Back in the nineteenth century, New Zealand politicians like Julius Vogel and Richard Seddon dreamed of making New Zealand "a better Britain" - complete with its own empire in the South Pacific. The Cook Islands, Niue, and Samoa were all acquired at various times, and all have since gone their own way. Now, the sun is finally going to set on that dream: in a little over a month, Tokelau, our last colonial possession, will vote on independence - and is expected to opt for self-government in free association, just as the Cooks and Niue did 40 and 31 years ago respectively.
While I'm pleased to see Tokelau take this step, I can't help but worry about how well they're going to do. Tokelau is basically a subsistence economy - albeit with phones, an internet domain, and three geosynchronous satellite slots - and they will remain dependent on New Zealand aid for a long time to come, if not forever. But this is appropriate - after all, every single Tokelauan is a Kiwi, as much as if they'd been born in Auckland, Ashbuton, Dunedin or Te Awamutu. And as kiwis, albeit seperated by a few thousand miles of ocean, we owe them a helping hand.
It's a bit of a fine line between the Chathams, which are part of NZ and Tokelau. Presumably Tokelauans (resident in the islands) don't get to vote in NZ elections like Chatham Islanders do? Maybe they should look at incorporation (getting a share of an MP) rather than independence.
ReplyDeleteLegally, Tokelau is part of New Zealand - s 3 of the Tokelau Act 1948 is quite clear about that. However, AFAIK they are not part of any electorate. Which kindof sucks, really (OTOH, they have their own legislature, but still... if they're not considered overseas, then they should get representation here as well).
ReplyDeleteThe voting process is driven by the UN; they'd shown very little interest in independence, and in fact voted in 1960 to stay with us rather than join Samoa and become independent. But now the process has started, they're reportedly quite keen on legal (as opposed to merely practical) self-government, which is good.
I/S,
ReplyDeleteTokelau and Ross are NZ's dependency's.
Once Tokelau opts for free association, we will still be left with Ross.
I'm not sure that an unrecognised claim over a patch of ice inhabited only by seals, penguins, and the odd patch of algae really counts.
ReplyDeleteAren't all territorial claims on the Antartic frozen (so to speak) by a treaty?
ReplyDeleteNZ also includes the uninhabited (except by a few DoC rangers) Auckland, Kermadec and Antipodes islands.
Interestingly, Britain has never given parliamentary seats to an overseas territory and I think NZ follows this tradition Most French territories *do* elect representatives to the French parliament.
England does give parliamentary seats to its territories in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, but not to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar.
ReplyDeleteI sugest we make my house an independant state - it will be dependant upon the NZ government for aid - it will have a free trade agreement with NZ and yet it won't have to pay any taxes.
ReplyDeleteDeal? or am I asking to have my cake and eat it too?
I am also loking forward to my seat at the UN.
ReplyDelete