Tokelau
Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand with 1411 inhabitants ( October 2011) and an area of 12 km ². Tokelau consists of the atolls Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo and is located in the South Pacific.
Geography
Tokelau consists of the following atolls:
The atolls lie in the center of the Pacific Ocean north of New Zealand and east of New Guinea. Between Tokelau and the nearest island group Samoa lie about 480 km.
Population
The population of Tokelau has lived in three villages on the respective atolls. The inhabitants speak Tokelauisch and usually only a few words of English. The isolation of the atolls and the lack of natural resources hamper economic development of the area, agricultural production moves at a subsistence level. Together with the over-population of the area, this leads to a sustained emigration of many atoll residents to New Zealand ( population decline is 0.9 % per year).
On the atoll Atafu almost all residents confess with 89.8 % for the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa ( Ekalesia Fa'apotopotoga I Kerisiano America Samoa), 3.4% to the Roman Catholic Church, on Nukunonu with 93.9 % almost all the Roman Catholic Church. On Fakaofo both denominations are represented, with the Congregational Christian Church with 68.9 % against the Catholics dominated with 25.9 %.
According to a WHO report, the population of Tokelau has 93.6 % the highest percentage of obese people in the South Pacific. The diabetes rate is 43.6 %.
Policy
Tokelau is an integral part of New Zealand. His affairs are regulated by the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, the management of the three atolls of Tokelau appoint an administrator since 1980. Much of the responsibility but the tokelauischen population, in particular the Council of Elders ( Taupulega ) was transferred, so that the administrator quasi acts only as an interface between the colony and the mother country. Basis of tokelauischen legislation, administration and judiciary is the so- called " Tokelau Islands Act" of 1948.
Each of the atolls is facing a Faipule, who heads the respective Councils ( Village Council) and also assumes adjudicatory functions. Executive bodies are the three Pulenuku, which can be described as mayor. Internally, there is no administrative separation of the three islands that a total of 21 representatives in the European Parliament (General Fono ) of Tokelau send ( Nukunonu: 6 seats, Fakaofo: 7 seats, Atafu: 8 seats). The Chair of the General Fono rotates annually between the atolls. The respective Faipule take at this time also the function of government ( Ulu -o- Tokelau ).
On 2 December 1980, the Tokehega contract was signed on Atafu, an agreement between New Zealand and the United States over the maritime border between Tokelau and American Samoa, inter alia, the claims to the island Olohega (including Swains Iceland ) in favor of the United States explained. Noteworthy in this contract are in particular the following circumstances:
On 11 November 2004 New Zealand and Tokelau agreed to start negotiations on a treaty that would transform the political status of Tokelau in an independent state in free association with New Zealand, similar to the current status of the Cook Islands and Niue. Between February 13th and 15th 2006, a project funded by the United Nations referendum on independence was held. The required two -thirds majority for secession was missed by 349 votes to 232 with a voter turnout of 95%. Opponents of secession particularly afraid of the end of the financial support from New Zealand. A new referendum was held in October 2007. Also this was the proposal of a loose bond with New Zealand not the necessary majority.
The Pacific Islands Forum in October 2005 granted Tokelau observer status.
History
The atolls were settled by Polynesians over the surrounding islands. Until the 19th century the islands were self-sufficient. Through diseases, the whalers brought Peruvian slave traders and missionaries who tried to resettle 500 people survived only half of the original population.
1877, the islands were declared a British reserve. The corresponding formal statements and the Flaggenhissung were made in 1889 by Commodore Oldham, Royal Navy, HMS Egeria, on the respective islands. 1893, the Union Islands were (like the Tokelau Islands were called to 1946 ) assigned to the newly established protected area of the Gilbert and Elliceinseln and managed by Tarawa and later of Ocean from Iceland. 1916, the Tokelau Islands were added at the request of residents in the United Kingdom. Thus, they became part of the Gilbert Ellice Colony and the management was taken over by the District Manager ( District Officer ) in Funafuti. On November 4, 1925, the islands were placed under the administration of New Zealand. Thus they were automatically assigned to the administrator (Administrator ) of Western Samoa Territory.
