Tokelau was the highest official in the government and the territory was directly administered by a New Zealand government department.

## Etymology

[edit]

Tokelau is a word meaning "north wind" in the native Tokelau language. The Tokelau islands were named the Union Islands and Union Group by European explorers at an earlier time.[16] Tokelau Islands was adopted as the islands’ official name in 1946. The name was officially shortened to Tokelau on 9 December 1976.[17]

## History

[edit]

Main article: British Western Pacific Territories

### Pre-history

[edit]

Archaeological evidence indicates that the atolls of Tokelau – Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo – were settled about 1,000 years ago from Samoa and may have been a gateway into Eastern Polynesia.[18] The inhabitants embrace Polynesian mythology and the local god, Tui Tokelau.[19] Over time, they developed distinctive musical and art forms. The three atolls have historically functioned separately politically, while maintaining social and linguistic cohesion. Tokelauan society has been governed by chiefly clans, and there have been occasional skirmishes and wars between the atolls, as well as inter-marriage. Fakaofo, the "chiefly island",[20] held some dominion over Atafu and Nukunonu after the dispersal of Atafu. Life on the atolls was historically subsistence-based, with a diet that relied mainly on fish and coconut.[21]

### Contact with other cultures

[edit]

Fakaofo islanders, drawn in 1841 by the United States Exploring Expedition

The first European to sight Atafu was British Navy officer Commodore John Byron, on 24 June 1765. He called the island Duke of York's Island. Parties from his expedition who landed ashore reported that there were no signs of current or previous inhabitants.[22][23] Captain Edward Edwards, having learned of Byron's discovery, visited Atafu on 6 June 1791[24] in search of the Bounty mutineers. They found no inhabitants, but saw that there were houses containing canoes and fishing gear, which suggested to them that the island was being used as a temporary residence by fishing parties from other, nearby islands.[23] On 12 June 1791, Edwards sailed farther south, and sighted Nukunonu, naming it Duke of Clarence's Island.[25] A landing party that went ashore was unable to make contact with the inhabitants, but saw "morais", burying places, and canoes with "stages in their middle" sailing across the island's lagoons.[23]

On 29 October 1825, August R. Strong of the USS Dolphin and his crew arrived at the atoll Nukunonu. He wrote:[26]

> Upon examination, we found they had removed all the women and children from the settlement, which was quite small, and put them in canoes lying off a rock in the lagoon. They would frequently come near the shore, but when we approached they would pull off with great noise and precipitation.

On 14 February 1835, Captain Smith, of the United States whaling ship General Jackson, wrote of having sighted Fakaofo, which he chose to call D'Wolf's Island.[27][28] On 25 January 1841, the United States Exploring Expedition visited Atafu, and discovered a small population living on the island. The residents appeared to be there only temporarily, because there was no chief among them, and they had the kind of double canoes that were typically used for inter-island travel. They appeared to have interacted with foreigners in the past, because they expressed a desire to engage in barter with the expedition crew, and they possessed items that were apparently of foreign origin: blue beads and a plane-iron. A few days later, French explorer Captain Morvan sighted Fakaofo.[29] The American expedition reached Nukunonu on 28 January 1841, but did not record any information about inhabitants. On 29 January 1841, the expedition sighted Fakaofo and named it Bowditch.[30] The Fakaofo islanders were found to be similar in appearance and behavior to the Atafu islanders.[31]

Missionaries preached Christianity in Tokelau from 1845 to the 1870s. French Catholic missionaries on Wallis Island (also known as 'Uvea) and missionaries of the Protestant London Missionary Society in Samoa used native teachers to convert the Tokelauans. Atafu was converted to Protestantism by the London Missionary Society, Nukunonu was converted to Catholicism and Fakaofo was converted to both denominations.[32] The Rev. Samuel James Whitmee, of the London Missionary Society, visited Tokelau in 1870.[33]

Helped by Swains Island-based Eli Jennings senior, Peruvian "blackbird" slave traders arrived in 1863 and kidnapped nearly all (253) of the able-bodied men to work as labourers, depopulating the atolls.[34] The Tokelauan men died of dysentery and smallpox, and very few returned. With that loss, the system of governance became based on the "Taupulega", or "Councils of Elders", on which individual families on each atoll were represented.[21][28] During that time, Polynesian immigrants settled, followed by American, Scottish, French, Portuguese[35] and German beachcombers, marrying local women and repopulating the atolls.[28]

In 1856 the United States claimed that it held sovereignty over the island and the other Tokelauan atolls under the Guano Islands Act.[36] In 1979, the U.S. conceded that Tokelau was under New Zealand sovereignty, and a maritime boundary between Tokelau and American Samoa was established by the Treaty of Tokehega.

In 1889, Tokelau became a protectorate of the United Kingdom.[37] This lasted until 1916, when it was annexed and incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1926, it was incorporated into New Zealand.

The square in the centre of the village of Fakaofo

### Tropical cyclones

[edit]

Cyclone Percy struck and severely damaged Tokelau in late February and early March 2005. Forecasters underestimated the cyclone's strength and the length of time it would be in vicinity to Tokelau. It coincided with a spring tide which put most of the area of the two villages on Fakaofo and Nukunonu under a metre (3 ft 3 in) of seawater. The cyclone also caused major erosion on several islets of all three atolls, damaging roads and bridges and disrupting electric power and telecommunications systems. The cyclone did significant and widespread damage to food crops including bananas, coconuts and pandanus. It did not seriously injure anyone but villagers lost significant amounts of property.

No significant land is more than two metres (6.6 feet) above high water of ordinary tides. This means Tokelau is particularly vulnerable to future sea level rise.

### Time zone

[edit]

Main article: Time in New Zealand

Until December 2011, Tokelau was 11 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).[38] At midnight 29 December 2011 Tokelau shifted to UTC+13:00 in response to Samoa's decision to switch sides of the International Dateline.[39] This brought Tokelau closer to New Zealand time (and in the process omitted 30 December).[40]

The Time&Date website states that "the international time zone community has apparently been listing the wrong local time for Tokelau since 1901" and that "most sources, including the commonly referred to International Atlas by Shanks/Pottenger, claim that the UTC offset is +14 hours, or equivalent."[41]

## Government

[edit]

Main article: Constitutional history of Tokelau

In 1877, the islands were included under the protection of the United Kingdom by an Order in Council that claimed jurisdiction over all unclaimed Pacific Islands. Commander C. F. Oldham on HMS Egeria landed at each of the three atolls in June 1889[42] and officially raised the Union Flag, declaring the group a British protectorate.[43] In conformity with desire expressed by "the Native government" they were annexed by the United Kingdom and included in the Gilbert Islands by the Tokelau Islands (Union Islands) Order in Council, 1916.[43][44] The annexation took place on 29 February 1916.[45] From the point in time that the islands were annexed, their people had the status of British subjects. Tokelau was removed from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and placed under the jurisdiction of the Governor-General of New Zealand in 1925, two Orders in Council being made for the purpose on the same day.[43][46] This step meant that New Zealand took over administration of Tokelau from the United Kingdom on 11 February 1926.[47] At this point, Tokelau was still a territory under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom but administered by New Zealand.[47]

