The Realm of New Zealand is a collection of states and territories united under the monarch of New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth II. New Zealand itself consists of North and South islands, along with more than 700 smaller islands. A number of these lie outside the New Zealand continental shelf, and are known as the New Zealand outlying islands. Of these, only Chatham Island (see below) is inhabited. The Realm of New Zealand also includes a number of Pacific islands—Tokelau, the Cook Islands and Niue—together with the Ross Dependency, New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica, and which has no permanent inhabitants. Like other countries' claim of territorial sovereignty over parts of Antarctica, it is not internationally recognized.

Tokelau

Tokelau, previously known as the Union Islands, is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tokelau (a Polynesian word meaning "north wind") consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo. While having the smallest economy in the world, it is a leader in renewable energy, being the first 100% solar powered nation in the world.
​​​​​​​

The islands were settled about 1000 years ago by Polynesian travellers. European explorers visited at various times from 1765 onwards, but nearly all the islanders were kidnapped by Peruvian slave traders in the 1860s. The islands were eventually repopulated by other Polynesians and Europeans, who intermarried. The islanders today make a living from farming, fishing and handicrafts.
​​​​​​​

Population 1499
Area 10 sq km (4 sq miles)
Highest point 5 m (16 ft)
Largest village Atafu (pop. 541)
Languages Tokelauan, English
Religions Christian (Congregationalist) 62%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 34%, other 4%
Ethnicity Tokelauan or mixed 84%, Samoan 6.7% Tuvaluan 2.8%, other 6.5%

A self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, Niue (which means "behold the coconut" in the local language) is commonly known by its nickname, "The Rock". One of the world's largest coral islands, it consists of a central plateau edged by steep limestone cliffs about 25 metres (80 feet) high. Beyond the narrow coastal strip, a coral reef surrounds the island.
​​​​​​​
Polynesians from Samoa settled Niue around 900 AD, with settlers arriving from Tonga in the 16th century. British explorer James Cook named the island "Savage Island", when he attempted (but failed) to land on it in 1774. European visitors in the 19th century included whalers and missionaries. After an appeal to Queen Victoria by Niue's rulers, the British eventually took possession of the island in 1900, before passing it on to New Zealand in 1901. Self-government was granted in 1974. In January 2004, Niue was hit by Cyclone Heta, which caused extensive damage to the island.
​​​​​​​

Population 1618
Area 261.5 sq km (101 sq miles)
Highest point 68 m (223 ft)
Capital and largest village Alofi (pop. 597)
Languages Niuean, English
Religions Christian (Congregationalist) 67%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 10%, other 23%
Ethnicity Niuean 67%, part-Nieuan 13%, European or Asian 12%, other Pacific islander 8%

The Cook Islands are a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand. It is made up of 15 islands spread over a vast area of the South Pacific Ocean, and divided into two separate groups, Northern and Southern. The Northern islands consists of six atolls; the Southern islands are atolls or volcanic in origin. Most people live on Rarotonga, in the Southern group, where there is an international airport. A larger population of Cook Islanders, some 61,000 people, is found in New Zealand itself. Tourism is the mainstay of country's economy.
​​​​​​​

First settled in around 1000 AD by Polynesians thought to have migrated from Tahiti, the Cook Islands' first European visitor was Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, a Portuguese captain at the service of the Spanish Crown. He landed on Rakahanga in 1606, naming the island Gente Hermosa ("Beautiful People"). British explorer James Cook, after whom the islands were named (but not by Cook himself), arrived in 1773 and again in 1777. Missionaries and whalers frequented the islands in the 19th century, which became a British protectorate in 1888. After an appeal by the islands' leaders, the British annexed the Cook Islands in 1900, then passed them on to New Zealand the following year. The islands became a self-governing country in 1965.
​​​​​​​

Population 17,459
Area 236.7 sq km (91.4 sq miles)
Highest point Te Manga (on Rarotonga) 658 m 
Capital Avarua (on Rarotonga) pop. 4906
Languages English, Cook Islands Maori
Religions Christian (Protestant) 77%, Christian (Roman Catholic) 17%, other or none 6%
Ethnicity Cook Island Maori 78%, other 22%

Chatham Islands

The Chatham Islands, an archipelago of about 10 islands lying around 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of the South Island, are a part of New Zealand. Only Chatham Island (by far the largest) and Pitt Island are inhabited. The islands, hilly and mostly given over to pasture, are a breeding ground for huge flocks of sea birds.
​​​​​​​

The islands were first settled by the Moriori people, who arrived around 1500. The name Chatham Islands comes from the ship HMS Chatham, whose captain William R. Broughton landed on in the islands in 1791, claiming them for Great Britain. In 1835, the islands were invaded by the Maori, who enslaved—and nearly wiped out—the indigenous Moriori. After the British made the islands part of the Colony of New Zealand in 1842, they became both a penal colony for Maori rebels from the mainland and a place of settlement for German missionaries. Today, the islands—known as Rekohu ("Misty Sun") to the Moriori or Wharekauri to the descendants of the Maori conquerors—are home to 663 people, including members of both ethnic groups. The economy depends on tourism, cattle farming and fishing.
​​​​​​​