Question of Niue and the Tokelau Islands

XXVII. RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2986. Question of Niue and the Tokelau Islands

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Niue and the Tokelau Islands, Noting that, at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand, the administering Power, a United Nations mission visited Niue in June 1972, Having examined the relevant chapters of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,[1] including in particular the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Niue, 1972,[2] Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling its resolution 2868 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971, Having heard the statements of the representative of the administering Power,[3] Noting with satisfaction that, following the visit of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Niue, the Select Committee on Constitutional Development, established by the Niue Island Legislative Assembly, concluded popular consultations on measures for the further constitutional advancement of the Territory of Niue, including the establishment of a time-table for the attainment of self-government, Stressing the special responsibility of the Government of New Zealand, as the administering Power, to continue to assist the peoples of Niue and the Tokelau Islands freely to decide their own future, Mindful that Niue and the Tokelau Islands require the continued attention and assistance of the United Nations in the achievement by their peoples of the objectives embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of colonial peoples to self-determination and independence in conformity with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV);

2. Approves the relevant chapters of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

3. Commends the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Visiting Mission to Niue, 1972, to the Government of New Zealand, as the administering Power, and to the Niue Island Legislative Assembly for consideration;

4. Expresses its appreciation of the co-operation extended to the United Nations by the Government of New Zealand in connexion with its special study of the question of Niue and the Tokelau Islands;

5. Takes note of the decision of the Niue Island Legislative Assembly concerning the future status of the Territory;

6. Expresses the hope that the forthcoming constitutional talks between the administering Power and the representatives of the people of Niue will result in an early realization of the aspirations of the Niuean people regarding their future status in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

7. Requests the administering Power to continue its assistance to the Territories in order to promote their economic, social and educational development and, in that connexion, to avail itself of assistance from the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system, as well as from competent regional and intergovernmental organizations;

8. Requests the administering Power to take the necessary measures to intensify programmes of political education as well as to preserve the cultural heritage of the people of these Territories;

9. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its twenty-eighth session.

2110th plenary meeting
14 December 1972

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[1] Ibid., chaps. IV and XVI. [2] Ibid., chap. XVI, annex I [3] Ibid., Twenty-seventh Session, Fourth Committee, 2005th meeting; A/C.4/757.