The Union Islands (Revocation) Order in Council, 1948[48] after reciting the agreement by the governments of the United Kingdom and New Zealand that the islands should become part of New Zealand, revoked the Union Islands (No. 2) Order in Council, 1925, with effect from a date fixed by the Governor-General of New Zealand after he was satisfied that the New Zealand Parliament had provided for the incorporation of the islands with New Zealand, as it did by the Tokelau Islands Act 1948.[49] Tokelau formally became part of New Zealand on 1 January 1949.[47][50]

The Dominion of New Zealand, of which Tokelau formerly was a part, has since been superseded by the Realm of New Zealand, of which Tokelau remains a part. When the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect on 1 January 1949, Tokelauans who were British subjects gained New Zealand citizenship; a status they still hold.[51]

Villages are entitled to enact their own laws regulating their daily lives and New Zealand law only applies where it has been extended by specific enactment. Serious crime is rare and there are no prisons, and offenders are publicly rebuked, fined or made to work.[52]

## Politics

[edit]

Main article: Politics of Tokelau

The head of state is Charles III, the King in right of New Zealand, who also reigns over the other Commonwealth realms. The King is represented in the territory by the Administrator – currently Don Higgins. The current head of government (Tokelauan: Ulu-o-Tokelau) is Esera Fofō Tuisano,[53] who presides over the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, which functions as a cabinet. The Council consists of the faipule (leader) and pulenuku (village mayor) of each of the three atolls.[54] The administrator is appointed by the minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, and the role of head of government rotates between the three faipule for a one-year term.[54]

The Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono, a unicameral body. The number of seats each atoll receives in the Fono is determined by population – at present, Fakaofo and Atafu each have seven and Nukunonu has six.[54] Faipule and pulenuku also sit in the Fono.[54]

On 11 November 2004, Tokelau and New Zealand took steps to formulate a treaty that would turn Tokelau from a non-self-governing territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. Besides the treaty, a United Nations-sponsored referendum on self-determination took place, with the three islands voting on successive days starting 13 February 2006. (Tokelauans in Apia, Samoa, voted on 11 February.)[55] Out of 581 votes cast, 349 were for Free Association, being short of the two-thirds majority required for the measure to pass.[56] The referendum was profiled (somewhat light-heartedly) in the 1 May 2006 issue of The New Yorker magazine.[57] A repeat referendum took place on 20–24 October 2007, again narrowly failing to approve self-government. This time the vote was short by just 16 votes or 3%.[58]

In May 2008, the United Nations' Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged colonial powers "to complete the decolonization process in every one of the remaining 16 non-self-governing territories", including Tokelau.[59] This led The New Zealand Herald to comment that the United Nations was "apparently frustrated by two failed attempts to get Tokelau to vote for independence".[60] In April 2008, speaking as leader of the National Party, future New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that New Zealand had "imposed two referenda on the people of the Tokelau Islands", and questioned "the accepted wisdom that small states should undergo a de-colonisation process".[61]

## Defence and police

[edit]

Consistent with the principles of partnership with New Zealand, defence is the responsibility of the New Zealand Government.[62] The New Zealand Defence Force has responsibilities for protecting the territory as well as its offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The total offshore EEZ is about 300,000 square kilometres (120,000 sq mi).[63] Vessels of the Royal New Zealand Navy are employed for this task including its Protector-class offshore patrol vessels.[64] Tokelau has its own customs regulations.[65]

Given Tokelau's limited wharf facilities, the Navy's multi-role ship, HMNZS Canterbury, has been employed to provide logistics support to the territory.[66]

Little crime has been reported in Tokelau and a total of nine police officers were reported as present as of the early 2020s: three each on Fakaofo, Nukunonu and Atafu. According to the Government they are responsible to the village authorities for the enforcement of law and order and to the public service for their various civil duties.[67]

## Geography

[edit]

Atafu Atoll

Nukunonu Atoll

Fakaofo Atoll

Tokelau includes three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean between longitudes 171° W and 173° W and between latitudes 8° S and 10° S, about midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. From Atafu in the north to Fakaofo in the south, Tokelau extends for less than 200 kilometres (120 mi). The atolls lie about 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of Samoa. The atolls are Atafu and Nukunonu, both in an island group once called the Duke of Clarence Group, and Fakaofo, once Bowditch Island. Their combined land area is 10.8 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi). The atolls each have a number of coral islands, where the villages are situated. The highest point of Tokelau is just 5 metres (16 ft) above sea level.[68] There are no ports or harbours for large vessels, however, all three atolls have a jetty to and from which supplies and passengers are shipped.[69][70][71] Tokelau lies in the Pacific tropical cyclone belt. A fourth island that is culturally, historically, and geographically, but not politically, a part of the Tokelau Islands is Swains Island (Olohega), under United States control since about 1900 and administered as a part of American Samoa since 1925.[72]

Swains Island was claimed by the United States pursuant to the Guano Islands Act, as were the other three islands of Tokelau; the latter three claims were ceded to Tokelau by treaty in 1979. In the draft constitution of Tokelau subject to the Tokelauan self-determination referendum in 2006, Olohega (Swains Island) was also claimed as a part of Tokelau, though the claim was surrendered in the same 1979 treaty. This established a clearly defined boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau.

Tokelau's claim to Swains is generally comparable to the Marshall Islands' claim to U.S.-administered Wake Island, but the re-emergence of this somewhat dormant issue has been an unintended result of the United Nations' recent efforts to promote decolonisation in Tokelau. Tokelauans have proven somewhat reluctant to push their national identity in the political realm: recent decolonisation moves have mainly been driven from outside for ideological reasons. But at the same time, Tokelauans are reluctant to disown their common cultural identity with Swains Islanders who speak their language.

