Tokelau's 'little bird' braves the eagles

By HELEN TUNNAH

He said he felt scared, like a "little bird among eagles".

But the acting ulu (head) of Tokelau, Faipule Pio Tuia, soared as his country was given a voice for the first time at the Pacific Islands Forum.

The simplicity of his address gave a welcome boost to an otherwise low-key meeting, his humility and humour in sharp contrast to the dull worthiness of the talks on governance at the Samoa summit.

Prime Minister Helen Clark had interrupted yesterday morning's formal session of the meeting to ask if Tokelau could speak.

It was not necessarily a welcome interruption after hours of speeches, as leaders fanned themselves in the warm air passing through the open-sided fale.

But within moments of Mr Tuia moving to the podium, it became clear the titular head of Tokelau was a man of few, but strong, words.

"As I speak before you now, I feel very much like a little bird among eagles.

"It is a feeling that is at once very scary and somewhat daunting, but at the same time exciting and full of wonder of the unknown. It is a feeling that makes me want to run away."

But he did not flee, and stayed instead to talk to Pacific leaders of his hopes for Tokelau as the tiny nation considers the possibility of self-government.

"Like you, I want my people to live lives that are free and worthwhile.

"As we strive to achieve full self-government with the ultimate goal of exercising our inalienable right to an act of self-determination, we seek to be self-reliant to the greatest extent possible.

"We seek to maintain a viable and living community.

"We want to maintain our vitality. We seek to protect our environment, our fisheries resources, our song and dance, and yes, our dreams."

Tokelau's decision on whether it will or won't move towards self-rule, while retaining strong links with New Zealand, has inevitably raised the question of the viability of such a small Pacific state, home to only 1500 people and with a land area of just 12sq km.

Spread across three atolls, - themselves separated by scores of kilometres - Tokelau has few natural resources and remains dependent on foreign aid money for its survival.

Helen Clark is due to arrive in Tokelau today on board the frigate Te Kaha and will talk through worries about self-government with Tokelau's leaders.

Mr Tuia said Helen Clark's visit was important for Tokelauans, who had been administered by New Zealand for almost 80 years.