- Administrators of Tokelau
The Administrator of Tokelau is an official of the
New Zealand Government , responsible for supervising the government of thedependent territory ofTokelau .Powers and Functions
Certain of the Administrator's powers and functions are set forth in the
Tokelau Act 1948 , as amended from time to time. (The office of Administrator is not, however, created by this Act.) The most important power of the Administrator is the power to disallow any Rule passed by theGeneral Fono ; this must, however, be done within 30 days after the Administrator is sent a copy of the Rule.The Administrator is assisted by a permanent staff of civil servants, which form the "Office of the Administrator of Tokelau", a part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Office coordinates New Zealand government activity relating to Tokelau, especially economic assistance; provides expert policy advice and assistance to the Tokelau government, also arranging for administrative assistance and training to the Tokelau public service; and represents the Tokelau public service in New Zealand, especially to the resident Tokelauan community. Besides these roles, the Office is presently assisting Tokelau to develop appropriate legal, governance and administration structures as Tokelau moves towards greater autonomy.
The Administrator formally acts as a representative, not of the Queen personally, but of the New Zealand Government. The Administration of Tokelau may also be overruled by the New Zealand Parliament, or by regulations made by the Governor-General in Council.
Appointment
The Administrator is appointed by the
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs .History
The region of the
Pacific Ocean in which Tokelau lies was declared a Britishprotectorate in 1877, and the islands themselves came under British protection in 1889, being incorporated into theGilbert and Ellice Islands Colony . This Colony was administered by officials responsible ultimately to theColonial Office inLondon .In 1925, Tokelau was separated from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, officially becoming its own Colony. In reality, however, it was administered out of New Zealand, the
Governor-General of New Zealand being appointed Governor of Tokelau. The Governor-General at the time, General Sir Charles Fergusson, the next year appointed theHigh Commissioner of Western Samoa , Maj Gen Sir George Spafford Richardson, as Administrator, with a delegation of the Vice-Regal powers. This situation continued up until 1948, when sovereignty over Tokelau was formally transferred from theUnited Kingdom to New Zealand.In recent years, Administrators have tended to be senior civil servants, politicians, or career diplomats.
Administrators of
Tokelau (1926–Present)*Maj Gen Sir George Spafford Richardson (1926–1928)
*Col Sir Stephen Shepherd Allen (1928–1931)
*Brig Gen Sir Herbert Ernest Hart (1931–1935)
*Sir Alfred Clarke Turnbull (1935–1946)
*Lt Col Francis William Voelcker (1946–1949)
*Sir Guy Powles (1949–1960)
*John Bird Wright (1960–1965)
*Owston Paul Gabites (1965–1968)
*Richard Basil Taylor (1968–1971)
*Duncan MacIntyre (1971–1972)
*Matiu Rata (1972–1973)
*William Gray Thorp (1973–1975)
*Frank Henry Corner (1975–1984)
*Harold Huyton Francis (1984–1988)
*Neil Walter (1988–1990)
*Graham Keith Ansell (1990–1992)
*Brian William Peter Absolum (1992–1993)
*Lindsay Johnstone Watt (1993–2003)
*Neil Walter (2003–2006)
*David Payton (2006–Present)ee also
*
Administrator of the Government
*Heads of Government of Tokelau External links
* http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Pacific/Tokelau/administrators.php NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade — List of Administrators of the Tokelau Islands
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