GOVERNMENT
Country
name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans
are drafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns
of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with
New Zealand
Government type:
NA
Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:
none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty
over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:
administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended
in 1970
Legal system:
New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the
UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Neil WALTER
(since NA 2002)
head of government: Aliki Faipule Kuresa NASAU (since 2004) note
- position rotates annually among members of the cabinet
cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders
- one from each atoll - functions as a cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the
head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves
a one-year term
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Fono (48 seats; 15 members from each of the
three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms
and the 3 island village mayors [pulenuku]); note - the Tokelau
Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the
General Fono
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction
in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:
the flag of New Zealand is used
