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Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls:Atafu,Nukunonu,and Fakaofo. They have a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). In addition to these three,Swains Island,which forms part of the same archipelago,is the subject of an ongoing territorial dispute;it is currently administered by the United States as part of American Samoa. Tokelau lies north of the Samoan Islands,east of Tuvalu,south of the Phoenix Islands,southwest of the more distant Line Islands,and northwest of the Cook Islands.
Tokelauan is a Polynesian language spoken in Tokelau and historically by the small population of Swains Island in American Samoa. It is closely related to Tuvaluan and is related to Samoan and other Polynesian languages. Tokelauan has a co-official status with English in Tokelau. There are approximately 4,260 speakers of Tokelauan,of whom 2,100 live in New Zealand,1,400 in Tokelau,and 17 in Swains Island. "Tokelau" means "north-northeast".
Fakaofo,formerly known as Bowditch Island,is a South Pacific Ocean atoll located in the Tokelau Group. The actual land area is only about 3 km2,consisting of islets on a coral reef surrounding a central lagoon of some 45 km2. According to the 2006 census 483 people officially live on Fakaofo. Of those present 70% belong to the Congregational Church and 22% to the Catholic Church.
The politics of Tokelau takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The head of state of Tokelau is King Charles III in right of his Realm of New Zealand,who is represented by an Administrator. The monarch is hereditary,the Administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Pio Iosefo Tuia has been Ulu o Tokelau,head of government of Tokelau,six times. The position of ulu rotates annually between the three faipule,who are elected for terms lasting three years. Tuia served as ulu for the sixth time in February 2011. He was also the faipule of Nukunonu and a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau.
The Ulu-o-Tokelau is the head of government of Tokelau,often simply called the Ulu. The position rotates yearly between the faipule (leaders) of Tokelau's three atolls:Atafu,Fakaofo,and Nukunonu. The current Ulu is Alapati Tavite,the Faipule of Nukunonu atoll,who has held the position since 12 March 2024.
Kuresa Nasau is a Tokelauan politician who has served as head of government five times and as faipule of Atafu.
The national badge of Tokelau depicts a tuluma,which is a traditional Tokelauan carved wooden “tackle box”used by local fishermen. A white cross in the centre of the tuluma and the inscription below Tokelau mo te Atua reflect the strong influence of Christianity in Tokelau.
Parliamentary elections were held in Tokelau on 17 January,18 January and 19 January 2008 to elect the 20 members of the General Fono. The elections saw Kolouei O'Brien replaced as faipule of Fakaofo by Foua Toloa.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tokelau:
The Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau is the executive body in Tokelau. It serves as the governing organization for Tokelau when the General Fono is not in session. The council has six members,consisting of the faipule (leader) and pulenuku of each of the three atolls,Fakaofo,Nukunonu,and Atafu. It was established in November 2003,replacing the Council of Faipule,which had been established in 1993 and had three members –the three faipule.
Foua Toloa was a Tokelauan politician who served as the Head of the Government of Tokelau,or Ulu,from 21 February 2009,to 21 February 2010. He was a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,and was a faipule on Fakaofo. As the office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis,Toloa resumed office on 21 February 2011. For a time in 2011-2012,he was also Tokelau's minister for Finance,Telecommunication,Energy and Transport.
Aliki Kelihiano Kalolo is a Tokelauan politician who has served several times as the Head of the Government of Tokelau,or Ulu,most recently from 6 March 2023 to 12 March 2024. He previously served in the same position from February 2012 to March 2013,again from 12 March 2019 to 9 March 2020,and again from 8 March 2021 to 19 May 2022. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs,Education,Economic Development,Natural Resources and the Environment,prior to and then simultaneously to his leadership of the government. The office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis between the faipule of each of the country's three atolls;Kalolo,as faipule of Atafu,took office as Ulu for the first time in 2012.
Siopili Perez is a Tokelauan politician. He served as the Head of Government of Tokelau from 23 February 2015 to 8 March 2016,from 6 March 2017 to 5 March 2018 and from 19 May 2022 until 6 March 2023.
Aliki Faipule Afega Gaualofa is a Tokelauan politician who served as the 24th and 26th Head of Government of Tokelau from 8 March 2016 to 6 March 2017 and again from 5 March 2018 to 12 March 2019. He had also served as the Faipule (leader) of Fakaofo atoll.
Tokelauan people are a Polynesian ethnic group native to Tokelau,a Polynesian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean,who share the Tokelauan Polynesian culture,history and language.
General elections were held in Tokelau on 23 January 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Tokelau reported its first confirmed case on 21 December 2022. COVID-19 reached all three of Tokelau's main atolls in July 2023,when the government confirmed the community spread of the virus on Fakaofo,the last atoll without infections.
General elections were held in Tokelau on 26 January 2023.
Afioga Aliki Faipule Alapati Tavite is a Tokelauan politician who is the current Ulu-o-Tokelau since March 2024. The Ulu serves as the dependent territory's head of government.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Tokelau opens parliament for 2021". Radio New Zealand. 10 March 2021.
- ↑ "Te Afioga a te Ulu o Tokelau Fofo Tuisano ma te faletua kia Maihe Tuisano" [The Honorable Head of Tokelau Fofo Tuisano and his wife Maihe Tuisano]. Te Mana (in Samoan). 17 March 2020 – via Facebook.
- ↑ "Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015" (PDF). Pacific Regional Environment Programme. 18 November 2009. p. 4.
- ↑ "General election results for Tokelau announced". Radio New Zealand. 31 January 2020.
- ↑ Lewis, Lydia (30 January 2023). "Results are in for the 2023 Tokelau national election". Radio New Zealand.
- ↑ Lewis, Lydia (13 March 2023). "Tokelau welcomes new head of government". Radio New Zealand.
