Question of Tokelau.

  • Author: UN General Assembly (31st sess. : 1976)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    1 December 1976

31. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE*
48. Question of Tokelau

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the Tokelau Islands, 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 dispatched to the Territory in June 1976[2] at the invitation of the Government of New Zealand, as the administering Power, and the people of the Tokelau Islands, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also its resolution 3428 (XXX) of 8 December 1975 on the question of the Tokelau Islands, Having heard the statement of the administering Power,[3] Having also heard the statement of one of the members of the Visiting Mission,[4] Mindful of the responsibility of the United Nations to help the people of the Tokelau Islands to realize their aspirations in accordance with the objectives set forth in the Declaration, Aware of the special problems facing the Territory by virtue of its isolation, small size and meagre resources,

1. Approves the chapter 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 relating to the Tokelau Islands;[5]

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of the Tokelau Islands to self-determination in conformity with the Declaration;

3. Commends the conclusions and recommendations of the United Nations Visiting Mission to the Tokelau Islands, 1976[6] to the Government of New Zealand, as the administering Power, and to the people of the Tokelau Islands for their consideration;

4. Expresses its appreciation to the members of the Visiting Mission for the constructive work which they accomplished, and to the administering Power, the fonos (councils) and the people of the Tokelau Islands for the close co-operation and assistance extended to the Mission;

5. Decides that, in accordance with the wishes of the people of the Tokelau Islands, as expressed through their representatives, and in conformity with the recommendation of the Visiting Mission, the Territory shall henceforth be known as "Tokelau";

6. Expresses the view that measures to promote the economic development of Tokelau are an important element in the process of self-determination, and the hope that the administering Power will continue to intensify and expand its programme of budgetary support and development aid to the Territory;

7. Requests the administering Power, in the light of the conclusions and recommendations of the Visiting Mission, to continue to enlist the assistance of the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system, as well as other regional and international bodies, in the strengthening and development of the economy of the Territory;

8. Requests the specialized agencies and other organizations to consider the methods and scale of their operations, in order to ensure that they are able to respond appropriately to the requirements of such small and isolated Territories as Tokelau;

9. Requests the administering Power to take the necessary measures to intensify programmes of political education, as well as to ensure the preservation of the identity and the cultural heritage of the people of Tokelau;

10. Requests the Special Committee to continue to examine this question at its next session in the light of the findings of the Visiting Mission, including the possible dispatch of a second visiting mission to Tokelau, as appropriate and in consultation with the administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session.

85th plenary meeting
1 December 1976


[1] Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/31/ Rev.1), chaps. III and XVII. [2] Ibid., chap. XVII, annex. [3] Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Fourth Committee, 12th meeting, paras. 1-11. [4] Ibid., 24th meeting, paras. 3-7. [5] Ibid., Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/31/Rev.1), chap. XVII. [6] Ibid., chap. XVII, annex, paras. 381-421.
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