DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES IN COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS Australia: H.E. Dame Annabelle Rankin, Hossein Ali; Britain: H.E. Sir Arthur NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATION IN NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES Austria: (Ambassador) (resident in Bonn); Belgium: (Ambassador); Chile: (Ambassador); E.E.C.: (Ambassador); France: (Ambassador); Germany: (Ambassador); Greece: (Consul-General); Indonesia: (Ambassador); Ireland: (Ambassador) (resident in London); Italy: (Ambassador); Japan: (Ambassador); Korea: (Ambassador) (resident in Bangkok); Nepal: (Ambassador) (resident in New Delhi); Netherlands: (Ambassador); New Caledonia (ConsulGeneral); Philippines: (Minister) (resident in Hong Kong); Switzerland: (ConsulGeneral); Thailand: (Ambassador); United Nations: (Permanent Representative); U.S.A.: (Ambassador); Vietnam: (Ambassador). ISLAND TERRITORIES NIUE Niue is situated at 169° W. 19° S. and has an area of 100 square miles. At 31st December 1971 the estimated total population was 5,183. The island was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. British sovereignty was proclaimed over the island in 1900 and in 1901 Niue was annexed to New Zealand. An Executive Committee, comprising the Resident Commissioner, the Leader of Government, and three members of the Niue Island Assembly is responsible for the general direction and control of the Executive Government of Niue. Mr Robert R. Rex is the elected Leader of Government. Members of the Assembly are elected by universal suffrage and represent all villages on the island. The Resident Commissioner as the chief administrative officer of the Government of Niue is responsible to the Executive Committee in the performance and exercise of his functions and powers. He is also the channel of communication between the Government of Niue and the Government of New Zealand. The Secretary of Maori and Island Affairs is the executive link between the Resident Commissioner and the Minister of Island Affairs for matters relating to the affairs of Niue. The principal exports are passionfruit pulp, copra, honey, kumaras, limes and plaited ware. Export revenue in 1971 totalled approximately $NZ179,000. Annual Niue Government expenditure slightly exceeds $NZ2 million, the bulk of the income being by way of New Zealand Government grants and loans. Niue is linked with New Zealand and neighbouring Pacific islands by a weekly air service and a monthly shipping service. Resident Commissioner: S. D. Wilson Leader of Government Business: Hon. R. R. Rex TOKELAU ISLANDS This Group consists of three islands, or groups of islets, Atafu (500 acres), Nukunono (1,350 acres) and Fakaofo (650 acres), and lies about 4° due north of Apia, Western Samoa. On 25th September 1971 the total population was 1,655. The three islands became a British Protectorate in 1877, and formal declarations were made at each atoll in 1889. At the request of the inhabitants, Britain annexed the islands (then known as the Union Islands) in 1916 and included them within the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, at the request of the British Government, New Zealand assumed responsibility for the administration of the Group, and as a result the islands were separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1946 the Tokelau Nomenclature Ordinance officially designated the Group as the Tokelau Islands. The islands were included within the territorial boundaries of New Zealand by the Tokelau Islands Act, 1948. The islands are administered by an Administrator in whom all administrative and executive functions are vested. From 1st January 1962 until December 1970, the High Commissioner for New Zealand in Western Samoa held the office of Administrator of the Tokelau Islands and was charged with all administrative and executive functions in the Tokelau Islands subject to the authority of the Minister of Island Affairs. The Tokelau Islands Administration Regulations 1971, which came into force on 1st January 1972, transferred the office of Administrator to the Secretary of Maori and Island Affairs. He is assisted by a district officer and staff which are based at Apia, Western Samoa. Local public services are carried out on each island by appointed Tokelau officials. Of these officials the Faipule is the most important; he is the chief representative of the Government and acts in a supervisory capacity over other officials on his island. As the economic and social future of the Islands seemed uncertain and overpopulation had already become a problem, the New Zealand Government suggested to the Tokelauans, in 1966, a scheme of progressive resettlement in New Zealand. A limited start was made with single Tokelauans being accepted under Government sponsorship for resettlement in various parts of New Zealand. Since that time there has been a change of emphasis and most Tokelauans taking advantage of the re-settlement programme now arrive in New Zealand as members of family groups. Administrator: R. B. Taylor SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORY COOK ISLANDS The fifteen islands of the Cook Group (Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Aitutaki, Palmerston