Tokelau casts vote of confidence in experienced leaders
Apia, Samoa, 1 February 2017.
The Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (OCOG) officially declares the results of the Territory’s 2017 General Election.
Twenty-one (21) General Fono Members were elected for the next parliamentary term (2017 to 2019). These include the three Faipule, three Pulenuku and 15 General Fono representatives.
Elections were held on 23 January 2017 in Nukunonu; on 27 January in Fakaofo; on 31 January 2017 in Atafu; and in parallel at the Tokelau Apia Liaison Office in Apia.
These were conducted under two laws:
“The people of Tokelau have returned an ‘experienced’ Government in those elected,” he said.
“However, while this is positive, the 21 members have an immense task ahead of them. The task of institutional strengthening will be one of the key priorities for the new Government.
“At the end of the day the development has to be tangibly felt in our families, community and people as a nation.”
Main points:
The official results were determined in accordance with the requirements of the National Election Rules 2013, and the Constitution of Tokelau.
The 2017 election is only the second to be held under the National Election Rules 2013.
These Rules were endorsed by the 2013 General Fono. They provide a set of common conditions for the three Taupulega on each village to standardize the election of General Fono members. The set of common conditions is operationalized through an appointed Committee, to organize the election, supervise the voting, count the votes and declare the election results.
Prior to 2013, there were no common conditions – election arrangements were managed and conducted autonomously according to the rules set by each village Taupulega.
Voter Eligibility: To be eligible, an individual now has to meet two requirements: of age and of residency.
To win a General Fono candidate nomination, one had to meet four requirements:
The term and number of candidates for each village is determined by the Constitution of Tokelau.
Ulu o Tokelau
The Ulu o Tokelau is the Chairperson for the six-member Council of the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (referred to as the Council); and therefore the titular head of Tokelau the nation.
The three elected Faipule each take the Ulu-o-Tokelau position for one year. The sequencing of the Ulu o Tokelau follows a rotational schedule that allows each village to take the first place in the rotation in a given term. Previously, until 2011, the Ulu o Tokelau would start in Nukunonu, then to Fakaofo in the 2nd year, and to Atafu in the final year of the 3-year parliamentary term.
The Ulu-o-Tokelau rotation for this term (2017-2019) is as follows: 2017 - Faipule of Nukunonu; 2018 - Faipule of Fakaofo; and 2019 - Faipule of Atafu.
For more information please contact: Mr Jovilisi Suveinakama, Chief Advisor to the Council.
Email: jovilisi.suveinakama@tokelau.org.nz
Phone: +685 20822/20823
The Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (OCOG) officially declares the results of the Territory’s 2017 General Election.
Twenty-one (21) General Fono Members were elected for the next parliamentary term (2017 to 2019). These include the three Faipule, three Pulenuku and 15 General Fono representatives.
Elections were held on 23 January 2017 in Nukunonu; on 27 January in Fakaofo; on 31 January 2017 in Atafu; and in parallel at the Tokelau Apia Liaison Office in Apia.
These were conducted under two laws:
- the Constitution of Tokelau sets out the rules for determining the term, and number of elected candidates from each village as General Fono Members.
- the National Election Rules 2013 provide the common template for each village to conduct the election and determine the winners.
“The people of Tokelau have returned an ‘experienced’ Government in those elected,” he said.
“However, while this is positive, the 21 members have an immense task ahead of them. The task of institutional strengthening will be one of the key priorities for the new Government.
“At the end of the day the development has to be tangibly felt in our families, community and people as a nation.”
Main points:
- The number of members in the General Fono shall be 21.
- There shall be seven (7) members from each of the three villages.
- The rotation schedule for the leader of Tokelau, Ulu-o-Tokelau shall be the Faipule of Nukunonu (2017), Faipule Fakaofo (2018), and Faipule Atafu (2019)
The official results were determined in accordance with the requirements of the National Election Rules 2013, and the Constitution of Tokelau.
The 2017 election is only the second to be held under the National Election Rules 2013.
These Rules were endorsed by the 2013 General Fono. They provide a set of common conditions for the three Taupulega on each village to standardize the election of General Fono members. The set of common conditions is operationalized through an appointed Committee, to organize the election, supervise the voting, count the votes and declare the election results.
Prior to 2013, there were no common conditions – election arrangements were managed and conducted autonomously according to the rules set by each village Taupulega.
Voter Eligibility: To be eligible, an individual now has to meet two requirements: of age and of residency.
- Age: At least 18 years of age.
- Residency:
- (i) To have resided in Tokelau for at least six (6) consecutive months in the preceding 12 months prior to the election; and
- (ii) should the person be neither a permanent residence in Tokelau nor a New Zealand citizen, then he/she must have resided in Tokelau for at least one (1) year prior to the election.
To win a General Fono candidate nomination, one had to meet four requirements:
- Residency: to have lived in Tokelau for at least two years immediately preceding the election;
- Holder of a valid New Zealand passport;
- At least 35 years of age; and
- Gain nomination at a village meeting.
The term and number of candidates for each village is determined by the Constitution of Tokelau.
- Term: Members are elected for a three-year term.
- Membership: The Constitution stipulates elected members shall be: the Faipule, Pulenuku and one delegate for every 100 inhabitants based on the last census figures (rounded to the nearest 100). Furthermore, the Constitution encourages the inclusion of women as members.
- Number of members: In 2016 the Tokelau Census recorded a six per cent (6%) increase of the de jure usually resident population at 1,499. It comprised 541 for Atafu; 506 for Fakaofo and 452 for Nukunonu.
Ulu o Tokelau
The Ulu o Tokelau is the Chairperson for the six-member Council of the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (referred to as the Council); and therefore the titular head of Tokelau the nation.
The three elected Faipule each take the Ulu-o-Tokelau position for one year. The sequencing of the Ulu o Tokelau follows a rotational schedule that allows each village to take the first place in the rotation in a given term. Previously, until 2011, the Ulu o Tokelau would start in Nukunonu, then to Fakaofo in the 2nd year, and to Atafu in the final year of the 3-year parliamentary term.
The Ulu-o-Tokelau rotation for this term (2017-2019) is as follows: 2017 - Faipule of Nukunonu; 2018 - Faipule of Fakaofo; and 2019 - Faipule of Atafu.
| Fakaofo | Nukunonu | Atafu | |
|
Faipule Designate |
Afega Gaualofa |
Siopili Perez |
Kelihiano Kalolo |
|
Pulenuku Designate |
Mose Pelasio |
Patelesio Petelo (Peter) |
Fano Fao |
|
Designate Taupulega Representatives |
Tinielu Tuumuli Taupati Peleni Ilai Esera |
Salesio Lui Lino Isaia Alapati Tavite |
Iosua Aleni Seluka Enosa Mika Kalolo |
|
Designate Fatupaepae Representative |
Malia Pue |
Lepeka Amato-Perez |
Latu Lopa |
|
Designate Taulelea/Aumaga Representative |
Alesana Teao |
Falaniko Aloisio |
Tanu Filo |
For more information please contact: Mr Jovilisi Suveinakama, Chief Advisor to the Council.
Email: jovilisi.suveinakama@tokelau.org.nz
Phone: +685 20822/20823