Flag of Tokelau; different colours have different meanings. The Tokelauan canoe symbolizes Tokelau's mission to find the best way to govern its people, with the Southern Cross, which guided fishermen around the waters in the past, now assisting the mission as a navigational aid. The white stars represent the Christian dominance in Tokelau with the blue background meaning the Pacific Ocean.
HISTORY AND ETYMOLOGY
The name Tokelau derived from a Tokelauan word related to the direction north-east. It can either mean north-northeast in Tokelauan or north wind in Polynesian.
Settlement
From approximately the start of the 10th century, Polynesians settled in the three main islands that make up Tokelau now - Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. Evidence suggests that Tokelau may have been used as a connecting hub between Western and Eastern Polynesians. Clans ruled independently over their own tribes. At last, the Fakaofoan tribe united the three and named it after their deity, Tokelau.
The three islands in relation with one another
Discovery and conversion to Christianity
Atafu was discovered by British Royal Navy Commodore John Byron in 1765 and named it Duke of York's Island. Subsequently, Captain Edward Edwards visited the island in search of helpers in 1792 - sailing further south, they discovered Nukunonu, of which they named Duke of Clarence's Island - but were unable to communicate with the locals. Whalers arrived in the following decades, with the whaler General Jackson discovering Fakaofo in 1835 and named it D'Wolf's Island.
Christianity began in Tokelau from the mid-1840s when missionaries arrived. There was a rather interesting situation with Atafu being converted to Protestantism but Nukunonu being converted to Catholicism with Fakaofo having both - this was due to the preachers coming from Britain and France at the same time on different islands.
The London Missionary Society spreading Protestantism, mid-19th century
Slavery
Peruvian slave traders arrived in 1863 and kidnapped all able men to serve the traders. Almost every member died either of dysentery or smallpox and almost no one returned. This caused a huge plummet in the population of Tokelau. As a result, Westerners started to immigrate into Tokelau and this led to a new political system - where an elder of each tribe makes decisions regarding Tokelau.
The population started to slowly increase after the immigration.
Slaves on Fakaofo
British protectorate to modern times
The British Government made Tokelau a British protectorate in 1889 administrated under the Gilbert and Ellice Islands county, now Kiribati and Tuvalu. Britain passed the right of administration to New Zealand in 1926. Despite this, the interference and impact on the society remained minor. The Tokelau Act in 1948 enabled New Zealand to establish sovereignty over Tokelau formally. Tokelau continues to remain as a part of New Zealand until now with its own distinct culture, supported by independent political, legal, social, judicial and economic systems.
Parliament and government of Tokelau
CURRENCY AND COINS
Starting from the British colonization, Tokelau has followed the British and used the shilling as their currency. With the introduction of the New Zealand dollar, however, Tokelau switched to a new currency and the New Zealand dollar is now used for general circulation purposes.
Starting from 1978, Tokelau has made commemorative coins for collectors in set issues as one of their few sources of income. These coins are legal tender in Tokelau, but they are never seen in circulation. The name of the currency, tala, is the Tokelauan term for the English word dollar.
Tokelau retains itself as a member of the Commonwealth. Thus, all obverses of Tokelauan coins always include the effigy of the reigning British monarch, now Queen Elizabeth II. The national crest and/or flag also appears in certain coins.
Only the effigy of the British monarch on the obverse
© G. Gilles
National crest of Tokelau along with the effigy
Flag of Tokelau along with the effigy
Tokelau