About Tokelau

Tokelau is three small atolls in Polynesia, with a land area of only 9 square miles. 1,600 people live on the three atolls- rings of islets around a central lagoon. The islands were settled as part of the planned population of the Pacific islands by skilled seafarers who made their way East across the ocean using large voyaging catamarans. The location of settled islands was known by reference to the stars, ocean currents and many other factors, just as used by Tokelau voyagers who made their own journeys around the Pacific in similar voyaging catamarans- known as canoes or, "vaka" in Tokelauan.

With a maximum height above sea level of less than 5 metres, Tokelau is vulnerable to climate change and the extreme weather that it brings. In early 2005, the atolls were hit by 4 cyclones, culminating in the devastation of cyclone Percy which on February 28th caused widespread damage. Tidal surges washed over the islands, destroying crops and washing away materials, tools, belongings and the rudimentary sea walls designed to minimise damage. The BBC Radio 4/ RGS documentary about Tokelau, "Hoping for a Miracle" asked Tokelauans about the threat of climate change and came to some pretty sorry conclusions.

But Tokelau isn't depressing, far from it! It's a wonderful, friendly and vibrant place where life is in tune with the environment. Whilst the men fish for tuna, hahave (flying fish) or the many other inhabitants of the ocean, handicrafts such as fine mats, bags and hats are produced by the women. Tokelauans love to have an excuse for a feast or a game of kilikiti (Tokelauan cricket that has to be seen to be believed). Alongside these traditional enjoyments come the responsibility for administering the satellite communications link and the MV Tokelau boat service that links the islanders to Western Samoa.

Tokelau is led by an 3 elected Faipule, who have responsibility for representing their home atoll in the governance of Tokelau. New Zealand is following a process of passing control for Tokelau back to the people and the 3 Faipule operate at a high level, representing their home on the international political stage. In the islands, each atoll has a group of elders that handle the decision making. Called the Taupulega, this meeting of family heads and experienced, knowledgeable people, including a woman representative in Atafu, meets each week for one or two days and forms the supreme authority on the island. Whilst lots of functions have been brought back to the atolls from offices in New Zealand and Western Samoa, the Tokelau Apia Liaison office still runs from Apia in Western Samoa. It's here that you can try to arrange travel to Tokelau.

Because of Tokelau's close links to New Zealand (as an overseas territory of NZ) many Tokelauans have settled there and there are strong Tokelau communities across New Zealand numbering more than 6,000 people- four times more than in Tokelau. Needs a map- to be sent by me.