Tokelau, Island group in South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand
Tokelau is a New Zealand island group consisting of three coral atolls in the southern Pacific. Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo each lie roughly ninety kilometers apart and rise only a few meters above sea level, with narrow strips of land encircling shallow lagoons.
Polynesian seafarers settled these atolls around the year 1000 and developed a society that worshipped the deity Tui Tokelau. European ships and slave raiders decimated the population during the 19th century, before Britain established a protectorate in 1877 and transferred administration to New Zealand in 1926.
The Tokelauan language is spoken daily and shows close ties to Samoan, while English serves as a second official language. Shared meals often take place outdoors, where families gather to eat grilled fish and taro, accompanied by songs passed down through generations.
The only access is by cargo vessel from Apia in Samoa, operating roughly once per month and requiring 24 to 30 hours depending on weather. You must arrange a homestay with a local family before visiting, as no hotels or restaurants exist, and bring sufficient New Zealand dollars in cash, as no ATMs operate on the islands.
Since 2012, a network of solar installations supplies all electricity needs across the islands, replacing the previous annual consumption of roughly 200 barrels of diesel fuel. This setup made the territory one of the first worldwide to rely entirely on renewable energy, with coconut oil generators stepping in only during prolonged periods of poor weather.
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