Atoll (Avarau), Penrhyn (Tongareva), Suwarrow (Suvorov), Manihiki (Humphrey Island), Rakahanga (Rierson Island), Pukapuka (Danger Islands), Nassau, Manuae and its twin islet Te Au o tu (Hervey Islands) and Takutea) have a total area of approximately 57,000 acres. A census of the Cook Islands taken on 1st December 1971 recorded a total population (exclusive of Niue) of 21,217. Various islands of the Group were placed under British protection between 1888 and 1901. Until 1901 British authority was represented by a Resident, who was paid by the Government of New Zealand and reported direct to the Governor. The first British Resident succeeded in 1891 in arranging for the establishment of an Elective Federal Parliament to make laws for the whole Group. Each island, however, continued to enjoy self-government in such purely local affairs as it could properly manage for itself. The Federal Executive Council or Government was composed of the Arikis, who were also the principal landowners. A Supreme Court was established. All laws and administrative acts were subject to the approval of the Resident, who was also a Deputy and Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific and Chief Justice of the High Court of the Cook Islands. In 1900 a petition from leading islanders requested the abolition of the Federal Parliament and the annexation of the islands by New Zealand. An Imperial Order in Council was accordingly made on 13th May 1901, and on 11th June 1901 the Cook Islands were declared to lie within the boundaries of New Zealand. The administration and laws were continued in force subject to the provisions of the Cook Islands Government Act passed in that year. In 1915 an Act was passed by the New Zealand Parliament consolidating the laws relating to the Cook Islands and Niue Island and providing for the appointment of a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand as the Minister for the Cook Islands charged with the administration of the government of the Islands. By the Cook Islands Amendment Act, 1932, the administration of Niue Island was transferred to the Minister of External Affairs. The 1915 Act also made provision for the constitution of Island Councils for the establishment of public schools, Courts of Justice, Native Land Courts, etc. The Island Territories Act, 1943, established a Ministry of Island Territories and charged the Minister with the administration of the government of any territory outside of New Zealand which may at any time be a dependency or mandated territory of New Zealand, or otherwise be under the jurisdiction of the Government or Parliament of New Zealand. The enactment of the Cook Islands Amendment Act, 1957, marked a major step forward in the constitutional development of the Cook Islands. The most important provision of the Act was the replacement of the Legislative Council by a reconstituted Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands consisting of fourteen members elected by universal suffrage by the electors of the various islands— seven members elected by the various island councils, one European member and four officials nominated by the Administration. In 1962 the New Zealand Government placed before the Legislative Assembly four possible schemes for political development-complete independence, full internal self-government, integration with New Zealand or ultimate integration into a Polynesian Federation—and asked them to decide which course they would most favour. The Assembly chose full internal self-government with continuing association with New Zealand. In 1963 three constitutional advisers were appointed to hold discussions with the Assembly on the form of the Cook Islands Constitution, and in November 1964 a draft Constitution, having already been accepted by the Legislative Assembly, was enacted by the New Zealand House of Representatives. In order to put this constitution before the people of the Cook Islands, general elections were held on 20th April 1965 to elect a new Legislative Assembly equipped with a special mandate to accept or decline the constitution. They were conducted in the presence of a United Nations Mission which observed the elections at the invitation of the New Zealand Government. The elections were won by Mr Albert Henry's Cook Islands Party, which gained fourteen of the twenty-two seats in the new Legislative Council. The Cook Islands Party had already accepted the principle of full internal selfgovernment and continuing association with New Zealand. Mr Albert Henry informed the New Zealand Government, however, that his party wished to propose a number of amendments to the draft constitution. The most important of these were: (a) An amendment to the existing electoral regulations on residential qualifications. This enabled Mr Henry (who had not been eligible to stand at the elections) to be elected to the Assembly in a by-election; and (b) An amendment to form a House of Arikis or Upper House on which the Arikis from all the islands would be represented. The Cooks Islands Constitution Amendment Act was passed by the New Zealand House of Representatives in May 1965, and the new Constitution proclaimed on 8th August 1965. The Cook Islands