Wallis and Futuna

Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
Territoire des îles Wallis-et-Futuna
Telituale o Uvea mo Futuna
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité"
Anthem: La Marseillaise
Status Overseas collectivity
Capital
and largest city		Mata-Utu
13°17′S 176°11′W / 13.283°S 176.183°W / -13.283; -176.183
Official languages French
Vernacular
languages
Ethnic groups Polynesians[1]
Demonym
  • Wallisian
  • Futunan
Sovereign state  France
Government Overseas collectivity
 •  President of France François Hollande
 •  Administrator Superior Michel Aubouin
 •  President of the
Territorial Assembly		 Petelo Hanisi
 •  King of Uvea Vacant (since 2014)
 •  King of Alo Petelo Sea (since 2014)
 •  King of Sigave Vacant (since 2014)
Status
 •  Overseas territory 1959a 
 •  Overseas collectivity 2003 
Area
 •  Total 142.42 km2 (211th)
55 sq mi
 •  Water (%) negligible
Population
 •  March 2014 estimate 15,500[1] (228th)
 •  2013[2] census 12,197
 •  Density 57.9/km2 (125th)
149.9/sq mi
GDP (nominal) 2005 estimate
 •  Total US$188 million[3] (not ranked)
 •  Per capita US$12,640[3] (not ranked)
HDI (2008)Increase 0.793
high · 132
Currency CFP franc (XPF)
Time zone (UTC+12)
Calling code +681
ISO 3166 code WF
Internet TLD .wf
a. By popular vote.

Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands[4] (/ˈwɒlɪs/ and /fuːˈtuːnə/; French: Wallis-et-Futuna or Territoire des îles Wallis-et-Futuna, Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: Uvea mo Futuna), is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, and Tokelau to the northeast. Though both French and Polynesian, Wallis and Futuna is distinct from the entity known as French Polynesia.

Its land area is 142.42 km2 (54.99 sq mi) with a population of about 12,000. Mata-Utu is the capital and biggest city. The territory is made up of three main volcanic tropical islands along with a number of tiny islets, and is split into two island groups that lie about 260 km (160 mi) apart, namely the Wallis Islands (Uvea) in the northeast, and the Hoorn Islands (also known as the Futuna Islands) in the southwest, including Futuna Island proper and the mostly uninhabited Alofi Island.

Since 2003, Wallis and Futuna has been a French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Between 1961 and 2003, it had the status of a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM), though its official name did not change when the status changed.

History

Ruins of the Talietumu fort

Polynesians settled the islands that would later be called Wallis and Futuna around the year 1000, when the Tongan Empire expanded into the area. The original inhabitants built forts and other identifiable ruins on the islands, some of which are still partially intact.

Dutch and British forces came upon the islands in the 17th and 18th centuries, but it was the French who were the first Europeans to settle in the territory, with the arrival of French missionaries in 1837, who converted the population to Roman Catholicism. Pierre Chanel, canonized as a saint in 1954, is a major patron of the island of Futuna and the region. The Wallis Islands are named after the British explorer, Samuel Wallis.

On 5 April 1842, the missionaries asked for the protection of France after the rebellion of a part of the local population. On 5 April 1887, the Queen of Uvea (on the island of Wallis) signed a treaty officially establishing a French protectorate. The kings of Sigave and Alo on the islands of Futuna and Alofi also signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate on 16 February 1888. The islands were put under the authority of the French colony of New Caledonia.

In 1917, the three traditional kingdoms were annexed to France and turned into the Colony of Wallis and Futuna, which was still under the authority of the Colony of New Caledonia.

During World War II the island's administration was pro-Vichy until a Free French corvette from New Caledonia deposed the regime on 26 May 1942. Units of the US Marine Corps landed on Wallis on 29 May 1942.[5]

In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory, effective in 1961, thus ending their subordination to New Caledonia.[6]

In 2005, the 50th King of Uvea, Tomasi Kulimoetoke II, faced being deposed after giving sanctuary to his grandson who was convicted of manslaughter. The King claimed his grandson should be judged by tribal law rather than by the French penal system. There were riots in the streets involving the King's supporters, who were victorious over attempts to replace the King. Two years later, Tomasi Kulimoetoke died on 7 May 2007. The state was in a six-month period of mourning. During this period, mentioning a successor was forbidden.[7] On 25 July 2008, Kapiliele Faupala was installed as King despite protests from some of the royal clans.

