Ministry Statements & Speeches:
On behalf of New Zealand, I say kia ora and malo ni, warm greetings in the languages of New Zealand te reo Māori and in Tokelauan, to you all. I have the honour to address you today on the Question of Tokelau.
Madame Chair, when I first started in the role of Administrator of Tokelau just over a year ago, Tokelau remained COVID-free and neighbouring Samoa had just experienced its first cases. In December last year, Tokelau recorded the first cases on its border, and just recently last month, Tokelau recorded its first case of community transmission.
In preparation for such developments, New Zealand and Tokelau have been working in close partnership over the past few years to prepare as best as possible for an eventual outbreak. Tokelau continues to have a very high vaccination rate, a good stock of basic medical supplies, and staff who have been well trained, including in the use of therapeutics. New Zealand health officials remain in close contact with the Department of Health in Tokelau to respond to their needs.
At the same time, it is worth noting that Tokelau has very much led its own response to COVID-19, with New Zealand playing a supporting role. The rollout of vaccines on the atolls, and the planning and preparation for an outbreak, have all been led by Tokelau, underscoring the degree to which it is well-advanced on its journey towards self-determination.
Madame Chair, as you will recall, in May 2022, Tokelau’s General Fono undertook to begin a new conversation on the question of self-determination for Tokelau, in the lead up to the 100-year anniversary of New Zealand’s administration. New Zealand welcomed this decision, and is committed to supporting Tokelau as best it can.
New Zealand sees a full exploration of Tokelau’s options as the best means to ensuring that the people of Tokelau have sufficient information with which to form an initial consensus, before potentially moving onto a more formal decision-making process. We believe that such an approach would help to improve the overall likelihood of a clear and conclusive outcome.
Madame Chair, at the same time, New Zealand remains very much aware of the importance of working with Tokelau both to improve the delivery of public services and also to enable other critical services on the atolls. We continue to devote significant effort and resource to promote the well-being of Tokelau’s inhabitants, and to build resilience against the growing threat of climate change.
These efforts currently include the design of emergency shelters on each atoll, connection of the new international submarine cable to households in each village, an upgrade and expansion of the renewable system across Tokelau, and village-level consultations on the proposed build of Tokelau’s first airfield on Nukunonu atoll.
Madame Chair, fisheries remain Tokelau’s only significant source of independent revenue and have a critical role in contributing to Tokelau’s aspirations for greater self-determination. New Zealand and Tokelau are currently co-designing a new Tokelau Fisheries Partnership programme to ensure that the fisheries within the Tokelau economic exclusive zone remain sustainably managed, and to enable the eventual devolution of the Administrator’s powers in respect of the EEZ to Tokelau.
In summary, Madame Chair, I believe the challenges posed by COVID-19 have simultaneously served to strengthen both Tokelau’s own sense of self-determination, and the close cooperative working relationship that exists between Tokelau and New Zealand.
I further believe that this experience will stand us both in good stead for the discussions that lie ahead of us all on the question of self-determination for Tokelau, for which openness and transparency, and mutual trust and respect, remain the cornerstones of engagement.
Madame Chair, I conclude New Zealand’s statement by thanking you for the opportunity to address you today, in the languages of New Zealand te reo Māori and in Tokelauan, namely tēnā tātou and fakafetai.
I thank you.