now have complete control of their own affairs in free association with New Zealand, but with the added special feature that they can at any time move into full independence by a unilateral act if they so wish. New Zealand will continue to be responsible for external affairs and defence while the Cook Islands retains this special relationship. At the General Election held in April 1972, Mr Henry's Cook Islands Party won 15 seats against the recently formed Democratic Party's 7. Premier: Mr Albert Henry High Commissioner: Mr L. J. Davis THE ROSS DEPENDENCY The Antarctic territory known as the Ross Dependency was brought within the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Government by Order in Council of 30th July 1923, under the British Settlements Act, 1887. It is defined as 'all the islands and territories between the 160th degree of east longitude and the 150th degree of west longitude which are situated south of the 60th degree of south latitude'. The land area is estimated at 160,000 square miles and permanent shelf ice at 130,000 square miles. There are no permanent inhabitants, but scientific stations are staffed all the year round. Laws for the Dependency have been made by regulations promulgated by the Governor-General of New Zealand. Administrative powers are vested in the Governor-General of New Zealand, and Administrative Officers (commonly referred to as Administrators) have been appointed from time to time since 1923. Many famous explorers visited the area during the last century, including Sir James Ross, Captain R.F. Scott, RN, Sir Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen and Richard E. Byrd. In the 1920s whaling was licensed by the New Zealand Government. Since then, however, the pelagic whaling expeditions have operated on the high seas. In recent years the territory has been visited by several British and American expeditions. The Dependency is now the scene of greater activity than ever before. Under the auspices of the International Geophysical Year a United States expedition re-activated a scientific station at 'Little America' and constructed an air strip on the bay ice at McMurdo Sound capable of taking heavy aircraft from New Zealand. A joint New Zealand-United States station is being operated at Cape Hallett. The New Zealand Antarctic Expedition established Scott Base on Ross Island in January 1957. The purpose of the Expedition was twofold: to take part in the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition and in the Antarctic Programme of the International Geophysical Year. In March 1958 the New Zealand Government appointed the Ross Dependency Research Committee to co-ordinate and supervise all New Zealand activity in the Dependency, with particular reference to the scientific and technical programme. A continuing programme of field work and research has since been carried out, including in 1968 the building of a new scientific station near Lake Vanda. N FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IGERIA, which takes its name from the Niger, or 'great', river which flows through it to the sea, is situated on the west coast of Africa on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea and lies between 4° and 14° N. latitude and 2° and 15° E. longitude. It is bounded on the west by Dahomey, on the north by Niger and on the east by the Republic of Cameroun. It includes part of Lake Chad on the north-east. The total area is 356,669 square miles. It is 650 miles from the coast to the farthest point on the northern border and its greatest width is 700 miles. It is not a mountainous country: the only high ground is the plateau area near Jos and along the eastern border. There is one other navigable river of importance, apart from the Niger, the River Benue. There are two wellmarked seasons, the rains lasting from April to October, and the dry season from November to March. Temperatures at the coast seldom rise above 32°C (90°F) but the humidity is high. Farther north the climate is drier and the temperature range greater, the extremes being 43°C (110°F) and 10°C (50°F) although it is occasionally lower in certain areas. Nigeria is the most populous state in Africa. At the time of the 1952-53 census the population stood at 30,417,000. The census held in late 1963 recorded a total population of 55,654,000. The main tribal groups are Fulani, Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo. The non-African population does not exceed 30,000. The principal languages in Nigeria are English, Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo. Primary education is not yet universal. In 1966 there were 2,907,745 primary pupils and 132,912 pupils in secondary schools and colleges. Over half the population are Muslims, these being concentrated in the north and west. In the southern areas in particular there are many Christians. The capital of the Republic is Lagos with an estimated population in 1967 of 680,000. Lagos also acts as capital of the Lagos State. The principal seaports are served by a number of shipping lines including the Nigerian National Shipping Lines, Elder Dempster and Palm Lines. Several international airlines operate frequent services to the main international airports |