Tokelau self-determination referendum, 2006
Encyclopedia
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, akin to the Cook Islands
and Niue
.
Despite the majority 60% who voted in favour of the proposal, the referendum failed to get the two-thirds majority required for the referendum to succeed.
The majority of Tokelauans reside in New Zealand, and were ineligible to vote in the referendum, in line with standard practice in United Nations mandated votes on self-determination
. However concerns among this community may have influenced those who were eligible to vote, thereby contributing to the referendum's failure.
The passage of the referendum would have removed Tokelau from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
, as the Cook Islands and Niue were removed from this list when they were granted self-governance in 1965 and 1974, respectively.
Outgoing Tokelau Ulu (head of government) Pio Tuia
suggested in February 2006 that since the vote failed to pass by such a small margin, the issue was likely to be revisited in a few years' time. In June 2006, his successor Kolouei O'Brien
announced that the Fono
had agreed to hold a similar referendum again in late 2007 or early 2008; in the end, it was decided to hold a second referendum
on self-determination in October 2007.
An unintended result of the United Nations
' recent efforts to promote decolonization in Tokelau has been the re-emergence of a Tokelauan claim to Swains Island
, which is legally part of American Samoa
, hitherto a somewhat dormant issue.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, was held from February 11 to February 15, 2006. The defeated proposal would have changed 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...
's status from an unincorporated 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...
territory to a self-governing state in free association
Associated 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...
with Wellington, akin to the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
and Niue
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
.
Despite the majority 60% who voted in favour of the proposal, the referendum failed to get the two-thirds majority required for the referendum to succeed.
The majority of Tokelauans reside in New Zealand, and were ineligible to vote in the referendum, in line with standard practice in United Nations mandated votes on self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
. However concerns among this community may have influenced those who were eligible to vote, thereby contributing to the referendum's failure.
The passage of the referendum would have removed Tokelau from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories
The United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories is a list of countries that, according to the United Nations, are non-decolonized. The list was initially prepared in 1946 pursuant to Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter, and has been updated by the General Assembly on recommendation...
, as the Cook Islands and Niue were removed from this list when they were granted self-governance in 1965 and 1974, respectively.
Outgoing Tokelau Ulu (head of government) Pio Tuia
Pio Tuia
Pio Tuia was five times Ulu o Tokelau, head of government of Tokelau. The position of ulu rotates annually between the three faipule , who are elected for terms lasting three years. Tuia served as ulu for the fifth time from 2008 to 2009 and is the faipule of Nukunonu...
suggested in February 2006 that since the vote failed to pass by such a small margin, the issue was likely to be revisited in a few years' time. In June 2006, his successor Kolouei O'Brien
Kolouei O'Brien
Kolouei O'Brien is a politician from Tokelau and current faipule of Fakaofo. He has served as the head of government of Tokelau three times previously, from February 2000 until February 2001, from February 2003 until February 2004, and from February 2006 until February 2007. Kolouei O'Brien has his...
announced that the 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....
had agreed to hold a similar referendum again in late 2007 or early 2008; in the end, it was decided to hold a 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...
on self-determination in October 2007.
An unintended result of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' recent efforts to promote decolonization in Tokelau has been the re-emergence of a Tokelauan claim to Swains Island
Swains Island
Swains Island is an atoll in the Tokelau chain. Culturally a part of Tokelau, it is an unincorporated unorganized territory of the United States administered by American Samoa. Swains Island has also been known at various times as Olosenga Island, Olohega Island, Quiros Island, Gente Hermosa...
, which is legally part of American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, hitherto a somewhat dormant issue.
Voting schedule
| Date | Location |
| February 11 | Apia 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... , Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... (Special overseas voting) |
| February 13 | Atafu Atafu Atafu, formerly known as the Duke of York Group is a group of 42 coral islets within Tokelau in the south Pacific Ocean, 500 km north of Samoa. Covering 2.5 km², it is the smallest of the three islands that constitute Tokelau, and is composed of an atoll surrounding a central lagoon,... atoll |
| February 14 | Nukunonu Nukunonu Nukunonu is a group of coral islets within Tokelau in the south Pacific Ocean. Covering 5.5 km², it is the largest of the three islands that constitute Tokelau, and is composed of an atoll surrounding a central lagoon, which itself covers some 90 km²... atoll |
| February 15 | 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... atoll |