Australia-Oceania :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • Introduction :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

  • Geography :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
    29 02 S, 167 57 E
    Oceania
    total: 36 sq km
    land: 36 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 235
    about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
    0 km
    32 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
    subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
    volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
    lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
    fish
    agricultural land: 25%
    arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 25%
    forest: 11.5%
    other: 63.5% (2011 est.)
    NA
    typhoons (especially May to July)
    NA
    most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

  • People and Society :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
    adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
    Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)
    English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)
    Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)
    2,210 (July 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 231
    0.01% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 194
    NA
    total: NA
    male: NA
    female: NA
    total population: NA
    male: NA
    female: NA
    NA
    NA
    NA
    NA

  • Government :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
    conventional short form: Norfolk Island
    self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
    NA
    name: Kingston
    geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
    time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    none (territory of Australia)
    none (territory of Australia)
    Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
    previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2010 (2011)
    English common law and the laws of Australia
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
    head of government: Administrator Neil POPE (since 1 April 2012)
    cabinet: Executive Council consists of 4 Legislative Assembly members
    elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
    description: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members directly elected by modified majority vote in which electors have 9 votes but are limited to 4 votes per candidate; members serve 3-year terms)
    elections: last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held in 2016)
    election results: seats - independents 8; Norfolk Liberals 1
    highest court(s): Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and NA justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court of Australia
    judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
    subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal
    Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY]
    Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]
    none
    UPU
    none (territory of Australia)
    none (territory of Australia)
    three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island
    note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band; also resembles the green and white triband of Nigeria
    Norfolk Island pine
    name: "Come Ye Blessed"
    lyrics/music: New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
    note: the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as "The Pitcairn Anthem;" as a territory of Australia, "God Save the Queen" is official (see Australia); however, the island does not recognize "Advance Australia Fair"

  • Economy :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
    $NA
    Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
    tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
    978 (2006)
    country comparison to the world: 230
    agriculture: 6%
    industry: 14%
    services: 80% (2006 est.)
    revenues: $4.6 million
    expenditures: $4.8 million (FY99/00)
    1 July - 30 June
    $NA
    postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
    $NA
    NA
    $NA
    Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
    1.098 (2014)
    1.0358 (2013)
    0.97 (2012)
    0.9695 (2011)
    1.0902 (2010)

  • Communications :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • general assessment: adequate
    domestic: free local calls
    international: country code - 672; submarine cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1
    1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
    AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
    1 (local programming station plus 2 repeaters that air Australian programs by satellite) (2005)
    .nf

  • Transportation :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • 1 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 229
    total: 1
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
    total: 80 km
    paved: 53 km
    unpaved: 27 km (2008)
    country comparison to the world: 217
    major seaport(s): Kingston

  • Military :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • defense is the responsibility of Australia

  • Transnational Issues :: NORFOLK ISLAND

  • none