Tokelauans
Indigenous Polynesian people of Tokelau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tokelauans are a Polynesian ethnic group native to Tokelau, a Polynesian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, who share the Tokelauan Polynesian culture, history and language.
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Tokelauan dancers | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 10,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Tokelau
 Hawaii (United States) | |
| Languages | |
| Tokelauan, English | |
| Religion | |
| Congregationalism, Roman Catholic | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Polynesians |
The group's home islands are a dependent territory of New Zealand. 77% of Tokelau's population of 1,650 claims Tokelauan ancestry,[1] while 9,822 Tokelauans live in New Zealand.[2] A small number also live in Samoa.
Language
The Tokelauan language is part of the Polynesian language family. Most Tokelauans are fluent in both English and Tokelauan.[3] There are approximately 4,000 speakers, the majority of whom live in New Zealand.[4]
Diaspora
The majority of Tokelauans live in New Zealand, concentrated in the Hutt Valley and Porirua,[5] as well as Auckland.[2] They are the sixth largest Pacific Islander ethnic group in New Zealand, and one of the most socio-economically deprived.[5] Migration to New Zealand began in the 1950s and increased in the 1960s under a government resettlement scheme driven by fears of overpopulation and a tropical cyclone striking the islands.[6] The New Zealand-based population exceeded that of Tokelau in 1976, and immigration declined after that point.[6]
Culture
Religion
As of 2019, 50.4% of Tokelauan people belong to the Congregational Christian Church while 38.7% belong to the Catholic Church. The rest of the population adheres to various Christian denominations, such as Presbyterianism.[1] Roman Catholicism is mostly practiced in Nukunonu, whereas inhabitants of the islands of Atafu and Fakaofo adhere to Congregationalism. Prior to the arrival of Christianity, Tokelauans worshiped a god named Tui Tokelau.
Sports
Netball, rugby, football and cricket are popular in Tokelau. Tokelau Games are held yearly.[citation needed]