Geographical locations of Tokelau's atolls  Atoll  | Coordinates

|

Atafu | 8°33′6″S 172°30′3″W﻿ / ﻿8.55167°S 172.50083°W﻿ / -8.55167; -172.50083﻿ (Atafu)
Nukunonu | 9°10′6″S 171°48′35″W﻿ / ﻿9.16833°S 171.80972°W﻿ / -9.16833; -171.80972﻿ (Nukunonu)
Fakaofo | 9°21′55″S 171°12′54″W﻿ / ﻿9.36528°S 171.21500°W﻿ / -9.36528; -171.21500﻿ (Fakaofo)

## Environment

[edit]

See also: List of birds of Tokelau and List of mammals of Tokelau

Tokelau is located in the Western Polynesian tropical moist forests ecoregion.[73] Most of the original vegetation has been replaced by coconut plantations, some of which have been abandoned and became scrubby forests. The atolls of Tokelau provide habitat for 38 indigenous plant species, over 150 insect species and 10 land crab species. One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is posed by introduced mammalian predators such as the Polynesian Rat.[74]

In 2011 Tokelau declared its entire exclusive economic zone of 319,031 km2 (123,179 sq mi) a shark sanctuary.[75]

## Economy

[edit]

Tokelau's economy is among the smallest globally, primarily characterized by subsistence agriculture and fishing.[76] The residents cultivate crops such as coconuts (for copra), taro, breadfruit, papayas, bananas, and figs, and raise livestock including pigs and poultry. Fishing, particularly for local consumption, plays a vital role in their sustenance.[77]

### Economic overview

[edit]

The territory's economic activities are limited, with revenues stemming from the sale of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, handicrafts, and remittances from Tokelauans residing in New Zealand.[78] These remittances are significant, given that approximately 80% of Tokelauans live abroad.[77]

In recent years, Tokelau has sought to diversify its revenue streams. Notably, the territory has generated income through the registration of domain names under its country code top-level domain (ccTLD), .tk. By 2012, about one-sixth of Tokelau's economy was derived from this source.

### Solar power

[edit]

The goal of 100% renewable electricity was met on 7 November 2012, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Murray McCully.[79] Previously electricity was generated using diesel generators and was only available about 16 hours/day.[80][81]

Three solar power stations with a total generation capacity of 930kWp were installed to provide 100% of current electrical demand from photovoltaics, with lead acid battery backup able to store around 8MWh.[82] The first power station was completed in August 2012. In total, 4,032 solar panels are used and 1,344 batteries weighing 250 kilograms (550 lb) each. The systems are designed to withstand winds of 230 km/h (143 mph).[83] By 2011, Tokelau's electricity was 93% generated by photovoltaics, with the remainder generated from coconut oil.[84] As of 2019, increased demand and degradation of batteries had led to increased need for backup power.[85] Plans were made for an additional 210 kW of PV and close to 2MWh of lithium-ion battery capacity.[85]

* Nukunonu Lagoon in Tokelau

* Atafu street at dawn

### Internet domain name

[edit]

Main article: .tk

Access to internet in Tokelau, 2011

Tokelau has increased its GDP by more than 10% through registrations of domain names under its top-level domain, .tk.[86] Registrations can be either free, in which case the user owns only usage rights and not the domain itself, or paid, which grants full rights. Free domains are pointed to Tokelau name servers, which redirects the domain via HTML frames to a specified address or to a specified A or NS record, and the redirection of up to 250 email addresses to an external address (not at a .tk domain).

In September 2003, Fakaofo became the first part of Tokelau with a high-speed Internet connection. Foundation Tokelau financed the project. Tokelau gave most domain names under its authority away to anyone for free to gain publicity for the territory. This has allowed the nation to gain enhanced telecommunications technologies, such as more computers and Internet access for Tokelauan residents. By 2012, there were about 120 computers, mostly laptops, and 1/6th of the economy consisted of income from .tk domain names.[87]

According to a 2016 analysis of domain name registration performed by the .uk registrar Nominet using data from ZookNIC,[88] tk domains are the "world's largest country-code domain ... almost as large as second and third place holders China (.cn) and Germany (.de) combined".[89]

On 3 March 2023, Meta sued Freenom for cybersquatting and trademark infringement, leading to a halt in new domain registrations, and in November 2023, ICANN terminated Freenom's registrar accreditation due to unresolved breaches. By February 2024, Freenom settled the lawsuit with Meta, announced its exit from the domain business, and by March 2024, 99% of Freenom domains became inaccessible, significantly affecting Cloudflare's hosted domains.[90]

## Demographics

[edit]

Language statistics in Tokelau, 2006 and 2011

According to the 2016 Tokelau Census, Tokelau has a de jure usually resident population of 1,499 people. The census shows a 6.2% increase in the de jure usually resident population between 2011 and 2016.[91]

The nationals of Tokelau are called Tokelauans, and the major ethnic group is Polynesian; it has no recorded minority groups. About 84% of inhabitants are of wholly or partly Tokelauan ethnicity; people of Samoan ethnicity make up 6.7% of the population, and Tuvaluans 2.8%.[92] The main language – spoken by over 90% of inhabitants – is Tokelauan, but almost 60% also speak English.

The less than 1,500 Polynesian inhabitants live in three villages. Their isolation and lack of resources greatly limits economic development and confines agriculture to the subsistence level. The very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand and Samoa. In the 2013 New Zealand census, more than 7,000 people identified as Tokelauan, almost five times as many as live in Tokelau itself.[11] Depletion of tuna has made fishing for food more difficult.[citation needed]

A significant proportion (44.9% in 2016) of the population were born overseas, mostly in Samoa (15.3% of total population) and New Zealand (11.5%).[11]

While slightly more females than males live on Atafu and Fakaofo, males make up 57% of Nukunonu residents.[93] Only 9% of Tokelauans aged 40 or more have never been married.[94] One-quarter of the population were born overseas; almost all the rest live on the same atoll they were born on.[95] Most households own five or more pigs.[96]

Despite its low income, Tokelau has a life expectancy of 69 years, comparable with other Oceania islands.[97]

### Structure of the population

[edit]

Population by sex and age group (Census 18.X.2016): [98]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 652  | 633  | 1 285  | 100
0–4  | 74  | 65  | 139  | 10.82
5–9  | 75  | 75  | 150  | 11.67
10–14  | 72  | 65  | 137  | 10.66
15–19  | 63  | 53  | 116  | 9.03
20–24  | 54  | 39  | 93  | 7.24
25–29  | 39  | 47  | 86  | 6.69
30–34  | 36  | 43  | 79  | 6.15
35–39  | 35  | 27  | 62  | 4.82
40–44  | 35  | 40  | 75  | 5.84
45–49  | 41  | 40  | 81  | 6.30
50–54  | 27  | 36  | 63  | 4.90
55–59  | 33  | 20  | 53  | 4.12
60–64  | 31  | 23  | 54  | 4.20
65–69  | 14  | 23  | 37  | 2.88
70–74  | 14  | 11  | 25  | 1.95
75+  | 9  | 26  | 35  | 2.72
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 221  | 205  | 426  | 33.15
15–64  | 394  | 368  | 762  | 59.30
65+  | 37  | 60  | 97  | 7.55

Population estimates by sex and age group (12.XII.2019) (Data refers to 2019 Tokelau population count.): [98]

