| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | None, each atoll has its own administrative center |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Of New Zealand dependent area |
| currency | New Zealand Dollar (NZ $) |
| surface | 10 km² |
| population | 1499 (2016) |
| languages | Tokelauian (Polynesian language), English |
| Religions | Christians |
| power grid | 230 V / 50 Hz |
| Phone code | 690 |
| Internet TLD | .tk |
| Time zone | CET 12h / UTC 13 |
Tokelau is one of New Zealand dependent, partly self-governing area of three atolls in the South Pacific with approx. 1500 inhabitants (2016) and an area of 10 km². In addition, there is an “exclusive economic zone” of 290,000 km².
| Map of Tokelau |
Islands
Tokelau only includes the Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo atolls. Each is inhabited by approx. 500 people.
background
Tokelau became a British colony in 1889 and New Zealand has been under administration since 1925. The islands are among the poorer in the Pacific, the per capita income is 8 times exceeded thanks to grants from New Zealand. In other words, around 95% of the state budget is New Zealand development aid.
The comparatively high population growth of the densely populated atolls of 150 inh / km² is offset by emigration, so that the population has been stable for a long time at just under 1500, whereas around 7000 Tokelauers live mainly in New Zealand and Australia.
There are no museums or other land-based attractions. Neither are there any resorts, banks or restaurants.
The power supply was almost completely converted to solar collectors in 2012, and the private generators have hardly been used since 2014.
getting there
The journey is usually made by Samoa which allows all tourists to enter the country without a visa (90 days for Schengen citizens, 60 days for others).
By plane
Tokelau does not have an airport.
By boat
From Samoa there are 2-3 cargo ships a month that take passengers with them. The journey takes 26 to 30 hours. Locals are preferred when making reservations. Tickets and (chargeable) Residence permits, which require the approval of the council of elders can be obtained from
There are no ports, unloading is carried out using barges (Timetable 2nd half 2017).
If you arrive with your own yacht, please note that the conditions outside the reefs are difficult and require good sailing skills.
mobility
In Tokelau only the municipal administrations own a few cars, which are pretty pointless given the width of the strip of land of ø 200 meters.
Trips from one island to another with the mostly smaller boats of the locals have been banned.
language
The official languages of the area are English and Tokelauian.
to buy
There are no banks in Tokelau. Only the New Zealand dollar is in circulation, the Samoan tala is also used privately. The Tokelau coinage is aimed at the collector's market.
kitchen
A good 90% of the protein requirement is covered by lagoon fishing in the traditional manner. Coconut, pandanus and taro grow on food plants.
accommodation
The Tokelau Apia Liaison Office in Apia arranges overnight accommodation. Guest rooms cost NZ $ 10-25 with a similar amount being charged for meals.
Probably the only little hotel called Liki (☎ 690 4140) is located on Nukunonu. Otherwise there are guest rooms for the municipal administration, ☎ 690 4139.
The accommodation service on Atafu can be reached at ☎ 690 2146, Fax: 690 2108.
At Fakaofo you turn to that Office of the Taupulega ☎ 690 3130.
security
In the absence of crime there is no prison.
The land is nowhere higher than two meters above sea level. In the event of tsunamis, there is no escape route, and there is also a risk of flooding from typhoons.
health
Each of the three atolls has an infirmary. However, there are only specialists in Samoa.
There are no fresh water sources, collected rainwater is drunk.
Post and Telecommunications
In 1994 Tokelau was the last country in the world to be connected to the international telephone network (via satellite). There is Internet, fast connections for the time being only on Fakaofo, where there is also a public one Internet corner is located.
literature
- Coppell, William George; Bibliographies of the Kermadec Islands, Niue, Swains Island and the Tokelau Islands; Honolulu 1975
- Levine, Stephen; Pacific ways: government and politics in the Pacific Islands; Wellington, 2016 (Victoria University Press); ISBN 9781776560684
- Judge, Anke; Two hundred days in Tokelau: report from a sinking South Seas paradise; Munich 2004 (Piper); ISBN 3492242391
Web links
- tokelau-info.de
- Government of Tokelau (There also freight ship timetables are linked)
- pacificguardians.org always has up-to-date reports