Politics

The territory is divided into three traditional kingdoms (royaumes coutumiers): Uvea, on the island of Wallis, Sigave, on the western part of the island of Futuna, and Alo, on the island of Alofi and on the eastern part of the island of Futuna (only Uvea is further subdivided, into three districts):

Kingdom
  District 		Capital Area
(km²) 		Population
2013 census 		Villages(1)
Wallis Island
Uvea (Wallis) Matāʻutu 77.5 8,584 21
Hihifo ("west") Vaitupu 23.4 2,203 5
Hahake ("east") Matāʻutu 27.8 3,529 6
Mu'a ("first") Mala'efo'ou (2) 26.3 3,046 10
Hoorn Islands (Futuna and Alofi)
Sigave (Singave) Leava 16.75 1,457 6
Alo Mala'e 47.5 2,156 9
overall total Matāʻutu 142.42 12,197 36

The capital of the collectivity is Matāʻutu on the island of Uvéa, the most populous of the Wallis Islands. As an overseas collectivity of France, it is governed under the French constitution of 28 September 1958, and has universal suffrage for those over 18 years of age. The French president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the high administrator is appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly.

The head of state is President François Hollande of France as represented by the Administrator-Superior Michel Jeanjean (since July 2010). The President of the Territorial Assembly is Petelo Hanisi since 11 December 2013.[8] The Council of the Territory consists of three kings (monarchs of the three pre-colonial kingdoms) and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly.

The legislative branch consists of the unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblée territoriale of 20 seats; the members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly.

Justice is generally administered under French law by a tribunal of first instance in Mata-Utu, but the three traditional kingdoms administer justice according to customary law (only for non-criminal cases). The court of appeal is in Nouméa, New Caledonia.

The territory participates in the Franc Zone, and as a permanent member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and as an observer of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Geography

Map of the territory of Wallis and Futuna
Lake Lalolalo on ʻUvea

Wallis and Futuna is located about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand, at 13°18′S 176°12′W / 13.300°S 176.200°W / -13.300; -176.200Coordinates: 13°18′S 176°12′W / 13.300°S 176.200°W / -13.300; -176.200, (225 mi west of Samoa and 300 mi (480 km) north-east of Fiji).

The territory includes the island of Uvéa (the most populous), the island of Futuna, the essentially uninhabited island of Alofi, and 20 uninhabited islets, totaling 274 square kilometres (106 sq mi) with 129 kilometres (80 mi) of coastline. The highest point in the territory is Mont Puke (on the island of Futuna) at 524 metres (1,719 ft).

The islands have a hot, rainy season from November to April with associated storms caused by the passage of tropical cyclones over the islands. There is a cool, dry season from May to October caused by the predominance of the south-east trade winds during this time. Average annual rainfall is 2,500 to 3,000 millimetres (98–118 in) with rainfall likely on at least 260 days each year. The average humidity is 80% and the average temperature is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F), rarely falling below 24.0 °C (75.2 °F) and ranging between 28.0 °C (82.4 °F) and 32.0 °C (89.6 °F) during the rainy season.

Only five percent of the islands' land area is arable land; permanent crops cover another 20%. Deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain), largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source, is a serious problem; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion. There are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources.

Islands

Island Capital Other Cities Area (km²) Population
Wallis and Futuna Mata-Utu Leava, Vaitupu, Alele, Liku, Falaleu, Utufua142.4215500
Hoorn Islands Leava Fiua, Nuku, Taoa, Mala’e, Ono, Vele64.14591
Alofi Island 17.82
Futuna (Wallis and Futuna) Leava Toloke, Fiua, Vaisei, Nuku, Taoa, Mala’e, Kolopelu, Ono, Kolia, Vele, Kolotai, Laloua, Poi, Tamana, Tuatafa, Tavai 46.34589
Faioa 0.680
Fenuafo’ou 0.030
Fugalei 0.180
Ilot St. Christophe Chappel St. Christophe 0.030
Luaniva 0.180
Nukuatea 0.740
Nukufotu 0.040
Nukuhifala Nukuhifala 0.0674
Nukuhione 0.020
Nukuloa Nukuloa 0.3510
Nukutapu 0.050
Nukuteatea 0.10
Other Nukuato 0.0430
Tekaviki 0.010
Wallis (island) Mata-Utu Vaitupu, Alele, Liku, Falaleu, Utufua, Mala’efo’ou 75.810895
Other 00
Wallis and Futuna Mata-Utu Leava, Vaitupu, Alele, Liku, Falaleu, Utufua142.4215500

Economy

The GDP of Wallis and Futuna in 2005 was 188 million US dollars at market exchange rates.[3] The territory's economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia, French Polynesia and France. Industries include copra, handicrafts, fishing, and lumber. In 1991, BNP Nouvelle-Calédonie, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, established a subsidiary, Banque de Wallis-et-Futuna, which currently is the only bank in the territory. Two years earlier Banque Indosuez had closed the branch at Mata-Utu that it had opened in 1977, leaving the territory without any bank.

