Foua Toloa
Encyclopedia
Foua Toloa is a Tokelau
an politician
who served as the Head of the Government of Tokelau, or Ulu, from February 21, 2009, to February 21, 2010. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau
, and is a faipule on Fakaofo
. As the office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis, Toloa will resume office on February 21, 2011, if he continues in office as faipule of Fakaofo.
in September 2009, Toloa advocated a return to observer representation in the Tokelau Fono
for Tokelauans living overseas. Toloa stated that bringing back representation for Tokelauans abroad would allow the diaspora
to contribute to decisions important to the future of their homeland. Toloa noted that it would be possible for overseas representatives to meet in Apia, Samoa
, rather than Tokelau for easier travel. "Every General Fono once or twice a year they would come in as representatives to the General Fono, not as delegates but as observers and they can voice their opinion in terms of issues that are discussed with the General Fono, but when it comes to the voting, they are not allowed to vote.” Toloa’s visit to New Zealand was part of a series of discussions with Tokelauan communities living in New Zealand and Australia
.
Ulu Toloa expressed disappointment with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key
and the leaders of other developed countries for prioritizing economic concerns over the reduction of carbon emissions at the 2009 APEC summit
in Singapore
. World leaders at the APEC meeting failed to set a specific target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, instead, called for an "ambitious outcome" at the December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
.
Toloa criticized Prime Minister Key for placing pressing economic concerns ahead environmental issues, including the long term survival of small island states. Toloa told Radio New Zealand International
, "That the impact on nations such as ours threatens our livelihood
and existence as a people, I think the Prime Minister understood our position and stated as much. However, in the mix of things it would seem that other priorities such as establishing a free trade
policy to promote new economic growth
takes precedent at this time."
It was under Toloa's leadership that Tokelau became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.
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...
an politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the Head of the Government of Tokelau, or Ulu, from February 21, 2009, to February 21, 2010. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau
Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau
The Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau is an executive council in Tokelau. It serves as the governing organization for Tokelau when the General Fono is not in session. It was established in November, 2003...
, and is a faipule on Fakaofo
Fakaofo
Fakaofo, formerly known as Bowditch Island, is a South Pacific Ocean atoll located at 171° 15' West, 9° 25' South in the Tokelau Group. The actual land area is only about 3 km², consisting of islets on a coral reef surrounding a central lagoon of some 45 km²...
. As the office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis, Toloa will resume office on February 21, 2011, if he continues in office as faipule of Fakaofo.
Head of Government
During a trip to Tokelauan communities of New ZealandNew 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...
in September 2009, Toloa advocated a return to observer representation in the Tokelau Fono
Parliament of Tokelau
The Parliament of Tokelau or Fono has 20 members , representatives of the 3 atolls, elections are held every three years. Tokelau is a de-facto non-partisan democracy since both village and Fono elections are made without political parties....
for Tokelauans living overseas. Toloa stated that bringing back representation for Tokelauans abroad would allow the diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
to contribute to decisions important to the future of their homeland. Toloa noted that it would be possible for overseas representatives to meet in Apia, Samoa
Apia, Samoa
-Administration:Apia is part of the Tuamasaga political district and of election district Vaimauga West and Faleata East. There is no city administration for Apia. Apia consists of some 45 individual, independent villages...
, rather than Tokelau for easier travel. "Every General Fono once or twice a year they would come in as representatives to the General Fono, not as delegates but as observers and they can voice their opinion in terms of issues that are discussed with the General Fono, but when it comes to the voting, they are not allowed to vote.” Toloa’s visit to New Zealand was part of a series of discussions with Tokelauan communities living in New Zealand and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Ulu Toloa expressed disappointment with 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....
and the leaders of other developed countries for prioritizing economic concerns over the reduction of carbon emissions at the 2009 APEC summit
APEC Singapore 2009
Singapore hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings from February to November 2009. The APEC 2009 meetings will culminate in the 17th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting , where Leaders of APEC's 21 member economies will meet from 14 to 15 November 2009.-Theme:The theme for 2009 is...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. World leaders at the APEC meeting failed to set a specific target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, instead, called for an "ambitious outcome" at the December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Toloa criticized Prime Minister Key for placing pressing economic concerns ahead environmental issues, including the long term survival of small island states. Toloa told Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International , a division of Radio New Zealand, is the official international broadcasting station of New Zealand. It broadcasts a variety of news, current affairs and sports programmes in English and news in seven Pacific languages...
, "That the impact on nations such as ours threatens our livelihood
Livelihood
A person's livelihood referers to "means of securing the necessities of life". For instance a fisherman's livelihood depends on the availability and accessibility of fish.- In social sciences :...
and existence as a people, I think the Prime Minister understood our position and stated as much. However, in the mix of things it would seem that other priorities such as establishing a free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
policy to promote new economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
takes precedent at this time."
It was under Toloa's leadership that Tokelau became, in November 2011, a founding member of the Polynesian Leaders Group
Polynesian Leaders Group
The Polynesian Leaders Group is an international governmental cooperation group bringing together eight independent or self-governing countries or territories in Polynesia....
, a regional grouping intended to cooperate on a variety of issues including culture and language, education, responses to climate change, and trade and investment.