Tokelau

A DigitalNZ Story by National Library of New Zealand Topics

Tokelau consists of three coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean. This set covers important information about Tokelau’s culture, history, and language, including its relationship with New Zealand and the threats it faces from rising sea levels. SCIS no: 1943279

social_sciences, arts, history, health, science, technology

Tokelau language week

Services to Schools

Image: Atoll landscape, Atafu, Tokelau

Atoll landscape, Atafu, Tokelau

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: O Mata! Tokelau Dance Group, 2010

O Mata! Tokelau Dance Group, 2010

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Arriving in New Zealand, 1970

Arriving in New Zealand, 1970

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Weaving in Tokelau: Novena's story

Weaving in Tokelau: Novena's story

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: UN-supervised referendum, Tokelau

UN-supervised referendum, Tokelau

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Mythology - Ethnology of Tokelau Islands

Victoria University of Wellington

Sacred Food - Ethnology of Tokelau Islands

Victoria University of Wellington

Tokelau first day cover

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Inati ceremony - food division, Nukunonu Atoll, Tokelau

Inati ceremony - food division, Nukunonu Atoll, Tokelau

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Tokelau Islands, Rebuilding a Fale.

Tokelau Islands, Rebuilding a Fale.

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: Te Vaka

Te Vaka

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Little boy walking in front of Tokelau performers at the 8th Festival of Pacific Arts, Noumea, New Caledonia

Dancers from Tokelau

Dressed for the occasion, these Tokelauan dancers perform the fatele at the 8th Pacific Arts Festival in New Caledonia in 2008. Held every four years, the festival brings together an appreciation for arts, crafts and performances from around the Pacific region.

Little boy walking in front of Tokelau performers at the 8th Festival of Pacific Arts, Noumea, New Caledonia

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lord and Lady Cobham arriving at Atafu Island, Tokelau

The Cobhams visit Tokelau

People from Tokelau are known for their hospitality. Here they are seen carrying Governor-General Lord Cobham and Lady Cobham from the ferry to dry land. The ship that carried them to Tokelau can be seen in the background. Coral reefs prevent ships from coming any closer to the atolls. Lord Cobham became Governor-General of New Zealand on 5 September 1957. This occasion could have been part of their tour of the Pacific Islands between 1957 to 1962.

Lord and Lady Cobham arriving at Atafu Island, Tokelau

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Nukunonu, Tokelau.

Nukunonu

Tokelau consists of three atolls, of which Nukunonu is the largest. It lies between the atolls of Atafu and Fakaofo. Atolls are close spaced coral reefs or islands surrounding a lagoon. Atolls originally develop from volcanic eruptions. Many Pacific low-lying islands and atolls are being threatened by rising sea levels due to global warming.

Nukunonu, Tokelau.

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Sir Bernard Fergusson and his family carried ashore, Tokelau

Visitors carried ashore

This image from 1964 shows Sir Bernard, his wife Lady Laura Fergusson and their son being brought ashore on a litter. Tokelau was under British protection from 1877. Administration of Tokelau was then passed on to New Zealand in 1926. While it was declared to be part of New Zealand in 1949, Tokelau has its own political system including a National Legislative body and an Executive Council.

Sir Bernard Fergusson and his family carried ashore, Tokelau

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Tokelauan group who came to live in Wellington

Living in Wellington

Tokelauans are citizens of New Zealand and have full right to enter, live and enjoy the same benefits as any New Zealander. Many Tokelauans, like the group in this photograph from 1964, made Wellington their home.

Tokelauan group who came to live in Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Agate, Alfred T 1812-1846 :Cocoanut grove at Fakaafo or Bowditch I. / painted by A.T.Agate; engr. by J Smillie. Philadelphia, [s.n.], 1849.

Coconut grove

sailor catches up with three Tokelauans in a coconut grove. In the background is a large dwelling centre or main meeting house. The roof looks like it is thatched with coconut fronds. Coconut trees found all over the islands are used extensively for food and handicrafts.

Agate, Alfred T 1812-1846 :Cocoanut grove at Fakaafo or Bowditch I. / painted by A.T.Agate; engr. by J Smillie. Philadelphia, [s.n.], 1849.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A HAVEN OF REST. (Mataura Ensign 9-1-1914)

Haven of rest

Dr Hoare and a trader were the only white men residing in Tokelau in 1914 when the islands were under British annexation. Their racist opinion then was that the people were lazy but peaceful and with little interest in progress. Tokelau was part of a group called the Union Islands. The three islands of Tokelau were called Bowditch (Fakaofo), Duke of Clarence (Nukunonu) and (Atafu) Duke of York.

A HAVEN OF REST. (Mataura Ensign 9-1-1914)

National Library of New Zealand

Tokelau

Services to Schools

Bonito fishing

Services to Schools

Tokelau dictionary

Services to Schools

Water is rising

Services to Schools

Climate Change

Services to Schools

Photos from Nukunonu

Services to Schools

Image: Tokelauans

Tokelauans

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Fakaofo handicrafts

Services to Schools

Image: Scenes of Fakaofo atoll, Tokelau

Scenes of Fakaofo atoll, Tokelau

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: VAKA

VAKA

The Coconet TV

The Waka Tapu voyage

Services to Schools

Tokelau

Services to Schools

Waka hourua (TMCC2)

Services to Schools