2006 Tokelauan self-determination referendum

none April 2022 Do you agree that Tokelau become a self-governing state in Free Association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and as in the draft Treaty notified to Tokelau? Tokelau 2006 02 11 2006 02 15 y 349 232 3 615 A self-determination referendum was held in Tokelau between 11 and 15 February 2006, supervised by the United Nations,NZHerald New Zealand's last colony to vote on future 10 Feb 2006 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10367667 Maggie Tait The proposal would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, akin to the Cook Islands and Niue. However, although 60% of voters voted in favour, a two-thirds majority was required for the proposal to succeed.New Zealand Government Tokelau referendum does not produce a two thirds majority in favour of a change of status 16 Feb 2006 http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=24941 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060514111427/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=24941 14 May 2006 The majority of Tokelauans reside in New Zealand, and were ineligible to vote in the referendum, in line with standard practice in United Nations mandated votes on self-determination. However concerns among this community may have influenced those who were eligible to vote, thereby contributing to the referendum's failure.Radio New Zealand International Tokelau leaders confident of stronger backing for next referendum on self determination 13 March 2007 http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=30721 The passage of the referendum would have removed Tokelau from the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories, as the Cook Islands and Niue were removed from this list when they were granted self-governance in 1965 and 1974 respectively. Voting schedule Date Location 11 February Apia, Samoa (Special overseas voting) 13 February Atafu atoll 14 February Nukunonu atoll 15 February Fakaofo atoll Results Do you agree that Tokelau become a self-governing state in Free Association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and as in the draft Treaty notified to Tokelau? 349 232 3 615 Aftermath Outgoing Tokelau Ulu (head of government) Pio Tuia suggested in February 2006 that since the vote failed to pass by such a small margin, the issue was likely to be revisited in a few years' time.TMCnet Outgoing Tokelau Boss Keen For New Referendum 16 Feb 2006 http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/02/16/1380408.htm In June 2006, his successor Kolouei O'Brien announced that the Fono had agreed to hold a similar referendum again in late 2007 or early 2008;Radio New Zealand International Tokelau plans another referendum on self-determination 5 June 2006 http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=24536 in the end, it was decided to hold a second referendum on self-determination in October 2007. Decolonization United Nations success story, but task not yet complete, Fourth Committee told as debate begins United Nations 2 October 2006 https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gaspd341.doc.htm 2007-03-14 An unintended result of the United Nations' recent efforts to promote decolonization in Tokelau has been the re-emergence of a Tokelauan claim to Swains Island, which is legally part of American Samoa, hitherto a somewhat dormant issue. References Category:Referendums in Tokelau Tokelau Self-determination referendum Category:2006 elections in Oceania Category:2006 in international relations Tokelau Category:Separatism in New Zealand Tokelau Category:February 2006 elections