26 Jan 2006

Tokelau finalising registration ahead of referendum

4:24 pm on 26 January 2006

Tokelau officials are finalising registrations for next month's vote in the territory on self determination in free association with New Zealand.

The vote to decide New Zealands last colony's political future will take place between February the 11th and 15th under supervision of the United Nations.

The general manager of the Tokelau National Public Service, Falani Aukuso says it has taken up to five years preparation to reach this stage.

"It is all on schedule. We're just finalising the final lists of the people who registered in Apia, and all three villages as well. We're fairly close to knowing the percentage of those who registered, which is around 70 - percent, but we're still finalising those."

Falani Aukuso from Tokelau's National Public Service