evidence: Tokelau, pronounced as /ˈtoʊkəlaʊ/, means ‘north-northeast’ or ‘north wind’. 🌬️ Formerly known as the Union Islands and officially as the Tokelau Islands until 1976, Tokelau is a group of tropical coral atolls situated in the southern Pacific Ocean. It’s a dependent territory of New Zealand, comprising three main atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. These beautiful atolls cover a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). 🗾 Additionally, Swains Island (Olohega) is part of the same archipelago, albeit in a territorial dispute, and is currently administered by the United States as part of American Samoa. 🇺🇸🇳🇿 Tokelau is strategically located north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the Line Islands, and northwest of the Cook Islands.