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Official Name - Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, known as Wallis and Futuna
Land Area - 274 km2 on three main islands: Uvea, Futuna and Alofi, and 20 islets
Population -
13,500 (2008 Census)
Main Town - Mata-Utu (on Uvea Island)
Religion - Roman Catholic
Languages - Wallisian, Futunian, French,
Currency - CFP = French Pacific franc (XPF)
Exchange Rate -
XPF57 = NZ$1 (August 2009)
EEZ - 200nm
Political system - Overseas territory of France
National government - The Territorial Council comprises three customary kings, plus three members appointed by the French High Administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly.
National legislature - The single-chamber Territorial Assembly comprises 20 seats, with members elected by universal suffrage for five-year terms.
Last election - 2007
Next election due - 2012
Head of State - President of France: HE Nicolas Sarkozy represented in Wallis and Futuna by High Administrator (Préfet) Phillippe Paolantoni
Head of Government - President of the Territorial Assembly: Victor Brial
Main political parties -
Lua Kae Tahi, Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG), Rally for the Republic (RPR) allied to France’s UMP, Socialist Party (PS), Taumu’a Lelei, Union Poulaire Locale (UPL), Union Pour la Démocratie Française (UDF)
GDP - XPF 18,000 million
GDP breakdown - Goods 25%, Services 75%
GDP per capita - XPF 1.2 million per person
Real GDP Growth (annual % change) - n/a
Exports (fob) - Negligible
Main exports -
Copra, chemicals, construction materials
Imports (cif) - 5,368 million XPF
Inflation - 0.4%
Source: Insititute d’Emission Outre Mer (IEOM) 2007
NZ Exports (fob) -
NZ$10.34 million (annual value)
Main Exports -
| NZ$000 | % share | |
| Heavy Machinery | 1,224 | 11.8 |
| Motor vehicles | 1,089 | 10.5 |
| Meat (beef products) | 673 | 6.5 |
| Oil (not crude) | 659 | 6.4 |
| Wood products | 623 | 6.0 |
Other key exports include building materials and machinery, fresh meats, fruit and vegetables.
NZ Imports (cif) - Negligible
Main Imports - Buttons
Services Trade - Negligible
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Overseas Trade
New Zealand is accredited to Wallis and Futuna through its Consulate-General in Nouméa. Official contact is limited. New Zealand enjoys a strong presence in the small market of Wallis and Futuna due to the cargo ships and petrol and gas tankers that supply Wallis and Futuna leaving from New Zealand. There is potential for increased trade in services.
Dutch explorers discovered the Futuna islands in 1616, and British explorers discovered the Wallis islands in 1767. A small group under the leadership of French Marist missionary Pierre Chanel introduced Christianity to the island of Futuna from 1838. Despite being initially well-received, the missionaries’ success with the local population led to the king, Niuliki, fearing loss of status and privilege. Eventually, when his own son wished to be baptised, Niuliki ordered Chanel’s death at the hands of warriors. Five months later the island had converted to Christianity anyway. Chanel was the South Pacific’s first Catholic martyr, and is now the patron saint of Oceania.
Both island groups were declared a French protectorate in 1842. The inhabitants voted to become a French overseas territory in 1959.
Wallis and Futuna is located in the central South Pacific, with Samoa its nearest neighbour. There are approximately 225km between the Wallis Islands group (Iles Wallis) and Futuna and Alofi islands (Iles de Horne).
Wallis and Futuna is an overseas territory of France. The President of France’s representative in Wallis and Futuna is the High Administrator (Préfet), Phillippe Paolantoni, who holds executive authority in the territory. Wallis and Futuna is represented in the French Senate by Senator Friar Robert Laufoaulu (elected during the French Senate elections in September 2008) and in the French National Assembly by Deputy Albert Likuvalu.
Wallis and Futuna has its own Territorial Assembly which has legislative authority over a limited range of local matters. Three members appointed by the Préfet with the approval of the Territorial Assembly sit alongside the three customary Kings in the Wallis and Futuna Territorial Council.
