Colonialism Is Fine By Us, Say Grateful Islanders

David Fickling, Guardian, smh.com.au, May 31

Moves to give more independence to one of the world’s last remaining and smallest colonies are being held up by opposition from an unexpected quarter—the population of the country itself.

Tokelau, an archipelago of three minuscule coral atolls 480 kilometres north of Samoa, is the only remnant of New Zealand’s former Pacific colonies. Its dozens of coral islets, never more than 200 metres wide and five metres above sea level, support a population of 1400 living mainly by subsistence farming and fishing.

Each atoll has a single village, and there are no harbours, no airstrips and no capital city. Visitors reach the islands only by the weekly boat making the 30-hour voyage from Samoa’s capital, Apia.

Settled by Polynesians about 1000 years ago, Tokelau became a British colony in 1889 and was passed to New Zealand in 1925. Since the mid-1970s moves had been made to give the country independence, but many Tokelauans fear change could leave them unable to support themselves.

Tokelau’s head of government, Patuki Isa’ako, told a meeting of the UN Committee of 24 on decolonisation last week that the UN and New Zealand, not the islanders, were behind the moves.

“Life as a New Zealand colony has brought many benefits to the country. There is no poverty, no unemployment, and full literacy. Although electricity does not run 24 hours a day, all houses now have internal flush toilets.”

The New Zealand-appointed administrator, Neil Walter, said:

“Clearly independence is not on Tokelau’s screen. A decision to become self-governing in association with New Zealand would do little more than recognise and confirm the status quo.”