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Capital:
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none; each atoll has its own administrative center
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
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Dependency status:
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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
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Government type:
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NA
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Independence:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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National holiday:
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Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
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Constitution:
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administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
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Legal system:
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New Zealand and local statutes
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Suffrage:
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21 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Neil WALTER (since NA 2002)
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
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
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Legislative branch:
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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
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau
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Political parties and leaders:
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none
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none
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International organization participation:
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UNESCO (associate), WHO (associate)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of New Zealand)
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Flag description:
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the flag of new zealand is used
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