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.
Regions and territories: Tokelau
Three far-flung coral atolls - Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo - make up Tokelau, a Polynesian territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific.Lying between New Zealand and Hawaii, Tokelau has few physical links with the wider world. There is no airport and it takes more than a day at sea to reach its southern neighbour, Samoa.
Most of the 1,500 islanders live by subsistence farming. Thousands have chosen to leave, usually for New Zealand or Samoa. The latter has a similar culture and language.
The UN has earmarked Tokelau as one of a number of territories where it wants to encourage greater independence. However, Tokelauans voted in February 2006 to retain their colonial status, rather than to take on greater autonomy.
Tokelau has few resources apart from its fishing grounds, but makes some money from the sale of fishing rights and the use of its internet domain. New Zealand provides around 80% of the territory's budget and has tried to allay fears that it will abandon the atolls should Tokelau become autonomous.
Emigrants from other Polynesian islands were the first settlers. Nineteenth-century whalers and missionaries were among the first European visitors to Tokelau, formerly known as the Union Islands.
The atolls became a British protectorate in the late 19th century and for a time were part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony. New Zealand administered Tokelau from 1926.
Like other low-lying Pacific territories, Tokelau is said to be at risk from rising sea levels. It is also vulnerable to tropical cyclones.
- Population: 1,537 (2001 estimate)
- Capital: Seat of government rotates annually among the atolls
- Area: 12 sq km (4.7 sq miles)
- Major languages: Tokelauan, English
- Major religion: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 70 years (women)
- Monetary unit: 1 New Zealand dollar ($NZ) = 100 cents
- Main exports: Copra, handicrafts, stamps and coins
- GNI per capita: n/a
- Internet domain: .tk
- International dialling code: +690
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II
Political leadership revolves around three Faipule, or village heads, who take it in turns to oversee a cabinet - the Council for Ongoing Government - for a year.
The General Fono, an assembly of elected delegates, handles local legislative affairs. It is also responsible for the territory's budget.
Each atoll has a Taupulega, or Council of Elders.
Each atoll operates a radio service, carrying shipping news and weather reports.
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.
Tokelauan natural resources include NEGL
consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three meters above sea level
Tokelauan religion is Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%.
Natural hazards in Tokelau include lies in Pacific typhoon belt.