16 Jun 2011

Tokelau to consider impact of Samoa's possible dateline move

2:00 pm on 16 June 2011

Tokelau's General Fono is likely to discuss Samoa's plans to move to the other side of the international dateline at its next meeting in August, and make a decision whether to follow suit.

Samoa currently sits east of the dateline, but the government is working on plans to move to the west of the line at the end of this year.

The move will place Samoa on similar time lines as its major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand.

Tokelau's three atolls are also to the east of the dateline, but with its administrative offices sited in Apia, a change could pose problems.

The general manager of the territory's National Public Service, Jovilisi Suveinakama, says Tokelau would seriously consider the impact of the change.

"We are collating information with a view to submit this to [the Samoa] Cabinet, and then to the Parliament session, when it sits. But at the moment there's been no official feedback from the [Samoa] Government, because the issue hasn't actually been tabled formally."

The General Manager of Tokelau's National Public Service, Jovilisi Suveinakama.