General Fono
Unicameral parliament of Tokelau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The General Fono (Tokelauan: Fono Fakamua) is the unicameral parliament of Tokelau. It has 20 members, representing the 3 atolls. Elections are held every three years and meets several times a year. The location for these legislative sessions shifts among the atolls.[2]
General Fono Fono Fakamua | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Charles III since 8 September 2022 | |
Don Higgins since 2022 | |
| Seats | 20 |
| Elections | |
Last election | 5 February 2026 |
| Website | |
| https://www.tokelau.org.nz/ | |
Tokelau is a de facto non-partisan democracy since both village and Fono elections are made without political parties.[3]
The number of seats each atoll receives in the Fono is determined by population – currently Fakaofo and Atafu each have seven and Nukunonu has six. Faipule and pulenuku also sit in the Fono.[4]
History
Prior to 1999, the General Fono was composed of 27 members chosen by the Council of Elders (Tokelauan: Taupulega) of each village, with only the Faipule (village representative) and Pulenuku (village mayor) directly elected.[5]
Elections for a reformed 18-member General Fono were held in January 1999. Each village returned six members: a Faipule, Deputy Faipule, Pulenuku, Deputy Pulenuku, and a male and female delegate.[5]
A representation review following the 2001 census delegated seats to the atolls proportional to their population: 8 for Atafu, 7 for Fakaofo and 6 for Nukunonu (21 members total).[5]
In June 2004, the Administrator of Tokelau formally delegated his responsibilities to the village councils of the three atolls, who in turn sub-delegated national matters to the General Fono, affirming the traditional authority (pule) of the councils.[5][6][4]
The 2023 election was the first year that all atolls elected their members using the same electoral process, with the Nukunonu village council having previously opted out of the system which had been brought in in 2013. Nukunonu agreed to switch to the new process following changes to the rules to allow candidates to run for multiple positions.[7][8] Atafu and Fakaofo each returned seven members to the Fono, while Nukunonu elected six members - approximately one member per 100 people of each village.[8]
Current composition
| Position | Atafu members | Fakaofo members | Nukunonu members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faipule | Kelihiano Kalolo | Esera Fofō Tuisano | Alapati Pita Tavite |
| Pulenuku | Malala Lafaialii | Feleti Tulafono | Petelo Patelesio |
| Hui Taupulega (Village elders) |
Tile Elia | Kaio Isaako | Aleki Sakalia |
| Stanley Lopa | Viliamu Iosefo | ||
| Heluka Sirila | |||
| Hui Taulelea (Men's group) |
Tepapa Tom Ioane | Palelei Sili | Tufala Tavite |
| Tulafono Tulafono | |||
| Hui Fatupaepae (Women's group) |
Latu Lopa | Malia Pue | Suliana Pahina |
| Elisapeta Helepa Vavega | |||
| Source:[9][10] | |||