Age Group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | %

|
|
|
|

Total  | 813  | 834  | 1 647  | 100
0–4  | 80  | 81  | 161  | 9.78
5–9  | 86  | 87  | 173  | 10.50
10–14  | 106  | 81  | 187  | 11.35
15–19  | 68  | 72  | 140  | 8.50
20–24  | 74  | 65  | 139  | 8.44
25–29  | 58  | 60  | 118  | 7.16
30–34  | 42  | 60  | 102  | 6.19
35–39  | 53  | 54  | 107  | 6.50
40–44  | 41  | 47  | 88  | 5.34
45–49  | 53  | 38  | 91  | 5.53
50–54  | 42  | 56  | 98  | 5.95
55–59  | 28  | 45  | 73  | 4.43
60–64  | 32  | 28  | 60  | 3.64
65–69  | 25  | 19  | 44  | 2.67
70–74  | 11  | 14  | 25  | 1.52
75–79  | 10  | 11  | 21  | 1.28
80–84  | 2  | 11  | 13  | 0.79
85–89  | 2  | 4  | 6  | 0.36
90+  | 0  | 1  | 1  | 0.06
Age group  | Male  | Female  | Total  | Percent
0–14  | 272  | 249  | 521  | 31.63
15–64  | 491  | 525  | 1 016  | 61.69
65+  | 50  | 60  | 110  | 6.68

### Religion

[edit]

Main article: Religion in Tokelau

Nukunonu Church on Nukunonu in Tokelau

Tokelau is predominantly Christian[99] with majority belonging to either Congregational Christian Church (Ekalehia Fakalapotopotoga Kelihiano Tokelau) or Roman Catholic.[100]

In 2016, 50.4% of responents belonged to Congregational Christian Church, 38.7% were Roman Catholic, 5.9% were Presbyterian, 4.2% were other Christian and 0.8% were unspecified.[101] Majority of resident population of Atafu (78.3%) and Fakaofo (62.7%) identified as Congregational Christians. While the majority of residents in Nukunonu (81.8%) identified as Roman Catholic.[102]

## Culture

[edit]

### Healthcare and education

[edit]

Main article: Healthcare in Tokelau

Literacy by age in Tokelau, 2011 census

Each atoll has a school and hospital. The health services have a Director of Health in Apia and a Chief Clinical Advisor who moves from atoll to atoll as required to assist the doctors attached to each hospital. In 2007, there was not always a doctor on each island and locums were appointed to fill the gaps.[103]

Many Tokelauan youth travel to New Zealand to further their education, with students returning home and then heading off for another year of study.[citation needed]

### Sport

[edit]

See also: Rugby union in Tokelau, Rugby league in Tokelau, and Tokelau at the Pacific Games

Cricket in Tokelau, 1966

Due to its small size, Tokelau is unaffiliated to most international sports organisations, and rarely takes part in international events. The only significant international competition Tokelau takes part in is the Pacific Games. Tokelau won its first-ever gold medals at the 2007 Pacific Games in Apia, winning a total of five medals (three gold, a silver and a bronze), all in lawn bowls, and finishing 12th (out of 22) on the overall medal table. This included two gold medals for Violina Linda Pedro (in the women's pairs and the women's singles), making her Tokelau's most successful individual athlete to date.[104]

In October 2010, table tennis became "the first sport in Tokelau to be granted membership at a Continental or World level", when the Tokelau Table Tennis Association was formally established and became the 23rd member of the Oceania Table Tennis Federation.[105] Tokelau is also a member of United World Wrestling.[106]

Tokelau was due to take part, for the first time, in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, in Delhi,[107] but, for unknown reasons, ultimately did not do so.[108] In 2018, Tokelau was noted to be ineligible for the Commonwealth Games until it became affiliated to at least five international sport federations.[109]

Tokelau has a National Sports Federation, and a significant sporting event is the Tokelau Games, which are held yearly. When they are held, "all of Tokelau virtually stands still", as "[i]n excess of 50% of the population take part and all work and school stops at the time". The 2010 Games included competitions in rugby sevens, netball and kilikiti, alongside "a cultural evening [...] where each atoll showcases their traditional songs and dances".[105]

Netball is thought to have been introduced to Tokelau by the British, but became more popular when New Zealand's government took over the territory. The sport is often played during inter-island sport competitions, alongside other sports like rugby league and volleyball.[110]

In Tokelau, there are two levels to the football league. From Fale, Fakaofo, two of the best clubs are Hakava Club and Matalele Club.[111]

## Telecommunications

[edit]

A barge leaves the landing ramp in Nukunonu to collect cargo and passengers from the MV Tokelau.

Tokelau has a radio telephone service between the islands and to Samoa. In 1997, a government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok) with three satellite earth stations was established, making Tokelau the last place in the world connected via phone.[112] Each atoll has a radio-broadcast station that broadcasts shipping and weather reports and every household has a radio or access to one. News is disseminated through the government newsletter Te Vakai.

In 2019, Tokelau agreed to connect to Southern Cross Cable's 60 Tbps NEXT subsea cable stretching between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States[113] In September 2021, the island was connected to the new cable[114] and services were launched in July 2022, granting it access to a network of 400GbE telecommunications service to datacenters around the world.[115][116]

Tokelau has the international calling code of 690, and has had five-digit telephone numbers from November 2015 (the existing four-digit numbers were prefixed by the digit "2").[117]

Tokelau administers the .tk country code top-level domain.[112]

## Transportation

[edit]

Tokelau is served by the MV Mataliki, delivered new in 2016 as a replacement of the smaller MV Tokelau and jointly managed by the Tokelau Transport Department and the company Transport and Marine. The vessel, which has a capacity of 60 passengers on international cruises and 120 for transport between the atolls of Tokelau, operates fortnightly between Tokelau and Apia, with the trip taking a little over a day.[118] A dedicated cargo vessel, the MV Kalopaga, entered service in 2018 and replaced chartered freight vessels.[119]

Ships load and unload cargo by motoring up to the down-wind (leeward) side of the islet where the people live and maintaining station, by intermittent use of engines, close to the reef edge so that a landing barge can be motored out to transfer cargo to or from the shore.[citation needed] On returning to shore, the barge negotiates a narrow channel through the reef to the beach. Usually this landing is subject to ocean swell and beaching requires considerable skill and, often, coral abrasions to bodies. When bad weather prevents the barge making the trip, the ship stands off to wait for suitable weather or goes off to one of the other atolls to attempt to load or unload its passengers or cargo, or both.[citation needed]

