Tokelau facts and timeline

TOKELAU

* New Zealand's last remaining dependent territory

* Polynesian population of between 1500 and 1600

* Comprised of three atolls each separated by about 60km of ocean

* Total land area of 12sq km

* Lies 500km north of Samoa

* New Zealand provides 80 per cent of its budget

* 2005/06 aid allocation of $9.5 million

Timeline

1877 - Tokelau, then known as the Union Islands, becomes a British protectorate

1916 - annexed to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony

1926 - administration passes to New Zealand

1946 - listed as a non self- governing territory by the United Nations

1948 - Tokelau Act makes it a territory of New Zealand

2003 - general fono votes unanimously to explore option of self government

2006 - voting takes place, decision to be announced next week