Editing Tokelau (section)

==Transportation==
Tokelau is served by the MV ''Mataliki'', delivered new in 2016 as a replacement of the smaller MV ''Tokelau'' and jointly managed by the Tokelau Transport Department and the company Transport and Marine. The vessel, which has a capacity of 60 passengers on international cruises and 120 for transport between the atolls of Tokelau, operates fortnightly between Tokelau and [[Apia]], with the trip taking a little over a day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/297446/tokelau-receives-new-ferry-from-nz-govt |title=Tokelau receives new ferry from NZ govt |date=25 February 2016 |publisher=Government of Tokelau |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> A dedicated cargo vessel, the MV ''Kalopaga'', entered service in 2018 and replaced chartered freight vessels.<ref name="Radio NZ">{{cite web|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/352082/tokelau-still-pushing-for-air-services-in-talks-with-nz|title=Tokelau still pushing for air services in talks with NZ|date=8 March 2018|publisher=[[Radio NZ]] |access-date=30 April 2018}}</ref>

Ships load and unload cargo by motoring up to the down-wind ([[leeward]]) side of the islet where the people live and maintaining station, by intermittent use of engines, close to the reef edge so that a landing barge can be motored out to transfer cargo to or from the shore.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} On returning to shore, the barge negotiates a narrow channel through the reef to the beach. Usually this landing is subject to ocean swell and beaching requires considerable skill and, often, [[coral]] abrasions to bodies. When bad weather prevents the barge making the trip, the ship stands off to wait for suitable weather or goes off to one of the other atolls to attempt to load or unload its passengers or cargo, or both.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

There is no airport in Tokelau, so boats are the main means of travel and transport. Some [[seaplane]]s and [[amphibious aircraft]] are able to land in the island's lagoons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southseas.co.uk/Tokelau.htm |title=Tokelau |publisher=Southseas.co.uk |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> An airstrip was considered by the New Zealand Government in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/191810/new-zealand-looking-into-feasibility-of-air-service-to-tokelau |title=New Zealand looking into feasibility of air service to Tokelau &#124; Radio New Zealand News |publisher=[[Radio NZ]] |date=4 August 2010 |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> In 2016, plans to link the atolls with Samoa by helicopter had to be abandoned because of high costs, leading in the following years to renewed calls to the New Zealand government for help with establishing air services.<ref name="Radio NZ"/> As of 2022, it was reported that the airport project – funded by the New Zealand government – was moving forward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/129270339/project-to-get-tokelau-its-first-airfield-under-way-after-pandemic-delays |title=Project to get Tokelau its first airfield under way after pandemic delays |date=17 July 2022|publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |last=Tokalau |first=Torika |access-date=21 August 2023}}</ref>