There is no airport in Tokelau, so boats are the main means of travel and transport. Some seaplanes and amphibious aircraft are able to land in the island's lagoons.[120] An airstrip was considered by the New Zealand Government in 2010.[121] In 2016, plans to link the atolls with Samoa by helicopter had to be abandoned because of high costs, leading in the following years to renewed calls to the New Zealand government for help with establishing air services.[119] As of 2022, it was reported that the airport project – funded by the New Zealand government – was moving forward.[122]

## See also

[edit]

* Badge of Tokelau
* Outline of Tokelau

Portals:

* New Zealand
* Islands
* Oceania

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Each atoll has its own administrative centre.
2. ^ Referendums were held in 2006 and 2007. Both required two-thirds support in order to make Tokelau a self-governing associated state of New Zealand; both received over 60% support, but below the two-thirds needed.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Government of Tokelau". tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
2. ^ "National anthem". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
3. ^ "Tokelau Info". Tokelau-info.tk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
4. ^ Joint Statement of the Principles of Partnership between New Zealand and Tokelau 3\. Language and Culture
5. ^ "New Administrator of Tokelau announced".
6. ^ Final population counts: 2016 Tokelau Census (PDF) (Report). Statistics New Zealand. November 2016. p. 3.
7. ^ "Tokelau Population (2025)". worldometer. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
8. ^ "Tokelau's Gross Domestic Product determined for first time this century". tokelau.org.nz.
9. ^ "Tokelau". OCHA. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
10. ^ Tokelau Amendment Act 1976
11. ^ a b c "Profile of Tokelau" (PDF). Tokelau National Statistics Office. April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
12. ^ a b "Tokelau, world first solar power nation | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise". Nzte.govt.nz. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
13. ^ "Government of Tokelau". Tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
14. ^ "Tokelauans – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
15. ^ "Official site for the Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government". Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
16. ^ "Tokelau facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Tokelau". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
17. ^ "Decolonization : Issue on Tokelau" (PDF). United Nations. January 1979. p. 3. Retrieved 2 December 2022. "In December 1976, the Territory ceased being called The Tokelau Islands and was officially designated "Tokelau""
18. ^ "Archeology of Atafu, Tokelau: Some Initial Results 2008". Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
19. ^ Smith, S. Percy (1920). "Notes on the Ellice and Tokelau Groups; translated from the "Karere Mangaia" 1899". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 29: 144–148.
20. ^ Fakaofo Archived 16 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
21. ^ a b "Tokelau". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
22. ^ Byron, John; Wallis, John Samuel; Carteret, Philip; Cook, James; Banks, Sir Joseph (1773). An Account of the Voyages Undertaken. W. Strahan. pp. 132–134.
23. ^ a b c MacGregor, 30
24. ^ Schellinger, Paul; Salkin, Robert, eds. (1996). International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 819\. ISBN 1-884964-04-4.
25. ^ Sharp, Andrew (1960). The Discovery of the Pacific Islands. Clarendon Press. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-19-821519-6. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
26. ^ The Journal of the South Pacific, 110 (3), p. 296
27. ^ Polynesian Society (N. Z.) (1961). The Journal of the Polynesian Society. Polynesian Society. p. 102.
28. ^ a b c "Information Bulletin on Tokelau". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
29. ^ Fraser, Peter (1948). "Tokelau Islands–Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1948 Session I, A-04a". p. 4.
30. ^ Nathaniel Bowditch (1773–1838) was an American mathematician remembered for his work on ocean navigation.
31. ^ Wilkes, Charles (1849). Voyage Round the World. Geo. W. Gorton. p. 538.
32. ^ "Tokelau Government". tokelau.org.nz. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013.
33. ^ Whitmee, Rev. Samuel James (1871). A missionary cruise in the South Pacific: being the report of a voyage amongst the Tokelau, Ellice and Gilbert Islands, in the missionary barque "John Williams" during 1870. Sydney: Joseph Cook & Co.
34. ^ H.E. Maude's Slavers in Paradise (A.N.U., Canberra, 1981)
35. ^ "Ethnography of Tokelau". Archived from the original on 24 June 2021.
36. ^ "Tokelau looks to independence". Stuff. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
37. ^ "History". tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
38. ^ "UTC offset for years 2000–2009 in Fakaofo, Tokelau". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
39. ^ "UTC offset for years 2010–2019 in Fakaofo, Tokelau". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
40. ^ "Tokelau to join Samoa and leap forward over dateline". BBC News. 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
41. ^ "Tokelau: Wrong local time for over 100 years". Archived from the original on 2 April 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
42. ^ Lister, J.J. (1892). "Notes on the Natives of Fakaofu". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 21. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland: 43–63\. JSTOR 2842209.
43. ^ a b c Commonwealth and Colonial Law by Kenneth Roberts-Wray, London, Stevens, 1966. P. 894
44. ^ S.R.O. 1916 No. 167; S.R.O. & S.I. Rev. IX, 661—made under the Colonial Boundaries Act 1895 (58 & 59 Vict. c. 34)
45. ^ Tokelau Act 1948 (preamble)
46. ^ The Union Islands Order in Council Nos. 1 and 2, S.R.O. 1925, pp. 511 and 1768; No. 1 Order in S.R.O. & S.I. Rev. IX, 663.
47. ^ a b c Tokelau: A history of Government – The constitutional history and legal development of Tokelau; Compiled and recorded for the Tokelau Law Team by Tony Angelo and Talei Pasikale, 2008
48. ^ S.R.O. & S.I. Rev. XVI, 866
49. ^ Act. No. 24 of 1948
50. ^ Angelo, Tony; Pasikale, Talei (2008). "Tokelau–A History of Government" (PDF). p. 23\. "Tokelau formally became part of New Zealand on 1 January 1949 by section 3 of the Tokelau Act 1948 (NZ)"
51. ^ Green, David (13 July 2012). "Citizenship – Aliens and citizens". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
52. ^ "Official site for the Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government". Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2007. "The legislation and judicial systems are based on the Tokelau Act, 1948, and its amendments. A major law reform project is continuing; its purpose is to ensure that Tokelau has a coherent body of law which responds to current needs and gives due recognition to local custom. Unless it is expressly extended to Tokelau, New Zealand statute law does not apply to the territory. In practice, no New Zealand legislation is extended to Tokelau without Tokelauan consent. The villages have the statutory power to enact their own laws covering village affairs. International covenants on economic, social and cultural rights and civil and political rights, ratified by New Zealand in December 1978, apply in Tokelau. Civil and criminal jurisdiction is exercised by commissioners and the New Zealand high court."
53. ^ Lewis, Lydia (21 March 2025). "Tokelau is 'my heart and soul' - New Ulu-o-Tokelau Tuisano". RNZ. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
54. ^ a b c d "How Tokelau is Governed". Tokelauan Council of Ongoing Governance. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
55. ^ "Fono decisions". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
56. ^ "Tokelau rejects self-rule". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
57. ^ Parker, Ian (1 May 2006). "Letter from Polynesia: Birth of a nation?". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2007.
58. ^ "Tokelau stays as NZ's last colony". Television New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
