Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Richard Davies will travel to Tokelau from Sāmoa aboard HMNZS Canterbury on 10 February 2026, to mark the centenary of New Zealand administration of Tokelau on 11 February 2026.
Photo/Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Government of the Cook Islands/file
Politics
NZ Governor-General visit highlights Tokelau centenary as new leaders are confirmed
As Tokelau marks 100 years as a territory of Aotearoa, a visit by Dame Cindy Kiro has put fresh focus on the relationship alongside the return of results from the island nation’s general election.
PMN News
Published
07 February 2026, 9:47pm
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Tokelau’s centenary celebrations have begun with a major visit from New Zealand, as HMNZS Canterbury arrived in the region carrying the Governor-General and senior officials at a pivotal moment for the atolls.
New Zealand Navy vessel Canterbury is stopping in Tokelau next week to mark 100 years since Aotearoa assumed administration of the territory, bringing with it a strong message of partnership and support across the Pacific.
The ship is currently in Sāmoa on a fuel stop as part of “Operation Calypso”, a deployment focused on countering illegal fishing in the south-west Pacific.
On board are Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, officials from several New Zealand government agencies, and an officer from the Tokelauan National Disaster Management Office.
The delegation will visit Tokelau’s three atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo with Kiro set to meet elders and women’s groups, attend welcome ceremonies, and tour major infrastructure projects including schools, hospitals, and renewable energy facilities.
Her office says the visit is intended to reaffirm the close and enduring ties between Tokelau and New Zealand.
HMNZS Canterbury. Photo/Chris Weissenborn
Support services form a key part of the visit. MetService staff will carry out a needs assessment after a request from Tokelau government agencies for observer training, while also servicing the Automatic Weather Station on Nukunonu.
A New Zealand police officer travelling on the ship will also meet with Tokelauan counterparts during the stop.
After completing the Tokelau visit, Canterbury will return to Apia before sailing on to Raoul Island in the Solomon Islands. There, Air Force NH90 helicopters, flight crew and army personnel will assist MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand teams with the upgrade and maintenance of vital weather, tsunami, and volcano monitoring equipment.
“Tokelau and Raoul Island are two examples of hard-to-reach places in our region, where carrying out tasks can be very logistically challenging,” Major General Rob Krushk, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said in a statement.
“We're pleased to be able to support the visit of Her Excellency the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro and New Zealand Government agencies to deliver services and equipment to these areas through one of our regular South West Pacific deployments.”
The ship will then return to New Zealand, bringing the centenary visit to a close.
Election results confirm new leadership as Tokelau looks ahead to its next chapter
The visit also coincides with a key political moment for Tokelau, with the results of the 2026 general election confirmed this week.
Voting took place on Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo, as well as in Apia, to allow Tokelauan voters living in Sāmoa to take part.
Outgoing Ulu-o-Tokelau Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano smiles during a gifting ceremony. Photo/RNZ/Supplied/Elena Pasilio/file
The results were announced by Tino Vitale, General Manager of Tokelau’s National Office in Apia.
Under Tokelau’s system of governance, the role of Ulu o Tokelau or Head of Government rotates among the three Faipule, the elected leaders of each atoll.
Following the election, Alapati Pita Tavite of Nukunonu will become the next Ulu o Tokelau when the Fono Fakamua, Tokelau’s Parliament, meets next month.
He replaces the current Ulu, Esera Fofō Tuisano of Fakaofo. The newly returned representatives are:
Atafu
Faipule: Kelihiano Kalolo
Pulenuku: Malala Lafaialii
Hui Taupulega: Tile Elia, Stanley Lopa, Heluka Sirila
Hui Taulelea: Tepapa Tom Ioane
Hui Fatupaepae: Latu Lopa
Nukunonu
Faipule: Alapati Pita Tavite
Pulenuku: Petelo Patelesio
Hui Taupulega: Aleki Sakalia, Viliamu Iosefo
Hui Taulelea: Tufala Tavite
Hui Fatupaepae: Suliana Pahina
Fakaofo
Faipule: Esera Fofō Tuisano
Pulenuku: Feleti Tulafono
Hui Taupulega: Kaio Isaako
Hui Taulelea: Palelei Sili, Tulafono Tulafono
Hui Fatupaepae: Malia Pue, Elisapeta Helepa Vavega
Together, the centenary visit and the election mark a moment of reflection and renewal for Tokelau: looking back on a century of history while setting its course for the years ahead.