Tokelau
 

22 Jun 1889 - 1937                               1937 - 1 Jan 1949                          1 Jan 1949 - 21 Oct 2009                       1989 - 2009 Unofficial flag                          Adopted 21 Oct 2009 Map of Tokelau Hear National Anthem "God Defend New Zealand" Hear Local Anthem "Te Atua" (For the Almighty) proposed May 2008 Tokelau Islands Act (1 Jan 1949) --------------------------- Draft Constitution (19 Feb 2006) Capital: Fakaofo (officially None, each atoll has its own administrative center) Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD)  National Holiday: 6 Feb (1840) Waitangi Day ------------------------------------- Local Holiday: 3 Sep (1983) Tokehega Day Population: 1,433 (2008) GDP: $1.5 million (1993) Exports: $0 (2002) Imports: $969,200 (2002)  Ethnic groups: Polynesian Total Police Force: 9 (2000) Defense is the Responsibility of New Zealand Merchant marine: None (2008)  Religions: Congregational Christian Church of Samoa 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2% note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church  predominant  International Organizations/Treaties: PC, PIF (observer), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WHO (associate)  Tokelau Index Chronology bf.1600             Fakaofo (the senior polity) founded; Nukunonu and                        Atafu later become independent. 21 Jun 1765         Atafu discovered by Commodore John Byron on the Dolphin,                       and named Duke of York Island.  6 Jun 1791         Nukunonu discovered by Capt. Edward Edwards on HMS Pandora                       and is named Duke of Clarence Island. 28 Jan 1841         Fakaofo visited by the U.S. Exploration Expedition and                       is named Bowditch Island. 13 Aug 1877         Under British jurisdiction by the British Western                       Pacific order.                  21 Jun 1889         Formal British protectorate (Union Islands or Union Group)                       proclaimed by Comander Oldham aboard the HMS Egeria. 13 Aug 1877 - 1926  Part of the British Western Pacific Territories. 29 Feb 1916         Union Group (Tokelau) becomes part of the British                        colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (see Kiribati). 1925                Separated from Gilbert and Ellice Islands; administered by                       the Governor-general of New Zealand. 11 Feb 1926         Governor-general's powers delegated to the Administrator                       (later High commissioner) of Western Samoa. 1946                Renamed Tokelau Islands.  1 Jan 1949         Incorporated into New Zealand.  9 Dec 1976         Renamed Tokelau.  2 Dec 1980         U.S. recognizes Atafu, Fafaofu, and Nukunono atolls                       as part of Tokelau (effective 3 Sep 1983). 16 Feb 2006         Referendum on self-government status in free association                       with New Zealand fails; 349 yes to 232 short of the                       the 2/3 required for approval. 24 Oct 2007         Referendum on self-government status in free association                       with New Zealand fails; 446 yes to 246; which is 16 the                       votes short of the 2/3 required. Tokelau (since 1925) Fakaofo Nukunonu Atafu

Fakaofo

Rulers (title Aliki)
.... - ....                Letaiolo
.... - ....                Poufau
1841?                      Taupe
1846 - 1852?               Havaiki I
1858?                      Lika
1871?                      Longotahi
18.. - May 1881            Vaopuka
1881 - 1890                Te Taulu
1892?                      Tavita Te Fuli
1902 - 29 Feb 1916         Ielemia Havaiki II 

Rulers (title Aliki)
.... - ....                Sunga
.... - ....                Kakaia
.... - ....                Ngala
.... - ....                Ulua
.... - ....                Falevai
.... - 29 Feb 1916         Takua 

Rulers (title Aliki)
.... - ....                Toniua
.... - ....                Foli
.... - ....                Tongia
.... - ....                Fafie
.... - 29 Feb 1916         Tuilaka 

Tokelau

Governors
1925 -  1 Jan 1949         the Governors-general of New Zealand
Administrators
11 Feb 1926 -  1 Jan 1949  the Administrators of Western Samoa
1949 - Feb 1960            Guy Richardson Powles              (b. 1905 - d. 1994)
Feb 1960 - 31 Mar 1965     John Bird Wright                   (b. 1909 - d. 1990)
Jun 1965 - 1968            Owston Paul Gabites                (b. 1913 - d. 1993)
1968 - 1971                Richard Basil Taylor               (b. 1920 - d. 2000)
1971 - 1972                Duncan MacIntyre                   (b. 1915 - d. 2001)
1972 - 1973                Matiu Rata                         (b. 1934 - d. 1997)
1973 - 1975                William Gray Thorp
1975 - 1984                Frank Henry Corner                 (b. 1920)
1984 - 1988                Harold Huyton Francis
Feb 1988 - 1990            Neil Douglas Walter (1st time)     (b. 1942)
1990 - Jan 1992            Graham Keith Ansell                (b. 1931)
Jan 1992 - Mar 1993        Brian William Peter Absolum
Mar 1993 - 28 Feb 2003     Lindsay Johnstone Watt
 1 Mar 2003 - 17 Oct 2006  Neil Douglas Walter (2nd time)     (s.a.)
17 Oct 2006 - 2009         David Bruce Payton                 (b. 1952?)
2009 -                     John Allen (acting)

Heads of government (Ulu-o-Tokelau)
1992 - Feb 1993            Kuresa Nasau (1st time)
Feb 1993 - Feb 1994        Salesio Lui
Feb 1994 - Feb 1995        Keli Neemia                        (b. 1940?)
Feb 1995 - Feb 1996        Kuresa Nasau (2nd time)
Feb 1996 - Feb 1997        Pio Tuia (1st time)                (b. 1943?)
Feb 1997 - Feb 1998        Falima Teao                        (b. 1931)
Feb 1998 - Feb 1999        Kuresa Nasau (3rd time)
Feb 1999 - Feb 2000        Pio Tuia (2nd time)                (s.a.)
Feb 2000 - Feb 2001        Kolouei O'Brien (1st time)         (b. 1939)
Feb 2001 - Feb 2002        Kuresa Nasau (4th time) 
Feb 2002 - Feb 2003        Pio Tuia (3rd time)                (s.a.)
Feb 2003 - Feb 2004        Kolouei O'Brien (2nd time)         (s.a.)
Feb 2004 - Feb 2005        Patuki Isaako
2004 - Feb 2005            Pio Tuia (acting for Isaako)       (s.a.)
Feb 2005 - 15 Feb 2006     Pio Tuia (4th time)                (s.a.)
15 Feb 2006 - 27 Feb 2007  Kolouei O'Brien (3rd time)         (s.a.)
27 Feb 2007 - 23 Feb 2008  Kuresa Nasau (5th time)
23 Feb 2008 - 21 Feb 2009  Pio Tuia (5th time)                (s.a.)
21 Feb 2009 - Feb 2010     Foua Toloa
Feb 2010 -                 Kuresa Nasau (6th time)

No Political Parties Exist

International Disputes: Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution.