Tokelauans vote on atolls' future

APIA - Within an hour of the opening of a historic referendum on the future of Tokelau, the first voter in Apia cast his vote to be freed from dependency on New Zealand.

With a broad grin Kosetatino Tufele , 65, said "io" (yes) when asked if he had voted in favour of Tokelau changing its status to become self-governing in free association with New Zealand.

He was in Samoa on a short trip from his home on the Nukunonu atoll to sort out his daughter's schooling.

Like other Tokelauans in Samoa for public service work, medical treatment, study or private visits, Mr Tufele had the opportunity to cast his vote in the capital, Apia.

Through a translator he said he was happy with how New Zealand had cared for his homeland in the past 80 years but if the referendum succeeded Tokelau would be in a better position to seek support from a wider number of countries.

Mr Tufele, a village councillor, also felt others back on Nukunonu would make the same decision.

He knew of no one who intended to vote against the proposal.

The Tokelau-Apia liaison office expected about 40 voters to turn up yesterday.

Just before the voting booth opened at 8am the staff took down from behind the voting box a photo of Prime Minister Helen Clark being carried on a throne-like seat on Fakafoa atoll.

With United Nations observers and New Zealand Foreign Affairs officials, they clapped when Mr Tufele dropped his green voting form in the polished wooden box specially made to keep the votes safe and dry as it is transported in the next few days around the three atolls that make up Tokelau, 500km north of Samoa.

There are 615 people registered to vote in the referendum, about 70 per cent of eligible voters aged 18 and over in a population of 1500 to 1600 people.

The Tokelau Administrator, Neil Walter, said he thought that was a reasonable proportion of eligible voters.

He said some Tokelauans might have been overwhelmed by the information, including a draft treaty and constitution which would be unfamiliar to them.

In other cases the people deferred their voting to community leaders.

Mr Walter said there had been many heated debates on the atolls about the country's future relationship with New Zealand.

He reiterated that the "transparent and open process" for change was driven by Tokelauans, whom he described as "cautious" people not looking towards full independence.

Filani Aukuso, the director of Tokelau's national public service, said there had been dissension about the referendum process but that was to be expected.

Some individuals were resistant to change, he said.

"They fear the unknown, that they are not ready ... Are we going to be cast adrift by New Zealand ... Personally I'm impatient, I've been waiting."

Mr Aukuso said the change, which he supported, would give Tokelau a new status as equal partners with New Zealand. "We need this."

Robert Aisi, representing the United Nations special committee on decolonisation, said New Zealand had been exemplary in its role as an administrative power.

TIME TO CHOOSE

* The country was annexed by Britain in 1889 and transferred to New Zealand administration in 1926.

* The referendum is only open to the 1500 to 1600 Tokelauans who live on the atolls.