Administrators of Tokelau
Encyclopedia
The Administrator of Tokelau is an official of the New Zealand Government, responsible for supervising the government of the dependent territory
of Tokelau
.
The Administrator is assisted by a permanent staff of civil servants, which form the Office of the Administrator of Tokelau, a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Office coordinates New Zealand government activity relating to Tokelau, especially economic assistance; provides expert policy advice and assistance to the Tokelau government, also arranging for administrative assistance and training to the Tokelau public service; and represents the Tokelau public service in New Zealand, especially to the resident Tokelauan community. Besides these roles, the Office is presently assisting Tokelau to develop appropriate legal, governance and administration structures as Tokelau moves towards greater autonomy.
The Administrator formally acts as a representative, not of the Queen personally, but of the New Zealand Government. The Administration of Tokelau may also be overruled by the New Zealand Parliament, or by regulations made by the Governor-General
in Council.
in which Tokelau lies was declared a British
protectorate
in 1877, and the islands themselves came under British protection in 1889, being incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. This Colony was administered by officials responsible ultimately to the Colonial Office
in London
.
In 1925, Tokelau was separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, officially becoming its own Colony. In reality, however, it was administered out of New Zealand, the Governor-General of New Zealand
being appointed Governor of Tokelau. The Governor-General at the time, General Sir Charles Fergusson, the next year appointed the High Commissioner of Western Samoa, Maj Gen Sir George Spafford Richardson, as Administrator, with a delegation of the Vice-Regal powers. This situation continued up until 1948, when sovereignty over Tokelau was formally transferred from the United Kingdom
to New Zealand.
In recent years, Administrators have tended to be senior civil servants, politicians, or career diplomats.
Administrators of Tokelau
Dependent territory
A dependent territory, dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political independence or sovereignty as a State, and remains politically outside of the controlling state's integral area....
of Tokelau
Tokelau
Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
.
Powers and Functions
Certain of the Administrator's powers and functions are set forth in the Tokelau Act 1948, as amended from time to time. (The office of Administrator is not, however, created by this Act.) The most important power of the Administrator is the power to disallow any Rule passed by the General Fono; this must, however, be done within 30 days after the Administrator is sent a copy of the Rule.The Administrator is assisted by a permanent staff of civil servants, which form the Office of the Administrator of Tokelau, a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Office coordinates New Zealand government activity relating to Tokelau, especially economic assistance; provides expert policy advice and assistance to the Tokelau government, also arranging for administrative assistance and training to the Tokelau public service; and represents the Tokelau public service in New Zealand, especially to the resident Tokelauan community. Besides these roles, the Office is presently assisting Tokelau to develop appropriate legal, governance and administration structures as Tokelau moves towards greater autonomy.
The Administrator formally acts as a representative, not of the Queen personally, but of the New Zealand Government. The Administration of Tokelau may also be overruled by the New Zealand Parliament, or by regulations made by the Governor-General
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
in Council.
History
The region of the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in which Tokelau lies was declared a British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
in 1877, and the islands themselves came under British protection in 1889, being incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. This Colony was administered by officials responsible ultimately to the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1925, Tokelau was separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, officially becoming its own Colony. In reality, however, it was administered out of New Zealand, the Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
being appointed Governor of Tokelau. The Governor-General at the time, General Sir Charles Fergusson, the next year appointed the High Commissioner of Western Samoa, Maj Gen Sir George Spafford Richardson, as Administrator, with a delegation of the Vice-Regal powers. This situation continued up until 1948, when sovereignty over Tokelau was formally transferred from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to New Zealand.
In recent years, Administrators have tended to be senior civil servants, politicians, or career diplomats.
Administrators of TokelauTokelauTokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
(1926–Present)
- Maj Gen Sir George Spafford Richardson (1926–1928)
- Col Sir Stephen Shepherd AllenStephen Shepherd AllenColonel Sir Stephen Shepherd Allen was a New Zealand lawyer, farmer, local body politician, and Mayor of Morrinsville. He served in World War I and in the Territorial Army, and was Administrator of the colony of Western Samoa 1928–1931....
(1928–1931) - Brig Gen Sir Herbert Ernest Hart (1931–1935)
- Sir Alfred Clarke Turnbull (1935–1946)
- Lt Col Francis William Voelcker (1946–1949)
- Sir Guy PowlesGuy PowlesSir Guy Richardson Powles, ONZ, KBE, CMG . New Zealand diplomat, last Governor of Western Samoa and architect of Samoan independence, and first Ombudsman.-Early life:...
(1949–1960) - John Bird Wright (1960–1965)
- Owston Paul Gabites (1965–1968)
- Richard Basil Taylor (1968–1971)
- Duncan MacIntyreDuncan MacIntyre (New Zealand)Brigadier-General Duncan MacIntyre, CMG, DSO, OBE, ED, PC was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1981 to 1984 under Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.-Member of Parliament:...
(1971–1972) - Matiu RataMatiu RataMatiu Rata was a New Zealand Māori politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Northern Maori from 1963 to 1979, the Minister of Lands and Minister of Māori Affairs in the Third Labour Government of New Zealand between 1972 and 1975...
(1972–1973) - William Gray Thorp (1973–1975)
- Frank Henry Corner (1975–1984)
- Harold Huyton Francis (1984–1988)
- Neil WalterNeil WalterNeil Douglas Walter, CNZM is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat, and is a former Administrator of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand. He served from February 1988 until 1990, and again from March 1, 2003 to 17 October 2006.-Biography:...
(1988–1990) - Graham Keith Ansell (1990–1992)
- Brian William Peter Absolum (1992–1993)
- Lindsay Johnstone Watt (1993–2003)
- Neil WalterNeil WalterNeil Douglas Walter, CNZM is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat, and is a former Administrator of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand. He served from February 1988 until 1990, and again from March 1, 2003 to 17 October 2006.-Biography:...
(2003–2006) - David PaytonDavid PaytonDavid Bruce Payton was the Administrator of Tokelau from 17 October 2006 to 2009.He was previously Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and then Ambassador to the Netherlands -References:...
(2006–2009) - John AllenJohn Allen (diplomat)John Allen was the acting Administrator of Tokelau from 2009 until 2011.-References:...
(acting) (2009–2011) - Jonathan KingsJonathan KingsJonathan Kings is the Administrator of Tokelau since 2011.-References:...
(2011–Present)
External links
- http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Pacific/Tokelau/administrators.php NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade — List of Administrators of the Tokelau Islands