In the same year the work to the Association of the Union Islands belonging island Olohega (now Swain Iceland ) from England to the United States was assigned. Olohega is located about 160 km south of Fakaofo.
Adopted on May 7, 1946 Tokelau names Regulation, the archipelago officially as Tokelau, and the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, the New Zealand sovereignty transferred and assigned to the New Zealand territory.
Through the Declaration of Independence Western Samoa 1962, the administrator was High Commissioner (High Commissioner) of New Zealand, but retained the office of the administrator for the Tokelau Islands. From 1 January 1972 the title of Administrator of Tokelau was transferred to the Minister of Maori and Island issues in Wellington.
The island was the target of Koprahändlern, which continued to sell the dried flesh of the coconut, which is used mainly for cooking oil at a good profit. A mail boat headed for only three to four times per year Tokelau. The first school of Tokelau was 1950.
More info about the history of the atolls can be found at the island name Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo.
In contrast to New Zealand Tokelau lay east of the dateline until 2011, reducing the time went after 22 hours compared to New Zealand. Along with Samoa but passed Tokelau 30th December 2011 and thus joined to the western side.
Infrastructure
Tokelau is considered one of the most remote places in the world. Except for a few transport, the islands offer no appreciable transport, let alone public buildings such as prison, port and airport. The connection between Tokelau and the nearest island nation of Samoa is every fourteen days by 26 - allows up to 30 hours of shipping. In addition to passenger transport by ship comes to the task of supplying food and medicines, as the islands of Tokelau can not produce appreciable resources except the native coconut trees and fishing.
As the last country in the world Tokelau was joined in 1994 with the international telephone network. In September 2003, the Foundation Tokelau has created a 384 kbps downlink and 64 kbps uplink internet connection via satellite on Fakaofo, which is active around the clock.
Tokelau is the first country in the world, the power supply completely by solar power. But 2012 has been installed on the three atolls a total of one megawatt photovoltaic system. By switching from diesel generators on photovoltaic Tokelau saves any day now about 200 liters of fossil fuel a.
Economy
The inhabitants supply themselves by fishing and the use of coconut in large part itself The waters surrounding Tokelau have large tuna stocks. Medical services and medicines are free for Tokelauer. Therefore, they require very little money. Tokelau was the last country in the world, was introduced in the cash.
Became famous in the Tokelau Internet through the free allocation of top -level domain. Tk. But it is not the island nation itself, which awards the top- level domains, but an investor who acquired the right to use the address.
Environment
Since 1846 only three hurricanes have devastated the islands and destroyed almost all of the traditional buildings. Since then, the church, the meeting house and the school are the safest places in the case of a tidal wave. So met in February 1990, the waves of Hurricane " Ofa " and 1992 of the hurricane " Val " the atolls. Last met on 25-26. February 2005, the cyclone " Percy " on the islands of light to heavy damaged on Nukunonu about 80 % of the houses, but no human life cost.
In October 2011, an unusual period of drought has led to acute shortage of drinking water, which could for months, until the next rainy season, continue. The same problem also applies Tuvalu. Experts fear that the lack of drinking water could also spread to other islands throughout the South Pacific. New Zealand and Australia to help the islands currently with seawater desalination plants
Since the end of 2012, the previously supplied by diesel generators archipelago is powered by 100% solar power. The Tokelau Renewable Energy Project take precautions the three islands with a total of one megawatt of power.
Sports
In the 13th South Pacific Games in Samoa gained Athletes tokelauische 2007, the first three gold medals in the history of the state in international competitions. In Lawn Bowls Lotomalie Fakaalofa, Sagato Alefosio and Sakaraia Patelesio brought the gold medal in the Men's triple. Previously had already Violina Linda Pedro and Opetera Samakia Ngatoko won in the same sport in the pair competition of women the gold medal. Finally Violina Pedro won the individual competition of the ladies also gold, while there was a bronze medal for the men in the four competition, nor silver, and for the women in the same competition. Lawn Bowls is a popular sport in the countries of the South Pacific. All 22 participating nations faced teams for the competitions in Lawn Bowls.