59. ^ "Colonialism has no place in today's world," says Secretary General in message to Decolonization Seminar in Indonesia", United Nations press release, 14 May 2008 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
60. ^ "Tokelau decolonisation high on agenda". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
61. ^ John Key's speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs, 8 April 2008 Archived 30 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
62. ^ "Tokelau Government". Government of Tokelau. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
63. ^ "TOKELAU a true Small Island Developing State". Government of Tokelau. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
64. ^ "Illegal Fishing Targeted" (PDF). Navy Today. December 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
65. ^ Tokelau Customs Regulations 1991
66. ^ "Tokelau: A hard place to reach". New Zealand Defence Force. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
67. ^ "Government". Government of Tokelau. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
68. ^ "Tokelau High Point". peakbagger.com.
69. ^ "Port of Atafu". MarineTraffic.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
70. ^ "WPS – Nukunonu Harbor". World Port Source. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
71. ^ "Port of Fakaofo". MarineTraffic.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
72. ^ United States Code, Title 48, section 1662: 4 March 1925, ch. 563, 43 Stat. 1357 as referred to in Tokelau: A history of Government – The constitutional history and legal development of Tokelau; Compiled and recorded for the Tokelau Law Team by Tony Angelo and Talei Pasikale, 2008
73. ^ Dinerstein, Eric; et al. (2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545\. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. ISSN 0006-3568. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.
74. ^ "Western Polynesian tropical moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
75. ^ Pew: Tokelau Declares Shark Sanctuary, 7 September 2011 Archived 26 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
76. ^ Foster, S. "Tokelau." Encyclopedia Britannica, January 23, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tokelau
77. ^ a b "Tokelau". Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
78. ^ "Tokelau country brief".
79. ^ "Tokelau islands shift to solar energy". BBC. 7 November 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014.
80. ^ "NZ company turns on first Tokelau solar system". The New Zealand Herald. 14 August 2023.
81. ^ TEDx Talks (7 August 2013). "Tokelau, bringing solar power to a nation: Dean Parchomchuk and Charlotte Yates at TEDxTauranga". Archived from the original on 31 October 2021 – via YouTube.
82. ^ "Tokelau – Renewable Energy Project Case Study March – 2013" (PDF).
83. ^ "ABC Pacific News reports Tokelau target of 100% renewable energy". Abcasiapacificnews.com. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
84. ^ Coconuts and sunshine will power South Pacific islands New Scientist, published 2011-09-13. Retrieved 14 September 2011 Archived 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
85. ^ a b "Solar and battery microgrid project to return Tokelau to 100% renewables". 14 November 2019.
86. ^ "Net gains for tiny Pacific nation". BBC News. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
87. ^ Andres, Tommy. "The tiny island with a huge Web presence." CNN. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012. Archived 12 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
88. ^ "Zooknic Internet Geography Project". Zooknic.com. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
89. ^ Russell Haworth Chief Executive Officer (9 March 2016). "Mapping the online world – Nominet". Nominet.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
90. ^ Mutton, Paul (15 March 2024). "Cloudflare loses 22% of its domains in Freenom .tk shutdown". Netcraft. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
91. ^ "Final count for 2011 Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings". 2011 Tokelau Census. Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
92. ^ "Australia-Oceania :: Tokelau". CIA The World Factbook. 18 October 2021.
93. ^ Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings, Table 1.3.1.
94. ^ Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings, Table 1.5.
95. ^ Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings, Table 3.2.
96. ^ Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings, Table 6.13.
97. ^ "Regions and territories: Tokelau". BBC News. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
98. ^ a b "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". United Nations. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
99. ^ "2006 Tokelau Census of Population and Dwellings" (PDF). 20 December 2006. pp. Table 2.5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
100. ^ "Culture". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
101. ^ "Tokelau", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 3 October 2024, retrieved 6 October 2024
102. ^ "Tokelau Population and Housing Census 2016 – Tokelau Census 2016: Final population counts – Pacific Data Hub". pacificdata.org. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
103. ^ "Tokelau" (PDF). Island Studies. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
104. ^ Medals at the 2007 Pacific Games, official website Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
105. ^ a b "Tokelau, a Speck in the Ocean but an Important New Member for Oceania", International Table Tennis Federation, 7 October 2010 Archived 3 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
106. ^ Etchells, Daniel (18 February 2015). "Marshall Islands gearing up to stage United World Wrestling Oceania Championships". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
107. ^ "Sport: Our Quest for Gold", Islands Business Archived 8 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
108. ^ Participants[usurped], website of the 2010 Commonwealth Games
109. ^ "Sport: Tokelau wrestling earns Commonwealth nod". RNZ. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
110. ^ McQuarrie, Peter (2007). Tokelau People, Atolls and History. Wellington, New Zealand: Publications Committee of MacMillan Browne Centre for Pacific Studies. ISBN 978-1-877449-41-3.
111. ^ "Tokelau", Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation, 29 July 2010.
112. ^ a b Judah, Jacob (2 November 2023). "How a tiny Pacific Island became the global capital of cybercrime". MIT Technology Review. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
113. ^ Reichert, Corinne. "Pacific islands sign on for NEXT subsea cable". ZDNet. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
114. ^ "Submarine internet cable lands in Tokelau". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
115. ^ "Southern Cross NEXT Launches!". ciena.com. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
116. ^ "Southern Cross NEXT cable completed". crn.com.au. 5 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
117. ^ "Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association". PITA. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
118. ^ "Tokelau receives new ferry from NZ govt". Government of Tokelau. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
119. ^ a b "Tokelau still pushing for air services in talks with NZ". Radio NZ. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
120. ^ "Tokelau". Southseas.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
121. ^ "New Zealand looking into feasibility of air service to Tokelau | Radio New Zealand News". Radio NZ. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
122. ^ Tokalau, Torika (17 July 2022). "Project to get Tokelau its first airfield under way after pandemic delays". Stuff. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Heller, Maxwell H. (2005). Where on Earth Is Tokelau?: A Doctor's Experiences in the South Seas. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. ISBN 978-0-901100-58-0.
* Huntsman, Judith; Hooper, Antony (1996). Tokelau: A Historical Ethnography. Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-153-5.
* Huntsman, Judith; Kalolo, Kelihiano (2007). The Future of Tokelau Decolonising Agendas, 1975–2006. Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-398-0.

