Politics of Tokelau

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New Zealand's current four-year plan for Tokelau, drafted October 2021 Tokelau Four Year Plan October 2021.pdf
New Zealand's current four-year plan for Tokelau, drafted October 2021

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 (as of 2022, Don Higgins). The monarch is hereditary, the Administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Contents

The current head of government (Tokelauan : Ulu-o-Tokelau) is Alapati Tavite, [1] who presides over the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, which functions as a cabinet. The Council consists of the faipule (leader) and pulenuku (village mayor) of each of the three atolls. The office of head of government rotates between the three faipule for a one-year term. [2]

The Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono, a unicameral body. The number of seats each atoll receives in the Fono is determined by population — Fakaofo and Atafu each have eight and Nukunonu has seven. [2] Faipule and pulenuku (atoll leaders and village mayors) also sit in the Fono. [2]

Self-determination

On 11 November 2004, Tokelau and New Zealand took steps to formulate a treaty that would transform Tokelau from a New Zealand territory to an entity that is in free association with New Zealand. Besides drafting a treaty, a United Nations-sponsored "act of self-determination" had to take place. The referendum, supervised by the UN, started on 11 February 2006 and finished on 15 February 2006. Although a 60% majority voted in favour of the proposal, a two-thirds majority was required for the referendum to succeed, so Tokelau remained a New Zealand territory. In June 2006, Kolouei O'Brien announced that the Fono had agreed to hold another referendum. [3] This second referendum took place between 20 and 24 October 2007 and again fell short of the two-thirds majority required for independence, with 64% voting in favour. [4] In April 2008, speaking as leader of the National Party, future New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that New Zealand had "imposed two referenda on the people of the Tokelau Islands" and questioned "the accepted wisdom that small states should undergo a de-colonisation process". [5]

Executive branch

Administrator of Tokelau

The Administrator of Tokelau is appointed by the New Zealand Government and is the head of the executive branch of Tokelau. Since 1994, however, most powers relating to the day-to-day functions of the government have been transferred to institutions which are chosen by the Tokelauan people. A notable exception is the administration of Tokelau's exclusive economic zone. [6]

Since 1 June 2022, the current Administrator is Don Higgins, who "...has previously served as High Commissioner in Solomon Islands and Kiribati, and as an Adviser to the Tokelau Administrator from 2012 to 2014." [7]

Ulu-o-Tokelau

The Ulu-O-Tokelau serves as the titular head of state and heads the national government. The office rotates among the three Faipule (atoll leaders) each year. He chairs the Council for the Ongoing Government. [8] The seat of government of Tokelau changes each year to be located on the atoll of the incumbent Ulu o Tokelau. [9]

Council for the Ongoing Government

The Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (OCOG) is tasked with managing Tokelau's foreign affairs, providing support and advice to national leaders, and working with villages to develop and implement national programs and activities. The OCOG is based in Apia, Samoa. [10] The OCOG also links together the traditional village-based governing structure and the national government. [8]

Members of the OCOG are the three Faipule and three Pulenku. Members meet while the General Fono is out of session to continue governing the islands. [8]

For the period 2017–19, the Council of the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, or Cabinet, was as follows: [11] [9]

MemberPositionPortfolios
Kelihiano KaloloFaipule for AtafuUlu o Tokelau for 2019

Minister for Economic Development, Natural Resources, & Environment (as well as Agriculture)

Minister for Public Service Commission

Minister for Climate Change Agency

Afega GaualofaFaipule for FakaofoUlu o Tokelau for 2018

Minister for the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government (as well as Foreign Affairs)

Minister for Transport

Minister for Energy

Siopili PerezFaipule for NukunonuUlu o Tokelau for 2017

Minister for Finance

Minister for Health

Fano FaivaPuluenuku for AtafuMinister for Education
Petelo PatelesioPuluenuku for NukunonuMinister for Support Services
Mose PelasioPuluenuku for FakaofoMinister for Telecommunications

Minister for Fisheries Management Agency

Legislative branch

The legislative branch of the Tokelau government is known as the General Fono. The General Fono is composed of twenty seats allocated among the three atolls based on population. In 2008, Atafu received seven seats while Fakaofo and Nukunonu each received six. [8]

The General Fono meets for three session per year, with each session lasting around four days. Members of the General Fono elect their Chairman. [8] The Chairman for 2019 is Stanley Lopa, while the deputy chair is Sakaria Sakaio. [9]

The Tokelau Amendment Act, passed by the New Zealand Parliament in 1996, granted the General Fono the ability to pass laws which helped maintain "the peace, order, and good government of Tokelau", including the ability to levy taxes. [8]

New Zealand law does not automatically apply to Tokelau, and any bill seeking to be applied in Tokelau must specifically extend its authority to the islands. No law passed by the New Zealand Parliament has ever been extended to Tokelau without Tokelauan consent. [8]

Elections

Elections in Tokelau occur every three years. At these elections, voters choose members of the General Fono, one Faipule (Village Head) for each atoll, and one Puluenuku (Mayor) for each atoll. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokelau</span> Dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean

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.

Tokelau may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pio Tuia</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head of Government of Tokelau</span>

The office of head of government of Tokelau, often simply called the Ulu, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuresa Nasau</span> Tokelauan politician

Kuresa Nasau is a Tokelauan politician who has served as head of government five times and as faipule of Atafu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Tokelauan self-determination referendum</span>

A referendum on self-determination was held in Tokelau on 20 October and on 22–24 October 2007, with the result being that self-governance was rejected. Had it been successful, the referendum would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, akin to the Cook Islands and Niue. However, the referendum required a two-thirds positive vote to pass, and the "yes" side fell short of the required total by 16 votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Tokelauan general election</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tokelau</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tokelau

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tokelau:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau</span> Executive body in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salesio Lui</span> Tokelauan politician

Salesio Lui is a Tokelauan politician. He was the head of government of Tokelau from February 1993 to February 1994 and again from 1 March 2013 to 24 February 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foua Toloa</span> Tokelauan politician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Tokelau</span>

Tokelau has two official languages: Tokelauan and English. Over 90% of the population speaks Tokelauan, and just under 60% speak English. Also, 45.8% of the population speak Samoan, and small percentages of the population speak Tuvaluan and Kiribati.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Tokelau</span>

The vast majority of people in Tokelau are Christians and Christianity plays a significant role in the Tokelauan way of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Tokelauan general election</span>

General elections were held in Tokelau between 23 and 31 January 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siopili Perez</span> Tokelauan politician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Tokelauan general election</span>

General elections were held in Tokelau on 23 January 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MV Tokelau</span> Ship of New Zealand

The MV Tokelau was an inter-island ferry which served as Tokelau's main transport connection to the world from 1991 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Tokelauan general election</span>

General elections were held in Tokelau on 26 January 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Tokelau: Heads of government (Ulu-o-Tokelau)". Rulers.org. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tokelauan Council of Ongoing Governance - Governance of Tokelau". Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2007.
  3. ↑ "Tokelau referendum dates for late October". Radio New Zealand International . 4 July 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Ben Cahoon. "Tokelau". World Statesmen. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
  5. ↑ John Key's speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs, April 8, 2008
  6. ↑ "Administrator's Corner". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "New Administrator of Tokelau announced".
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tokelau Government". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 "SWORN-IN: Chair and new members to Tokelau parliament". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. ↑ "Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government (OCOG)". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. ↑ "Government of Tokelau". www.tokelau.org.nz. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
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