Tokelau

Tokelau is a group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean that are politically part of New Zealand. The largest atoll is Atafu, with a land area of only 1.9 km2. The total land area of the three atolls is 5.1 km2. 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. The name "Tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind". In January 1841, the islanders of Tokelau rebelled against their chief, who had been appointed by the King of Samoa. The British resident, Charles Darwin, heard of the rebellion from a ship's captain and went to investigate. He found that the islanders had killed the chief and taken control of the islands for themselves. The Tokelau Islands were annexed by Britain in 1888 and were included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, the colony was renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and Tokelau was placed under the administration of the colony. In 1926, the government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony appointed a governor for Tokelau. The first governor, Arthur Grimble, was a former naval officer and administrator of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. He had no experience in governing an atoll society and was not interested in the welfare of the Tokelauans. The Tokelauans had no representation in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and were not consulted about the appointment of the governor. They were unhappy with Grimble's governorship and asked for his removal. In 1930, the Tokelauans staged a revolt against Grimble and took control of the islands. The British government responded by sending a warship, the HMS Dunedin, to take control of the islands. The Tokelau Islands were placed under the administration of the New Zealand government in 1925. The New Zealand government made no effort to develop the islands and the Tokelauans remained poor and isolated. In the 1950s, the New Zealand government began to offer free passage to Tokelau for Tokelauans who wanted to migrate to New Zealand. The Tokelau Islands were granted self-government by the New Zealand government in 1963. The Tokelau Act 1963 gave the islands their own constitution and government. The act also gave New Zealand the responsibility for the defense and foreign affairs of Tokelau. The Tokelau Islands are a group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean that are politically part of New Zealand. The atolls are Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. The total land area of the three atolls is 5.1 km2. 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. The name "Tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind". In January 1841, the islanders of Tokelau rebelled against their chief, who had been appointed by the King of Samoa. The British resident, Charles Darwin, heard of the rebellion from a ship's captain and went to investigate. He found that the islanders had killed the chief and taken control of the islands for themselves. The Tokelau Islands were annexed by Britain in 1888 and were included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, the colony was renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and Tokelau was placed under the administration of the colony. In 1926, the government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony appointed a governor for Tokelau. The first governor, Arthur Grimble, was a former naval officer and administrator of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. He had no experience in governing an atoll society and was not interested in the welfare of the Tokelauans. The Tokelauans had no representation in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony and were not consulted about the appointment of the governor. They were unhappy with Grimble's governorship and asked for his removal. In 1930, the Tokelauans staged a revolt against Grimble and took control of the islands. The British government responded by sending a warship, the HMS Dunedin, to take control of the islands. The Tokelau Islands were placed under the administration of the New Zealand government in 1925. The New Zealand government made no effort to develop the islands and the Tokelauans remained poor and isolated. In the 1950s, the New Zealand government began to offer free passage to Tokelau for Tokelauans who wanted to migrate to New Zealand. The Tokelau Islands were granted self-government by the New Zealand government in 1963. The Tokelau Act 1963 gave the islands their own constitution and government. The act also gave New Zealand the responsibility for the defense and foreign affairs of Tokelau. Tokelau has a total population of 1,411 people. The majority of the population is of Polynesian descent. The official languages of Tokelau are English and Tokelauan. The literacy rate in Tokelau is 96%. The economy of Tokelau is based on subsistence agriculture and fishing. The main crops grown in Tokelau are coconuts, bananas, breadfruit, and taro. Pigs and chickens are the only domesticated animals in Tokelau. Fish is the main source of protein in the Tokelauan diet. Tokelau is a self-governing territory of New Zealand. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. The head of government is the prime minister. The unicameral parliament of Tokelau is the General Fono. Tokelau is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Pacific Community.