Tokelau Islands - New Zealand's Dependent Territory
Tokelau islands is a dependent territory of New Zealand. It is located in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo are three tropical coral atolls that make up this group. The total size of their land is 10 km2. Every year, the three atolls alternate hosting the capital. Swains Island, which is part of the same archipelago and is now governed by the US as part of American Samoa, is also the subject of a continuing territorial dispute.
Tokelau islandsis a dependent territory of New Zealand. It is located in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo are three tropical coral atolls that make up this group. The total size of their land is 10 km2. Every year, the three atolls alternate hosting the capital.
SwainsIsland, which is part of the same archipelago and is now governed by the US as part of American Samoa, is also the subject of a continuing territorial dispute. Tokelau is located northwest of the Cook Islands, south of the Phoenix Islands, east of Tuvalu, north of the Samoan Islands, and north of the farther-off Line Islands.
Language similarity suggests that Tokelau was colonized by Samoa, and the little atolls quickly developed into densely populated areas with nucleated communities. The British commodore John Byron was the first European to visit Atafu in 1765.
He gave it the name Duke of York Island. While looking for the HMS Bounty mutineers in 1791, Capt. Edward Edwards of HMS Pandora spotted and christened Duke of Clarence Island, which is now known as Nukunonu.
Tokelau offers radio telephone service to Samoa and its islands. Three satellite earth stations and controlled telephone services were installed in 1997. Every home has access to a radio, and each atoll has a radio station that transmits shipping and weather information.
Te Vaka, a newsletter published by the government, serves as a newssource. Since November 2015, Tokelau has had five-digit phone numbers and the international dialing code 690.
The MV Matariki, which was delivered brand new in 2016 to replace the MV Tokelau and is jointly operated by the Tokelau Transport Department and the business Transport and Marine, serves Tokelau. The ship can accommodate 120 people for travelinside Tokelau's atolls.
60 passengers, for foreign cruises, make the voyage between Tokelau and Apia every two weeks and takes just over a day. In place of contracted freight vessels, the MV Kalopaga, a dedicated cargo vessel, will start operations in 2018.
The majority of the population is Polynesian and has linguistic and cultural ties to Samoa. Additionally, there are a few Samoans, Tuvaluans, and people of mixed ancestry. Although English is commonly spoken, Tokelauan, a Polynesian language, is the official language.
Most people are Christians, and about 7/10ths of them go to a Congregational church and 3/10ths go to a Roman Catholic Church.
To suggest that there aren't many things to do in Tokelau is an understatement. The people of Tokelau aren't big on hosting guests. Instead, they allow you to see life as it is for them. Tokelau, however, offers one of the most genuine travel experiences as a result.
In Tokelau, pigs play a significant role in every major event. However, there is not much space for pig pens on the populated island of Fakaofo. Pigs are now left to fend for themselves and have started fishing for food along the coast as a result.
The most impeccably maintained structures on the islands are the churches in the Tokelau region. Tokelau is a Christian nation, so Sunday morning church attendance is required of guests.
Must visit! Are you want to more about this beautiful place? It is three atolls make up the island territory of Tokelau, also known as the Union Group or Tokelau Islands, which is a territory of New Zealand.
Tokelau is located 2,400 miles southwest of Hawaii and 300 miles north of Samoa. There is no central capital in Tokelau; instead, each atoll has its administrative hub.
Since she embarked on her first world trip in 2002, Jane Resture spent the past decades sharing her personal journey and travel tips with people around the world. She has traveled to over 80 countries and territories, where she experienced other cultures, wildlife she had only read about in books, new foods, new people, and new amazing experiences.
Jane believes that travel is for everyone and it helps us learn about ourselves and the world around us. Her goal is to help more people from more backgrounds experience the joy of exploration because she trusts that travel opens the door to the greatest, most unforgettable experiences life can offer and this builds a kinder, more inclusive, more open-minded world.