Traditional culture is important to the small island territory which is divided into three kingdoms; Uvea (Wallis Island), and Sigave and Alo (Futuna and Alofi Islands). The Kings hold authority over customary matters including land ownership and use, and can be replaced by customary means. Alo Kingdom recently replaced its King, crowning Petelo Vikena in November 2008.
The current King of Wallis Kapiliele Faupala was crowned in July 2008, replacing his predecessor Kulimoetoke who died in May 2007 after ruling Wallis since 1959. It was Kulimoetoke who signed a pact with France in 1961 which granted Wallis and Futuna the official status of “French Overseas Territory”. Conflict between the chiefly tribes of Wallis delayed the recent coronation of the current King and is still simmering.
Wallis and Futuna is largely dependant on France for its income, which directly finances the public sector, health and education services. It also provides funding for key development projects over a range of areas, including infrastructure, economic development, environmental management, and health facilities.
Seventy percent of employment is in the public sector - although only 15% of the population are in salaried employment. In spite of the potential of tourism and fisheries, the private sector is marginal with few employment opportunities. There is some income from remittances from the large off-shore population of 20,000 in New Caledonia – that is, more Wallis and Futunans live in New Caledonia than in the territory itself.
A real concern for Wallis and Futuna is a growing ageing population with consequent economic development issues. Very few of the age group 18-30 live in the islands due to the limited formal employment opportunities. This is a current focus for the territorial government.
Wallis and Futuna has few exports. Local industries include copra, handicrafts, fishing and lumber. Agricultural produce includes breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas, pigs and goats.
A key (French-funded) development project planned over the 2007-2011 period is an upgrade to the Wallis airport which should result in increased access to the isolated market.
Although over a quarter of imports (around 28%) come from France (and the EU), New Zealand enjoys a strong presence in this small market (New Zealand is the fourth largest source of imports). This is largely due to the commercial shipping line which leaves from New Zealand and operates a one-way service to Wallis and Futuna. NZ exports to Wallis and Futuna amounted to NZ$10.34 million for the year ended June 2008, increasing again from the NZ$4.5 million total for the year June 2006 and NZ$5.5 to June 2007.
The other key exporters to Wallis and Futuna are Singapore (fuel), Australia, and Fiji, followed by New Caledonia. Current exports consist of construction materials and commercial vehicles, fresh and processed dairy products, fresh meats, and fruit and vegetables. Work is underway to advance medical evacuations to New Zealand.
The trade balance is heavily in New Zealand’s favour, with imports from Wallis and Futuna to New Zealand negligible.
Wallis and Futuna has observer status at the Pacific Islands Forum. It is also a member of the South Pacific Community and the Universal Postal Union.
NZAID manages a modest programme of assistance, to French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna focused on short term training awards. The programme provides short-term training in New Zealand with the objective of enhancing equitable social and economic development in the territories. The awards are focused towards disadvantaged young people living in the regions and provinces, and covers English language training, technical courses and/or work attachments. Wallis and Futuna students are eligible to study in NZ under this programme.
Wallis and Futuna is served by two airports; Wallis has a paved runway, and Futuna has an unpaved strip. New Caledonia-based Aircalin (Air Calédonie International) operates the only commercial flight service into the Islands, and between Wallis and Futuna. Aircalin has an office in Mata’Utu.
An upgrade planned for the airport in Wallis should help to overcome some of the Islands’ limited air transport links.
New Zealand passport holders travelling on holiday or business can enter Wallis and Futuna for up to 90 days without a visa. For all other travel contact the French Embassy for information on visa requirements.
The Embassy of France
34-42 Manners Street,
PO Box 11-343
Wellington
Ph: (04) 384 2555
Fax: (04) 384 2577
The New Zealand Consul-General in Noumea is accredited to Wallis and Futuna:
New Zealand Consulate-General
4 Boulevard Vauban (BP 2219)
Noumea
New Caledonia
Ph: +687 272 543
Fax: +687 271 740
E-mail: nzcgnou@offratel.nc
Consul-General: Simon Draper
Vice Consul-General: Charles Kingston
The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Wallis and Futuna [external link].
