ABOUT TOKELAU:

The Tokelau Islands (or Union Islands) is an island group is made up of three flat, coral atolls - Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo - with reef islands around their lagoons. The Tokelau Islands are territories of New Zealand and have a surface area of 10 kms.

Beautiful and remote, the islands were some of the last to be explored and settled by Europeans. They were virtually forgotten during the period of colonisation in the Pacific and only became a British Protectorate in 1889 to protect the island from ruthless black birders and beachcombers.

This was a necessary move as only six years earlier, Peruvian slavers had kidnapped hundreds of mostly Tokelaun men and took them to work in South America. Also in 1863, dysentery struck the islands and the population was reduced to only 200 people.

In 1916, Tokelau was annexed by Britain and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony. This arrangement ended in 1925 when Tokelau was mandated to New Zealand.

In 1949 Tokelau officially became part of New Zealand and eventually given limited self-government in 1996.

Tokelauns are New Zealand citizens. Today only 1500 people live on the three atolls. Most farm and fish for food. Copra is the main export crop, and the country also earns several hundred thousand dollars each year selling postage stamps and coins.

There are currently about 4000 Tokelauns living in New Zealand. Many were relocated to New Zealand in the 1960s because of overcrowding on the islands. Remittances from these people to their families back home provide much needed income for the economy. New Zealand also provides aid - about NZ$6m annually - and this funds Tokelau's health and education sectors.

Tokelau's links to Samoa are strong. Its main government office is based in Apia. Tokelau's chances of developing its economy are limited. There are no airports, ports or docks in Tokelau, and ships make the 500 km journey from Samoa periodically.

The Tokelau people are closely related to Tuvaluans however their language is similar to Samoan. Most pick up the Samoan language early because they use a Samoan bible. Social life is based on a traditional clan structure and the complete respect of community decisions.

There is no main island in Tokelau and each island has its own government and mayor (pulenuku). A general fono is regularly held though at which a member from each island government (faipule) attends. There is great political rivalry between each island.

Tokelau does not have an extensive tourist industry. Nukunonu has a small hotel but on the other two islands visitors need to arrange to stay with a local family. The weather here is tropical and warm but there are heavy downpours regularly. November and February are months that are prone to hurricanes and storms.