Politics of Tokelau

The politics of Tokelau takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II in right of her Realm of New Zealand, who is represented by an Administrator (as of 2011, Jonathan Kings). The monarch is hereditary, the administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The head of government is Foua Toloa, who presides over the Council for the Ongoing Governance 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.

Current government

For the period 2011-2013, the following are the faipule of the three atolls, sharing the following ministerial portfolios. Foua Toloa is Ulu o Tokelau (head of government) for the period from February 2011 to February 2012.

Member	Position	Portfolios
Foua Toloa	Faipule of Fakaofo	Finance Telecommunications Energy Transport
Keli Koloi	Faipule of Atafu	Economic Development, Natural Resources and the Environment Education
Salesio Lui	Faipule of Nukunonu	Health Support Services
Tinielu Tuumuli	Pulenuku of Fakaofo
Faafetai Taumanu	Pulenuku of Atafu
Panapa Sakaria	Pulenuku of Nukunonu

Legislation

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. Faipule and Pukenuku (atoll leaders and village mayors) also sit in the Fono.

Decolonisation

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. This second referendum took place between 20 and 24 October 2007 but again fell short of the two-thirds majority required for independence, by 16 votes, at 446 votes in favour and 246 against.

In all the UN-sponsored efforts to give Tokelauans the self-government which they have more than once failed to endorse, the assumption has seemed to be that the proponents of those who lost the vote have the right for the vote to be repeated with a view to reversing the verdict, but, that once self-government were achieved, this could never be reversed. Sceptics can argue that one-sided attempts to repeat the vote are inconsistent with both supposed respect for the expressed wishes of Tokelauans, with the heritage of balanced constitutional government and with practical politics: some of these sentiments have been expressed by Tokelau's former Head of Government, Patuki Isaako.

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".

Latest elections

Main article: Tokelauan general election, 2008

 Summary of the 17–19 January 2008 Parliament of Tokelau election results

Members	Seats
Independents	20
Total	20
Source: kriss.net

See also

• Constitutional history of Tokelau
• Electoral system

External links

• The Modern House of Tokelau: Self-determination in a Pacific Atoll Nation
• 'Tokelau wonders, "What have we done wrong?"'