Alapati Pita Tavite was sworn in as the 12th Ulu o Tokelau on Monday, beginning a second term as the head of government for the tiny Pacific territory in a year marking 100 years of its relationship with New Zealand. The inauguration at Talikilagi, Nukunonu’s traditional meeting house, drew delegations from the two other atolls, Atafu and Fakaofo, as the community came together for the ceremony.
Tavite returns to the Uluship after first serving in 2023. Speaking to RNZ Pacific by Zoom, he said his re-election was an encouraging endorsement from Tokelauans. “It shows that the people felt I did something right and supported the recommendations and solutions we worked on during my previous term. It is a pleasure to return to the role and continue what we started,” he said, framing the new term as a continuation of work begun last year.
His inauguration coincides with the centennial of Tokelau’s formal relationship with New Zealand, which began in 1926 when Britain placed the territory under New Zealand administration. Tavite described it as “a privilege and an honour to be Ulu o Tokelau during this 100-year celebration,” reflecting the symbolic weight of leading Tokelau at a milestone moment in its external ties.
Tavite used the occasion to set out domestic priorities, emphasising the need to broaden Tokelau’s economic base. “At the moment, Tokelau relies heavily on New Zealand’s annual budget support. We need to look at other avenues that can help generate revenue for Tokelau,” he said, without detailing specific projects. His comments underscore an ongoing policy challenge for the remote atolls: sustaining government services and development while managing the realities of geographic isolation and limited local resources.
He also highlighted the Tokelau diaspora as central to the islands’ future. Quoting a Tokelau proverb — “Ko ki tatou e taumanu kehekehe, kae e ulupuka fakatahi” — Tavite likened scattered Tokelauans to a flock of birds that travel far to fish but return to the same tree. “You can take any pathway you want, spread your wings and fly anywhere in search of your goal… but we return to the same tree or resting place — our roots,” he said, urging those overseas to share skills and knowledge to support Tokelau’s development. “We have one Tokelau,” he added. “No matter where you are, you are more than welcome to share or contribute in whatever way to keep Tokelau on the map.”
Under Tokelau’s governance system, the Uluship rotates annually among the three atolls; the serving Faipule assumes the role and chairs the Council for the Ongoing Government. Tavite reflected on the pressures of the office, noting he felt them acutely as one of the younger leaders in Tokelau, but said the experience had also built his confidence through meetings with other Pacific leaders and representing Tokelau abroad.
With the centennial providing a high-profile backdrop, Tavite’s second term appears likely to focus on sustaining momentum from his earlier recommendations while seeking new revenue pathways and deeper engagement with the diaspora. He warned that progress requires patience in the face of transport difficulties and infrastructural limits on small islands; specific economic initiatives, he indicated, will be matters for his administration to develop and announce during the year.
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