Tokelau

The "return to the village" theme continues to affect political development in Tokelau, but is operating under a new name--"the modern house of Tokelau." The vaka (canoe) metaphor of the early 1990s is now being partnered by the new "modern house" ideology. The term is used by the political leaders to promote self-determination by equating the planned "new house" to Tokelau's future self-governing status. The idea is to incorporate all the institutions that serve Tokelau under the authority of the traditional leaders in an attempt to fakafale uma ia ika i he lalofatu e fokotahi (literally, to house all fish under one stone, coral rock). The emergence of the concept modern, and its association with the "house" planned for Tokelau can be seen as one way of setting off the process of decolonization. This view is based on the comparison between Tokelau's current "house" and the proposed one as portrayed in official documents (OCF 1998). The current one has a hierarchical structure connected by vertical, horizontal, and criss-crossing arrows. The queen (of England) is at the top, followed by the New Zealand governor general. The third level includes the Tokelau Public Service Commissioners, the New Zealand State Services Commission (SSC), the General Fono (equated with Parliament), the New Zealand-based administrator (a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade official), New Zealand's minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the New Zealand Parliament, all of equal standing. At the fourth level is the Council of Faipule (equated with the cabinet or executive). The three Taupulega follow, on the fifth level. This last group is being targeted for empowerment and capacity building in the new "modern house."

Most of the posts of the "modern house" have been identified, but some are being redefined in the first draft of the constitution. The "unknowns" may bring further changes to the "house building" process. The posts identified and redefined thus far include the General Fono of elected village representatives. In previous years, representatives were selected from the three Taupulega. The new elective process makes members of other long-standing community bodies eligible for selection as village representatives to the General Fono. Local women's and men's organizations now elect one member each. However, this new "post" needs time to settle and possibly some reshaping to fit the foundation, as these new members are not selected from the locally recognized decision-making body. Reaction to the new setup varies: some welcome it as a way of including women's participation, but some elders question the validity of the arrangement, arguing that it excludes Taupulega members, minimizing their chances of entering the highest decision-making institution, the General Fono.

The second post, regarded as an integral component of "The Modern House of Tokelau," is a Tokelau Public Service "that is more responsive to traditional nuku [village] authority" (SSC, 1998). In September 1998, the Council of Faipule held talks with New Zealand government officials about Tokelau's wish to build itself a "new house." This time around, Tokelau requested a coordinated approach from New Zealand, not a "multivoiced" approach.

The fono (meetings) between the Council of Faipule and officials of the New Zealand State Services Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade resulted in the production of a Green Paper containing proposed models for reforming the current public service titled Tokelau Public Service Reforms: To Preserve by Changing (SSC, 1999). The proposals are a coordinated effort by the State Services Commission and the Office of the Administrator of Tokelau. Tokelau's adviser on constitutional and related issues, Professor Tony Angelo of Victoria University Wellington, was consulted, along with a number of people with different interests who have worked in Tokelau in the past.

The Green Paper was tabled at the General Fono held in Nukunonu in June 1999. It proposes a model where the Tokelau Public Service will be substantially reduced to a core group of between thirty...