Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you, Chair.
Tēnā koutou katoa, malo ni. I address you in Te Reo Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand and Tokelau language, gagana Tokelau. I have the honour to address you today on the Question of Tokelau.
Madame Chair, in my statement to this Committee last year, I noted that Tokelau had just recorded its first case of community transmission of COVID-19. All three atolls have now experienced community transmission, and I am pleased to note that there have been no reported deaths or serious illness as a result, due in large part to Tokelau’s maintenance of high vaccination rates and the effectiveness of its health services.
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 in February 2026. New Zealand welcomed this decision and remains committed to supporting Tokelau to address this question, as and when requested by Tokelau, and in consultation with the United Nations.
Madame Chair, as you will be aware, Tokelau has been largely self-governing in practice for several decades, and New Zealand continues to work with Tokelau to improve the delivery of public services on the atolls. To this end, the New Zealand Government provides Tokelau with annual budget support, currently at the level of NZ$13 million per annum, soon to be NZ$15 million from July 2024.
This budget support represents approximately three-quarters of New Zealand’s total aid spend in Tokelau, and almost half of Tokelau’s external revenue – the bulk of the remainder coming from its offshore fisheries licences. New Zealand also recently provided close to an additional NZ$3.5 million in emergency budget support to Tokelau following an unexpected increase in its transport costs and decrease in its offshore fisheries revenue.
Madame Chair, health and education remain key areas of focus. Following an independent review of Tokelau’s healthcare system and patient referral scheme, New Zealand is supporting Tokelau with implementing a health-strengthening strategy. We are also supporting Tokelau to develop strong secondary and post-secondary education options, including transition to the New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement, curriculum development, and trades training options.
At the same time, New Zealand continues to work with Tokelau to strengthen infrastructure. We have funded the connection of a new international submarine cable to Tokelau’s three atolls as well as an upgrade and expansion of their renewable energy systems. We are currently considering options to support Tokelau to be better prepared for climate induced disasters and adapt to the effects of climate change to safeguard lives and livelihoods and protect the unique language and culture of Tokelau. In addition, we have assisted with the establishment of a Tokelau Language Commission and a reprint of the Gagana Tokelau language dictionary.
Madame Chair, New Zealand is a Pacific country. This means we have a direct stake in the region’s peace, stability, prosperity, and resilience. We are cognisant of the growing challenges facing the Pacific region. These include the impacts of climate change, as well as heightened geostrategic tensions. New Zealand has direct responsibility for the defence and security of Tokelau, and we look forward to working closely with Tokelau in addressing these challenges together.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou, fakafetai lahi lele – thank you, Madame Chair.