Politics of Tokelau
Encyclopedia
Politics of Tokelau takes place within a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic
dependency
. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth
in right of her Commonwealth realm
of New Zealand
, who is represented by an Administrator (as at 2008, David Payton
). The monarch is hereditary, the administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
.
The head of government is Kuresa Nasau
, 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.
. Besides drafting a treaty, a UN 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 and 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 United Nations-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. Supporters of this view can argue that it is consistent with their vision of ideological purity; the current New Zealand government is associated with such a view. 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".
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
representative democratic
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
dependency
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....
. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in right of her Commonwealth realm
Commonwealth Realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state within the Commonwealth of Nations that has Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. The sixteen current realms have a combined land area of 18.8 million km² , and a population of 134 million, of which all, except about two million, live in the six...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, who is represented by an Administrator (as at 2008, David Payton
David Payton
David 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:...
). The monarch is hereditary, the administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a major ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand.The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Murray McCully, who was National Party Spokeperson of Foreign Affairs and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are also Associate Minister roles...
.
The head of government is Kuresa Nasau
Kuresa Nasau
Kuresa Nasau is a Tokelauan politician who currently serves as head of government . He has previously held the position five times. He is also faipule of Atafu...
, who presides over the Council for the Ongoing Governance 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...
, 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.
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 ZealandAssociated state
An associated state is the minor partner in a formal, free relationship between a political territory with a degree of statehood and a nation, for which no other specific term, such as protectorate, is adopted...
. Besides drafting a treaty, a UN sponsored "act of self-determination" had to take place. The referendum
Tokelau self-determination referendum, 2006
The Tokelau self-determination referendum of 2006, supervised by the United Nations, was held from February 11 to February 15, 2006. The defeated proposal would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with Wellington,...
, 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
Tokelauan self-determination referendum, 2007
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...
took place between 20 and 24 October 2007 and 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 United Nations-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. Supporters of this view can argue that it is consistent with their vision of ideological purity; the current New Zealand government is associated with such a view. 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
Patuki Isaako
-Background and political role:Isaako is from Atafu. He was the head of government of Tokelau from February 2004 to February 2005.-Issues:...
.
In April 2008, speaking as leader of the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
, future New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
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".
External links
- The Modern House of Tokelau: Self-determination in a Pacific Atoll Nation
- 'Tokelau wonders, "What have we done wrong?"' http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2004/june/06-02-fea.htm