Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island, located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, is an Australian external self-governing territory. Norfolk Island is situated in the South Pacific Ocean in Oceania. Norfolk Island’ defense responsibilities are looked after by the Australian government.

HISTORY:- The East Polynesian seafarers were the earliest settlers of the island. Captain James Cook first sighted the island in 1774. In 1786, the British Empire included Norfolk Island as an auxiliary settlement. The island was once known as the notorious penal colony. The descendants of the Tahitians and the Bounty mutineers migrated from the Pitcairn Islands and settled in the island in 1856. After the formation of Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, Norfolk Island was incorporated in the commonwealth. The island came into direct Australian control in 1914. The Australian government granted limited self-government to the island in 1979.

GEOGRAPHY:- Norfolk Island is located at 29 02 S, 167 57 E in Oceania. The tiny island possesses total 34.6 sq km area in the South Pacific Ocean. The coastline is 32 km long along with the Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is the Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Mount Bates (319 m). The island is mostly volcanic, with rolling plains.

CLIMATE:- The climate of the island predominantly subtropical and mild, with little seasonal temperature variation.

GOVERNMENT:- Norfolk Island is a self governing territory of Australia. The Norfolk Island Act of 1979 is the formal constitution. The constitution was last amended in 2005. The legal system is based on the Australian law, the local ordinances and acts and the English common law. The three major braches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the governor general of Australia, the Acting Administrator (head of government), and Executive Council. The Queen is represented by the Australian governor general. The acting administrator is appointed by the Australian governor general and he represents the monarch and Australia in the island. The executive Council is consisted of four out of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly. The executive council acts as an advisor to the acting administrator.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and the Court of Petty Sessions.

 

There is no political party in Norfolk Island. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Head of State    Queen Elizabeth II

Acting administrator   Owen Walsh

Chief Minister    Andre Neville Nobbs

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- It is a territory of Australia. So the island has no administrative divisions.

CULTURE:- Norfolk dances include the hula dance. The island’s cuisine is also influenced by Polynesian cuisine. One important trait of Norfolk culture is the Norfolk Wave, the way of greeting at each other.

ECONOMY:- The economy of the island is mainly dependent upon tourism. There is no income tax in the island. Import duty is the only source of raising money.

GDP (purchasing power parity): $NA.

Labor force: NA.

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10%; industry and services: 90%.

Budget:  

Revenues: $4.6 million

Expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00).

Agriculture - products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry.

Industries: Tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete.

Exports: $1.5 million f.o.b. (FY91/92).

Exports – commodities: Postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados.

 

Exports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006).

Imports: $17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92).

Imports – commodities: NA.

Imports - partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2006).

Currency: Australian dollar (AUD).

LANGUAGE:- English, Norfuk are the official languages of Norfolk Islands.

CITIES:- Kingston is the capital of Norfolk Island while Burnt Pine is the largest city of the island.

POPULATION:- The approximate population of Norfolk Island is 2,128 (July 2008 est.) with an average growth rate of 0.006%.

Literacy rate: NA.

RACE:- The descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesian peoples reside in the island.

RELIGION:-

Anglican 34.9%

Roman Catholic 11.7%

Uniting Church in Australia 11.2%

Seventh-Day Adventist 2.8%

Australian Christian 2.4%

Jehovah's Witness 0.9%

Other 2.7%

Unspecified 15.2%

None 18.1% (2001).

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA

Total fertility rate: NA (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

TRANSPORTATION:-

Airports: 1 (2007); Airports - with paved runways: total: 1.

Roadways: total: 80 km; paved: 53 km; unpaved: 27 km (2002)

Ports and terminals: None