Alapati Pita Tavite was sworn in on Monday as the 12th Ulu o Tokelau, beginning a second, year-long term as head of Tokelau’s government in a ceremony held at Talikilagi, the traditional meeting house on Nukunonu. Delegations from the other two atolls, Atafu and Fakaofo, joined Nukunonu’s community for the inauguration, which comes as Tokelau marks the centennial of its relationship with New Zealand that began in 1926 when Britain placed the territory under New Zealand administration.
Tavite, who first held the Uluship in 2023, described the return to office as both an honour and an endorsement of the work he advanced during his previous term. Speaking by Zoom to RNZ Pacific, he said his re-election showed “the people felt I did something right and supported the recommendations and solutions we worked on during my previous term.” Under Tokelau’s rotating leadership system, the Faipule of the serving atoll assumes the Uluship each year and chairs the Council for the Ongoing Government.
Reflecting on his earlier tenure, Tavite acknowledged the pressures of leadership, particularly as one of Tokelau’s younger representatives, but said the experience also built confidence through opportunities to meet other Pacific leaders and to represent Tokelau abroad. He warned that progress in Tokelau requires patience because of the realities of isolation, transport constraints and the logistical challenges of life on small atolls.
A central focus of Tavite’s new term is economic resilience. He told RNZ Pacific that Tokelau remains heavily dependent on New Zealand’s annual budget support and must pursue fresh sources of revenue to secure its future. “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 outlining specific projects, signaling that economic diversification will be a priority for the Council during his year in office.
Tavite also used his inauguration to appeal to the Tokelauan diaspora, urging people living abroad to contribute skills, knowledge and resources. Quoting a Tokelau proverb—“Ko ki tatou e taumanu kehekehe, kae e ulupuka fakatahi”—he likened Tokelauans to a flock of birds that scatter across the ocean to fish but return to the same tree, stressing that those who leave still share a common root. “You can take any pathway you want, spread your wings and fly anywhere … but we return to the same tree or resting place—our roots,” he said, adding “We have one Tokelau” and welcoming contributions “in whatever way to keep Tokelau on the map or to keep our Vaka on the surface.”
The inauguration during Tokelau’s 100-year milestone with New Zealand frames Tavite’s agenda within a larger historical context, highlighting ongoing questions about governance, development and self-reliance for one of the Pacific’s smallest territories. His second term will be watched for concrete proposals on revenue generation and engagement strategies that might reduce dependence on external budgetary support while preserving the islands’ cultural and social ties at home and abroad.
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