## External links

[edit]

Tokelau at Wikipedia's sister projects

* Definitions from Wiktionary
* Media from Commons
* News from Wikinews
* Texts from Wikisource
* Textbooks from Wikibooks
* Travel information from Wikivoyage
* Data from Wikidata

* Tokelau. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
* Tokelau from UCB Libraries GovPubs
* Wikimedia Atlas of Tokelau
* Ethnology of Tokelau Islands
* Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government, executive branch of the government
* The Administrator of Tokelau, Tokelau website of the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

* v
* t
* e

Atolls of Tokelau

* Atafu
* Nukunonu
* Fakaofo

* v
* t
* e

Administrative divisions of the Realm of New Zealand

| Countries  |  New Zealand |  |  |  Cook Islands |  Niue

|
|
|
|
|

Regions | 11 non-unitary regions  | 5 unitary regions  | Chatham Islands |  | Kermadec Islands
NZ Subantarctic Islands
Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands |  Tokelau | Ross Dependency | 15 islands | 14 villages
Territorial authorities | 11 cities and 50 districts  | 1 metropolitan area, 1 city, and 3 districts
Notes  | Seven districts lie in more than one region  | These combine the regional and the territorial authority levels in one  | Special territorial authority  | New Zealand outlying islands outside any regional authority (the outlying Solander Islands form a part of the Southland Region)  | Non-self-governing territory of New Zealand  | New Zealand's Antarctic dependency | States in free association with New Zealand

* v
* t
* e

Former British Empire and Current British Overseas Territories

Legend
Former territory
Current territory
*Current Commonwealth realm
†Current member of the Commonwealth of Nations

Europe

* Akrotiri and Dhekelia since 1960 (before as part of Cyprus)
* Corsica 1794–1796
* †Cyprus 1878–1960
* Gibraltar since 1713
* Heligoland 1807–1890
* Ionian Islands 1809–1864
* Lordship of Ireland 1177–1542
* Kingdom of Ireland 1542–1800 (integrated into the UK)
* Free State 1921–1931
* †Malta
* Protectorate 1800–1813
* Colony 1813–1964
* Minorca 1708–1757, 1763–1782 and 1798–1802

Africa

* Basutoland (†Lesotho) 1868–1966
* Bechuanaland (†Botswana) 1884–1966
* Cameroons13 1919–1961
* Cape Colony 1795–1803
* Cape of Good Hope 1806–1910
* Central Africa 1891–1907
* East Africa 1895–1920
* Egypt 1882–1922
* †The Gambia 1816–1965
* Gold Coast (†Ghana) 1874–1957
* †Kenya 1920–1963
* Lagos 1862–1906
* Madeira 1807–1808
* †Mauritius 1810–1968
* Natal 1856–1910
* Niger Coast 1884–1900
* †Nigeria 1914–1960
* Northern Nigeria 1900–1914
* Northern Rhodesia15 1924–1964
* Nyasaland 1891–1964
* Orange River 1900–1910
* †Seychelles 1903–1976
* †Sierra Leone 1792–1961
* Somaliland 1884–1960
* †South Africa 1910–1931
* South-West Africa12 1915–1931
* Southern Rhodesia14 1923–1965 and 1979–1980
* Southern Nigeria 1900–1914
* †Swaziland 1893–1968
* Sudan 1899–1956
* Tanganyika13 1922–1961
* Transvaal 1900–1910
* †Uganda 1890–1962
* Zanzibar 1890–1963
* Zululand 1887–1897

* 12Now †Namibia
* 13League of Nations mandate. British Cameroons is now part of †Cameroon and Nigeria, while Tanganyika is part of †Tanzania.
* 14Self-governing Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence in 1965 (as Rhodesia) and continued as an unrecognised state until the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement. After recognised independence in 1980, Zimbabwe was a member of the Commonwealth until it withdrew in 2003.
* 15Now †Zambia

Asia

* Aden Colony 1839–1967
* Afghanistan 1839–1842
* Protectorate 1879–1919
* Bencoolen 1685–1824
* Banka and Billiton 1812–1824
* Bengal 1757–1947
* Bhutan (protectorate) 1907–1949
* Borneo 1874–1963
* British Indian Ocean Territory since 1965 (before as part of Mauritius and Seychelles)26
* Burma 1824–1948
* †Brunei 1888–1984
* †Ceylon 1795–1948
* †Cyprus 1878–1960
* Hong Kong 1841–1997
* †India18 1858–1947
* Java 1811–1816
* Kuwait 1918–1961
* Labuan 1848–1946
* Malaya 1819–1826
* Federated States 1895–1946
* Unfederated States 1885–1946
* Union 1946–1948
* Federation 1948–1957
* Malacca 1824–1946
* Crown Colony 1946–1957
* †Maldives 1796–1965
* Manila and Cavite 1762–1764
* Mesopotamia19 1920–1932
* Muscat and Oman 1891–1971
* North Borneo 1882–1963
* Crown Colony 1946–1963
* Padang 1781–1784 and 1795–1819
* Palestine19 1923–1948
* Penang 1786–1946
* Crown Colony 1946–1957
* Pulo Condore 1702–1705
* Sarawak 1841–1946
* Crown Colony 1946–1963
* †Singapore 1946–1963
* South Vietnam 1945–1946
* Straits Settlements 1826–1946
* Transjordan 1921–1946
* Trucial States 1892–1971
* Weihai 1898–1930

* 18Now †India, †Pakistan and †Bangladesh
* 19League of Nations mandate. Iraq's mandate was not enacted and replaced by the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty
* 26Legitimacy of territorial establishment disputed

North America

* Anguilla since 1650
* *Antigua 1632–1860
* *Antigua and Barbuda 1860–1981
* †*Bahamas 1670–1973
* †Barbados 1624–1966
* Bay Islands 1643–1860
* †*Belize 1871–1981
* Bermuda since 1619
* British Arctic Territories 16th c.–1880
* British Columbia 1858–1866
* 1866–1871
* Cape Breton Island 1754–1820
* †Dominica 1763–1978
* East Florida 1763–1783
* †*Grenada 1762–1974
* †*Canada
* Lower 1791–1841
* Upper 1791–1841
* Province 1841–1867
* Dominion 1867–1931
* Carolina 1663–1712
* Cayman Islands since 1670
* Columbia District/Oregon Country 1818–1846
* Connecticut 1636–1776
* Delaware 1701–1776
* East Jersey 1674–1702
* Georgia 1733–1776
* †*Jamaica 1655–1962
* Leeward Islands 1671–1816, 1833–1960
* Massachusetts Bay 1629–1691
* Province, 1691–1776
* Maryland 1632–1776
* Montserrat since 1632
* Mosquito Coast 1655–1860
* Nevis 1628–1983
* New Albion 1579
* New Brunswick 1784–1867
* New England 1686–1689
* New Hampshire 1680–1776
* New Haven 1637–1662
* New Jersey 1665–1674 and 1702–1776
* New York 1664–1776
* Newfoundland 1907–1949
* Newfoundland and Labrador 1583–1907
* North Carolina 1712–1776
* North-Western Territory 1859–1870
* Nova Scotia 1713–1867
* Paulet affair 1843
* Prince Edward Island 1763–1873
* Pennsylvania 1681–1776
* Plymouth 1620–1691
* Quebec 1763–1791* Queen Charlotte Islands 1853–1863
* Rhode Island 1636–1776
* Rupert's Land 1670–1870
* Saint Croix 1625–1650
* Saint Kitts 1623–1983
* †*Saint Kitts and Nevis 1882–1983
* †*Saint Lucia 1605–1979
* †*Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1627–1979
* Saybrook 1635–1644
* South Carolina 1712–1776
* Stickeen 1862–1863
* †Trinidad and Tobago 1889–1962
* Turks and Caicos Islands since 1799
* Vancouver Island 1849–1866
* Virgin Islands since 1666
* Virginia 1607–1776
* West Florida 1763–1783
* West Indies Federation 1958–1962
* Associated States 1967–1983
* West Jersey 1674–1702
* Windward Islands 1833–1960

