Editing Tokelau (section)

==Politics==
{{main|Politics of Tokelau}}

The [[head of state]] is {{Monarch of New Zealand, current|nameonly=*}}, the [[Monarchy in New Zealand|{{Monarch of New Zealand, current|title=*}} in right of New Zealand]], who also reigns over the other [[Commonwealth realm]]s. The {{Monarch of New Zealand, current|title=*}} is represented in the territory by the [[Administrator of Tokelau|Administrator]] – currently Don Higgins. The current [[Head of Government of Tokelau|head of government]] ({{langx|tkl|Ulu-o-Tokelau}}) is [[Fofo Tuisano|Esera Fofō Tuisano]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Lydia |title=Tokelau is 'my heart and soul' - New Ulu-o-Tokelau Tuisano |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/545522/tokelau-is-my-heart-and-soul-new-ulu-o-tokelau-tuisano |access-date=1 April 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=21 March 2025 |language=en-nz}}</ref> who presides over the [[Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau]], which functions as a cabinet. The Council consists of the ''faipule'' (leader) and ''pulenuku'' (village mayor) of each of the three atolls.<ref name = TokelauCouncilGovernance/> The administrator is appointed by the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade]] of New Zealand, and the role of [[List of heads of government of Tokelau|head of government]] rotates between the three ''faipule'' for a one-year term.<ref name = TokelauCouncilGovernance/>

The Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the [[General Fono]], a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] body. The number of seats each atoll receives in the Fono is determined by population – at present, Fakaofo and Atafu each have seven and Nukunonu has six.<ref name = TokelauCouncilGovernance/> ''Faipule'' and ''pulenuku'' also sit in the Fono.<ref name="TokelauCouncilGovernance">{{cite web|url=http://www.tokelau.org.nz/Tokelau+Government/Government/HOW+TOKELAU+IS+GOVERNED.html |publisher=Tokelauan Council of Ongoing Governance|title=How Tokelau is Governed |access-date=29 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507092318/http://www.tokelau.org.nz/Tokelau+Government/Government/HOW+TOKELAU+IS+GOVERNED.html|archive-date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

On 11 November 2004, Tokelau and New Zealand took steps to formulate a treaty that would turn Tokelau from a non-self-governing territory to a self-governing state in [[Associated state|free association]] with New Zealand. Besides the treaty, a United Nations-sponsored [[2006 Tokelauan self-determination referendum|referendum on self-determination]] took place, with the three islands voting on successive days starting 13 February 2006. (Tokelauans in [[Apia, Samoa]], voted on 11 February.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tokelau.org.nz/english/gfdecisions/gfnov05.html|title=Fono decisions|access-date=29 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070822073325/http://www.tokelau.org.nz/english/gfdecisions/gfnov05.html |archive-date = 22 August 2007}}</ref> Out of 581 votes cast, 349 were for Free Association, being short of the two-thirds majority required for the measure to pass.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411366/661377|title=Tokelau rejects self-rule|publisher=[[Television New Zealand]]|access-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513013609/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411366/661377|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> The referendum was profiled (somewhat light-heartedly) in the 1 May 2006 issue of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/05/01/060501fa_fact_parker|title=Letter from Polynesia: Birth of a nation?|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|author=Parker, Ian|date=1 May 2006|access-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603102538/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/05/01/060501fa_fact_parker|archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref> A repeat [[2007 Tokelauan self-determination referendum|referendum took place on 20–24 October 2007]], again narrowly failing to approve self-government. This time the vote was short by just 16 votes or 3%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1415741|title=Tokelau stays as NZ's last colony|publisher=[[Television New Zealand]]|access-date=25 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513015114/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1415741|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref>

In May 2008, the United Nations' Secretary General [[Ban Ki-moon]] urged colonial powers "to complete the decolonization process in every one of the remaining 16 [[non-self-governing territories]]", including Tokelau.<ref>[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11568.doc.htm "Colonialism has no place in today's world," says Secretary General in message to Decolonization Seminar in Indonesia"], United Nations press release, 14 May 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203103048/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2008/sgsm11568.doc.htm |date=3 February 2014 }}</ref> This led ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'' to comment that the United Nations was "apparently frustrated by two failed attempts to get Tokelau to vote for independence".<ref name="NZ_Herald_10510595">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10510595 |title=Tokelau decolonisation high on agenda |date=17 May 2008 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=23 November 2011}}</ref> In April 2008, speaking as leader of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]], future New Zealand Prime Minister [[John Key]] stated that New Zealand had "imposed two referenda on the people of the Tokelau Islands", and questioned "the accepted wisdom that small states should undergo a de-colonisation process".<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/S00230.htm John Key's speech to the NZ Institute of International Affairs], 8 April 2008 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930193348/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/S00230.htm |date=30 September 2012 }}</ref>