There has been a sharp reaction among New Zealand's Tokelauan community to comments by the Ulu, or leader, over who was to blame for the rejection of greater self-determination.
The Ulu told a New Zealand radio station that voting on the atoll of Fakaofo was in some part to blame for the no vote on self government.
Wellington based Tokelauan, Ioane Teao, says people felt the territory's leader should not be finger-pointing:
"I think it is just an an indication that they don't like people who disagree with them and its part of the whole thing that we are worried about because they haven't shown that they can accept views that are different from theirs. It is not a democracy if they are going to stifle any open discussions, open debates of any issues."
Tokelau's New Zealand administrator, David Payton, is due to travel to Samoa this weekend for further talks over Tokelau's future with the nation's leaders.