South America

* Providence Island 1631–1641
* Willoughbyland 1651–1667
* Saint Andrew and Providence Islands4 1670–1688
* †Guiana 1831–1966

* 4Now a department of Colombia

Oceania

* New South Wales 1788–1901
* Van Diemen's Land/Tasmania 1803–1901
* Auckland Islands20 1807–1863
* New Hebrides21 1824–1980
* Queensland 1824–1901
* Swan River/Western Australia 1829–1901
* South Australia 1836–1901
* Pitcairn Islands since 1838
* New Zealand 1841–1907
* North Australia 1846–1847
* Victoria 1851–1901
* †Fiji 1874–1970
* Western Pacific Territories 1877–1976
* Papua 1884–1902
* Rarotonga/Cook Islands20 1888–1901
* Union Islands20 1889–1948
* Gilbert and Ellice Islands22 1892–1979
* †*Solomon Islands 1893–1978
* †Tonga 1900–1970
* Niue20 1900–1974
* †*Australia 1901–1942
* †*New Zealand 1907–1947
* †Samoa 1914–1962
* †Nauru 1919–1942 and 1945–1968

* 20Now part of the †Realm of New Zealand
* 21Now †Vanuatu
* 22Now †Kiribati and †*Tuvalu

Antarctica and the South Atlantic

* Saint Helena23 since 1658
* Ascension Island23 since 1815
* Tristan da Cunha23 since 1816
* Falkland Islands5 since 1833
* †Australian Antarctic Territory (transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia) 1841–1933
* †Ross Dependency (transferred to the Realm of New Zealand) 1841–1947
* British Antarctic Territory24 since 1908
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands25 since 1908

* 5Occupied by Argentina during the Falklands War of April–June 1982.
* 23Since 2009 part of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Ascension Island (1922–) and Tristan da Cunha (1938–) were previously dependencies of Saint Helena.
* 24Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1962; overlaps portions of Argentine and Chilean claims, borders not enforced but claim not renounced under the Antarctic Treaty.
* 25Claimed in 1908; territory formed 1985

* Historical flags of the British Empire
* Anglosphere culture
* Category
* Portal

* v
* t
* e

Countries and territories of Oceania

* List of Oceanian countries by area
* List of Oceanian countries by population

Sovereign states|

| Entire|

* Australia
* Fiji
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

|

In part|

* Chile
* Easter Island
* Juan Fernández Islands
* Ecuador
* Galápagos Islands
* Indonesia
* Central Papua
* Highland Papua
* Papua
* South Papua
* Southwest Papua
* West Papua
* United States
* Hawaii
* Palmyra Atoll

Associated states

* Cook Islands
* Niue

Dependencies and
other territories

| Australia|

* Ashmore and Cartier Islands
* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Coral Sea Islands
* Norfolk Island

|

France|

* Clipperton Island
* French Polynesia
* New Caledonia
* Wallis and Futuna

New Zealand|

* Tokelau

United Kingdom|

* Pitcairn Islands

United States|

* American Samoa
* Baker Island
* Guam
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Atoll
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Wake Island

* British Overseas Territories
* Overseas France
* Overseas collectivity
* Overseas country of France
* Realm of New Zealand
* Political status of the Cook Islands and Niue
* States and territories of Australia
* Australian Indian Ocean Territories
* Territories of the United States
* Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)
* Insular area
* United States Minor Outlying Islands

Oceania portal

* v
* t
* e

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

Members|

* Australia
* Cook Islands
* Fiji
* French Polynesia
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Niue
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* New Caledonia
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

Associate members|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Tokelau
* Wallis and Futuna

Observers|

* East Timor
* Northern Mariana Islands

Observer Organisations|

* ACP Secretariat
* Asian Development Bank
* Commonwealth Secretariat
* International Organization for Migration
* United Nations Secretariat
* Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
* World Bank

Dialogue partners|

* Canada
* Chile
* China
* Cuba
* European Union
* France
* Germany
* India
* Indonesia
* Italy
* Japan
* Malaysia
* Norway
* Philippines
* Singapore
* South Korea
* Spain
* Thailand
* Turkey
* United Kingdom
* United States

Development partner|

* Taiwan

Meetings|

* 45th
* 51st

* v
* t
* e

Polynesia

Polynesian triangle|

* Cook Islands
* Easter Island
* French Polynesia
* Austral Islands
* Gambier Islands
* Marquesas Islands
* Society Islands
* Tuamotus
* Hawaiian Islands
* New Zealand
* Niue
* Norfolk Island
* Pitcairn Islands
* Rotuma
* Salas y Gómez
* Samoan Islands
* Tokelau
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Wallis and Futuna Islands

Polynesian outliers|

* Aniwa
* Anuta
* Bellona
* Duff Islands
* Emae
* Futuna
* Kapingamarangi
* Mele
* Nuguria
* Nukumanu
* Nukuoro
* Ontong Java
* Ouvéa
* Pileni
* Rennell
* Sikaiana
* Takuu
* Tikopia

Polynesian-influenced|

* Lau Islands
* Madagascar

* v
* t
* e

United Nations list of non-self-governing territories

France|

* French Polynesia
* New Caledonia

New Zealand|

* Tokelau

United Kingdom|

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn
* Saint Helena
* Turks and Caicos Islands

United States|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* United States Virgin Islands

None (de facto)†|

* Western Sahara

† Spain unilaterally abandoned its responsibilities over Western Sahara in 1976, but remains as its de jure administering power.

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Czech Republic
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Artists|

* KulturNav

People|

* UK Parliament

Other|

* Yale LUX

09°10′S 171°50′W﻿ / ﻿9.167°S 171.833°W﻿ / -9.167; -171.833
*[lit.]: literal translation
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template