Big day dawns for Tokelau

The all-important voting box is brought ashore by Mei Tau (left), Sergeant Reupena and Ualesi Iosefa. Picture / MFAT

The people of Tokelau, New Zealand's last colony, are voting on whether they want to be independent. Pacific Issues reporter Angela Gregory is there to witness the historic vote:

Along the coral shoreline of tiny Atafu atoll, women dressed in white waved coloured strips of paper and beat pieces of roofing iron to welcome officials for Tokelau's historic vote on independence.

Electoral officers and voting papers for Atafu, the most northern atoll, arrived yesterday after a 32-hour boat trip from Apia to a boisterous welcome of singing and dancing.

Tokelauans paddled and barged United Nations representatives and observers, and New Zealand officials including Administrator Neil Walter, ashore.

Robert Aisi, representative of the UN's decolonisation committee (C24) and its former chairman, promised that Tokelau would not be forgotten.

"Self-governance is like you paddling your own canoe," he said.

But he emphasised the choice was theirs and expressed no preference.

"If you decide not to do that, we will be there to paddle the canoe with you."

Residents on the tiny Pacific islands, with a population of about 1600, are voting on whether they will become independent.

There are 619 people, about 70 or 80 per cent of those eligible, registered to vote on whether New Zealand's last colony should move to self-government. The decision is likely tomorrow.

The islands, which have a land area of only 12sq km, were annexed by Britain in 1889 and transferred to New Zealand's administration in 1926.

There are far more Tokelauans in New Zealand than on their homeland - about 7000 including the second generation - and a large expatriate population in other countries such as Australia and Samoa, but they do not get to vote.

Voting began on Sunday in the Samoan capital, Apia, with a 100 per cent turnout of the 90 registered voters there, including 37 special votes.

After the welcome on Atafu, Mr Walter said a vote for change would give Tokelau back its nationhood and ability to control its own affairs for the first time in 130 years.

Other countries would then formally recognise Tokelau as a country and provide assistance, he said.

Independence would put Tokelau and New Zealand's relationship on an equal footing.

"I think in many respects that is already the case but this will lock that in for all times."

A proposed treaty would also lock in New Zealand's commitment to support Tokelau with long-term guarantees of support, he said.

But some on Atafu - population 500 with 182 registered voters - were not convinced. Anuella Leitu, 22, said she voted against the proposal because her mother had told her to.

"I voted leaving things as is because we don't have anything."

Miss Leitu, who attended school in Masterton for two years, said she feared New Zealand would abandon Tokelau if they voted for change.

Then she said she did not really understand what the referendum was about.

Lagi Konelio, a grandmother, also voted against the proposed new arrangement.

"Keep it as it is because New Zealand looks after us."

Her daughter Teai Kalolo, 22, had not registered to vote as she was "too busy" but said she did not agree with the country becoming self-governing.

She said there had been arguments over the referendum in the village and they had heard stories about people coming in with guns if Tokelau voted to become self-governing.

Neither she nor her mother believed New Zealand's promises to still support the country if it voted for self-determination.

Kuresa Nasau, the faipule (village head), said there had been a lot of dialogue about the referendum and freedom of choice was important.

He asked that whatever the decision, New Zealand not neglect Tokelau.

"Please let us continue to work together and also with other agencies."

TOKELAU

* New Zealand's last remaining dependent territory.

* Polynesian population of between 1500 and 1600.

* Comprises three atolls, each separated by about 60km of ocean.

* Total land area of 12sq km.

* Lies 500km north of Samoa and reached only by boat.

* New Zealand provides 80 per cent of its budget.

* 2005-2006 aid allocation of $9.5 million.

- additional reporting: NZPA