Flag of Tokelau

The Tokelau flag was created in 2007 and officially approved in August 2009. The Tokelau flag has a blue background with two key elements: a yellow traditional canoe and the constellation of the Southern Cross.

Meaning of the Tokelau flag

• Blue is the color of the sky and the ocean. The ocean is the lifeblood of the Tokelauans, as it is their source of food, and the sky contains the stars that guide the people;
• The yellow color of the sun means a happy and peaceful community;
• The white color of the stars symbolizes the unity between the three atolls (Atafu, Nukunonu, Fakaofo) and peaceful coexistence;
• The Southern Cross symbolizes the connection with New Zealand and is a landmark in the ocean for Tokelau's people, which has helped them travel and fish for centuries;
• The canoe symbolizes the path to a better life for its people, the search for a better governance structure and a better life in general.

General information about Tokelau

Tokelau consists of three atolls located approximately 483 km north of Samoa. The northernmost of these is Atafu, 92 km north of Nukunonu, which in turn is 64 km north of Fakaofo. Each atoll consists of a number of small islands surrounding a lagoon. The largest atoll is Nukunonu with an area of 4.7 km², while Fakaofo and Atafu have an area of 4 km² and 3.5 km² respectively. The height of the atolls above sea level varies between three and five meters.

The total land area of Tokelau is about 12 km², with reefs quickly sinking into deep waters. Each atoll has its own administrative center. Due to limited natural resources, migration has become an important factor. The average temperature in Tokelau is 28°C. The coolest month is July and the warmest is May. Due to the low fertility of the soil, the main plants are coconut and pandanus, while bananas, papaya, taro and breadfruit provide the main food.

History of the Tokelau flag

The first Europeans to visit Tokelau were members of a British expedition led by Commodore John Byron. In 1765, Byron discovered one of the atolls, which he named “Duke of York's Island” (modern Atafu Atoll). Later, in 1791, Captain Edward Edwards on board the British ship Pandora visited two other atolls, Nukunonu and Fakaofo. The indigenous population of Tokelau is of Polynesian origin. Their ancestors arrived on the atolls about 1000-1500 years ago, using traditional canoes and having a high level of skill in navigating by the stars, winds and ocean currents.

The first contact with Europeans took place in the 1850s and brought Christianity to the islands, which quickly took root. The majority of Atafu's population is Congregationalist, while Nukunonu is dominated by Catholics. Later, in the 1860s, Peruvian slave ships captured most of the able-bodied men, leading to significant changes in local government. The loss of leaders prompted the creation of a system of governance through councils of elders (Taupulega), which is still in place today.

In 1877, Tokelau became a British protectorate, during which the British flag was not officially used for several reasons. First, the British presence on the islands was minimal, and there was no permanent administrative authority or infrastructure that would require the regular use of the flag. The administration of the islands was “light” and life on the atolls remained largely autonomous, preserving traditional forms of governance. Secondly, unlike other British colonies, the Tokelau Islands were not an important commercial or strategic site, so there was no need to actively introduce the symbols of the British government. 

In 1926, Britain transferred administrative control of Tokelau to New Zealand. Although the daily life of the locals remained almost unchanged, the New Zealand flag was used as the official state symbol of administrative and legal dependence, including on official documents, during government events, and in international relations.

The process of adopting the modern Tokelau flag began at the initiative of the local authorities in 2007. To select the design, a competition was held in which local residents participated, and the design options had to take into account the maritime culture and Polynesian origin of the population. The flag was officially approved in October 2009 and first raised on September 7, 2009 during a celebration on Tokelau. Although the flag is widely used domestically, legally it has not yet received full international recognition as a national flag, as Tokelau remains a dependent territory of New Zealand.