Tokelau

Tokelau
Territory of ‌New Zealand


Motto Tokelau mo te Atua Tokelau for the Almighty
Anthem God Save The Queen


Capital	Nukunonu

Government	Constitutional monarchy
Head of State
- From 1949	Queen Elizabeth II
Administrator
- From 2011	Jonathan Kings
Head of Government
- From 2011	Kuresa Nasau

Legislature	Parliament

History
- January 1, 1949	Incorporated into New Zealand

Area	10 km²

Population
- 2009	1,416
Density	141.6/km²

GDP	2009 (PPP)
- Total	US$ 0 billion
- Per capita	US$ 1,035

Currency	New Zealand dollar

Western Samoa
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Tokelau is a territory of the Realm of New Zealand, located in Polynesia.

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.^[1]

Economy

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.^[2]