Tokelau: History

Pre-20th-Century History

Tokelau's atolls have been populated for around 1000 years, with traditional tales linking the original Polynesian settlers with Samoa, the northern Cook Islands and Tuvalu. The three atolls were reputed to have something of a fierce aversion to domination from outsiders until the so-called 'Tokelau' wars of the 18th century, when Fakaofo conquered Atafu and Nukunonu to create the first united entity of Tokelau.

The first Europeans to visit the islands were Commodore John Byron in 1765 (Atafu) and the sailors of the US American whaler General Jackson in 1835 (Fakaofo). As is the custom, missionaries soon followed, with Catholic Samoans converting the people of Nukunonu in the 1840s, Protestant Samoans converting Atafu in 1858 and the two groups later battling for the souls of Fakaofo. Tokelau's already minuscule populations was drastically reduced to a mere 200 in the 1850s and 60s when Peruvian slave traders ('blackbirders') seized around 250 people, 500 islanders were removed by missionaries, and diseases such as dysentery took hold.

Modern History

The islands were annexed by Britain in 1889, and incorporated into the new crown colony of Gilbert & Ellice Islands (today's Kiribati and Tuvalu) in 1916, by which time they were known as the Union Group. (The name probably didn't take because it sounds better suited to a bank than an island paradise.) Many Tokelauans headed off to work the phosphate mines of Banaba (Ocean Island, now part of Kiribati). The islands have been administered by New Zealand since 1925, and were included within its territorial boundaries in 1948, much to the displeasure of New Zealand's cartographic community. The name Tokelau Islands was given in 1946, and contracted to Tokelau in 1976; it's a Polynesian word meaning 'north wind'.

To this day, Tokelau's administrator is still appointed by New Zealand's minister for foreign affairs, with an official secretary based in Apia, Samoa. The country remains dependent on foreign aid, largely from NZ, but calls for independence have increased, encouraged by both New Zealand and the United Nations.

Recent History

Improvements such as better sea links with Samoa, improved health services and a satellite telecommunications system have gone some small way toward easing Tokelau's isolation. However, chronic overcrowding remains a huge problem, especially with the shadow of global warming potentially threatening Tokelau's very viability.

Tokelau continues to move slowly towards an increased independence (while maintaining full access to NZ services, as does Niue). The public service has been relocated to Tokelau from Samoa, and the general fono council has been granted legislative power and the right to levy taxes. However, the journey hit a major snag when a 2006 referendum on the subject was controversially defeated. With dark mutterings of interference in the referendum from NZ-based Tokelauans and a recalcitrant public service, another vote may happen as early as 2007.

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