Population

Unofficial but commonly used flag

Demographics

The total population of the territory at the July 2008 census was 13,484 (68.4% on the island of Wallis, 31.6% on the island of Futuna), down from 14,944 at the July 2003 census.[9] The vast majority of the population are of Polynesian ethnicity, with a small minority of Metropolitan French descent and/or native-born whites of French descent. More than 16,000 Wallisians and Futunians live as expatriates in New Caledonia, which is more than the total population of Wallis and Futuna.

Historical population

1969 1976 1983 1990 1996 2003 2008 2013
8,546 9,192 12,408 13,705 14,166 14,944 13,484 12,197
Official figures from past censuses.[9]

Languages

Further information: Wallisian language and Futunan language

At the 2008 census, among the population whose age was 14 and older, 60.2% of people reported that the language they speak the most at home is Wallisian, 29.9% reported that the language they speak the most at home is Futunan, and 9.7% reported that the language they speak the most at home is French.[10] On Wallis Island, the languages most spoken at home were Wallisian (86.1%), French (12.1%), and Futunan (1.5%).[10] On Futuna, the languages most spoken at home were Futunan (94.9%), French (4.2%), and Wallisian (0.8%).[10]

At the same 2008 census, 88.5% of people whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak, read and write either Wallisian or Futunan, whereas 7.2% reported that they had no knowledge of either Wallisian or Futunan.[10] 78.2% of people whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas 17.3% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[10] On Wallis Island, 81.1% of people whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas 14.3% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[10] On Futuna, 71.6% of people whose age was 14 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas 24.3% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[10]

Religion

The overwhelming majority (99%) of the people in Wallis and Futuna are Catholics, served by their own Roman Catholic Diocese of Wallis and Futuna, with see at Mata-Utu, a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nouméa (New Caledonia).

Culture

The culture of Wallis and Futuna is Polynesian, and is very similar to the cultures of its neighbouring nations Samoa and Tonga. The Wallisian and Futunan cultures share very similar components in language, dance, cuisine and modes of celebration.

Fishing and agriculture are the traditional practices and most people live in traditional fate houses in an oval shape made of thatch.[11] Kava, as with many Polynesian islands, is a popular beverage brewed in the two islands, and is a traditional offering in rituals.[11] Highly detailed tapa cloth art is a specialty of Wallis and Futuna.[12]

Transport and communications

In 1994, the territory had 1,125 telephones in use, had one AM radio station, and two television broadcast stations. Communication costs are high, costing up to ten times as much as western countries. The island of Wallis has about 100 kilometres (62 mi) of highway, of which 16 are paved, while the island of Futuna has only 20 kilometres (12 mi), none paved. The territory has two main ports and harbours, Mata-Utu and Leava (on the island of Futuna), that support its merchant marine fleet consisting of three ships (two passenger ships and a petroleum tanker), totaling 92,060 GRT or 45,881 tonnes. There are two airports, one on Wallis with a paved runway of 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi), and one on Futuna with a 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) unpaved strip. New Caledonia-based Aircalin operates the only commercial flights that go to Wallis, where it has an office in Mata-Utu. There are no commercial boat operators.

Miscellaneous

The territory's data code and country code (top level Internet domain) is .wf. Currently this is suspended in favor of the .fr and .nc (Nouvelle Calédonie) data code.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 World factbook: Wallis and Futuna
  2. ↑ Wallis and Futuna at Geohive
  3. 1 2 3 INSEE, CEROM. "L’économie de Wallis-et-Futuna en 2005: Une économie traditionnelle et administrée" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  4. ↑ Loi no</sup> 61-814 du 29 juillet 1961 conférant aux îles Wallis-et-Futuna le statut de territoire d'outre-mer (in French).
  5. ↑ p.213 Rottman, Gordon L. U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939-1945 Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002
  6. ↑ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107555.html
  7. ↑ BBC News (1 June 2007). "Been and gone – fit for a King". Retrieved 3 June 2007.
  8. ↑ Wallis and Futuna Rulers.org
  9. 1 2 Service Territorial de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques. "Recensement de la Population 2003 de Wallis-et-Futuna: Principaux résultats" (in French). Archived from the original on 18 November 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 INSEE, Government of France. "Tableau Pop_06_1 : Population selon le sexe, la connaissance du français et l'âge décennal" (XLS) (in French). Retrieved 3 October 2009.
  11. 1 2 Ibpus.com; International Business Publications, USA (1 January 2012). Wallis & Futuna Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws. Int'l Business Publications. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-1-4387-7141-0. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  12. ↑ Hinz, Earl R.; Howard, Jim (2006). Landfalls of Paradise: Cruising Guide to the Pacific Islands. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 220–. ISBN 978-0-8248-3037-3.

Sources and External links

Look up Wallis and Futuna in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wallis and Futuna.
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