Tokelau is a largely self-governing territory under the administration of New Zealand. It comprises of a group of 3 tropical coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean.
According to local oral traditions, the 3 atolls forming today's Tokelau were settled from three different 'homelands': Samoa, Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and Nanumanga (Tuvalu). The islands were officially designated as Tokelau in 1946. In 1948, they were included in the territory of New Zealand.
Its inhabitants are citizens of New Zealand. Despite outside pressures, the Faka Tokelau (the traditional Tokelauan family and community-oriented way of life) has remained very strong. This Faka Tokelau stems from the original Polynesian inhabitants migrating from other islands.
Although many Tokelauans have migrated to New Zealand the population still stands at approximately 1500 people. In the three villages the people speak both Tokelauan and English and practice Christianity.
Tokelau is a non self-governing colonial territory of New Zealand. The local government and Tokelauans in New Zealand are working towards a move to make it a free association with New Zealand.
Tokelau is reported to have the smallest economy of any country in the world. Although it is almost entirely dependant on subsidies from New Zealand, they also export stamps, copra and handicrafts.