Tokelau

Co-collecting climate change in Tokelau: Project IKA

Pacific curator Rachel Yates introduces a co-collecting project that took Te Papa to Tokelau’s three low-lying coral atolls in the South Pacific to document the effects of climate change.

Watch: Scenes of Tokelau atolls

Drone footage of the Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo atolls of Tokelau. About 1,500 Tokelauans live on these atolls which are in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawai’i and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Photos of life in Tokelau, 2017

In 2017, photographer Andrew Matautia joined Te Papa on a co-collecting trip to Tokelau. During his visit he documented life on the islands, which are increasingly under threat of climate change. View his photos – including spectacular drone imagery.

Photos of life in Tokelau, 1981

In 1981, photographer Glenn Jowitt went to Tokelau to document life on the atolls – weaving, fishing, cooking, faith, and leisure. View photos from that trip.

Weaving in Tokelau: Novena’s story

Watch Novena Petelo explain how she learnt traditional Tokelauan weaving techniques from her mother, and hear about some of the tools she uses in her practice.

Community in Tokelau: Learning from ‘atoll life’

In November 2017 media producer Kate Whitley joined a Te Papa expedition to Tokelau. Reflecting on her journey, Kate explores the photos of Glenn Jowitt in our collection and talks with Paula Faiva about growing up in Tokelau and the importance of the inati (equal portions) system that underpins island life.

The history of Tokelau tatau and tattooing

Senior Curator Pacific Cultures Sean Mallon looks at what the archival and published record tells us about tattooing in Tokelau.

Ili (fan)

This is a hand held fan from Fakaofo in Tokelau. It was woven by Meaalofa Faleasiu using coconut and pandanus leaves. It was collected by Te Papa as part of a co-collecting project about how people in Tokelau are living with climate change (2017).

Seven things you should know about Tokelau

Pacific Curator Sean Mallon gives us seven facts about Tokelau – a country made up of four atolls that lies north of the Samoan Islands, and east of Tuvalu.

An environmental profile of Tokelau

Senior Pacific Curator Sean Mallon gives a short environmental profile of Tokelau and shares one of Tokelau’s creation stories.

A trip to remote Tokelau: Life a few metres above sea level

The Pacific island nation of Tokelau is one of the most remote places on the planet, and, with the entire country sitting metres above sea level, one of the most under threat from climate change. Media creator Kate Whitley describes the journey to this vulnerable ‘necklace of small islands’.

Tokelau language activity book

Early childhood, Primary

Find out about Tokelau’s atolls, designs, and flag. As well as kupu (words) for food, emotions, animals, numbers, and body parts! Fun for all the kāiga (family).

Tuluma – fishing boxes of Tokelau

Since Senior Curator Pacific Cultures Sean Mallon began working with the Te Papa collections in the early 1990s, he has admired the tuluma of Tokelau (fishing boxes).

From Tokelau to New Zealand

Senior Pacific Curator Sean Mallon looks at the wave of Tokelau migration to New Zealand that began in the 1960s and its consequences.

Four rare 1886 photographs from Olohega, Tokelau

See four photos taken by Thomas Andrew in 1886. He was on the Buster – a ship out of Auckland that travelled through the Pacific Islands for seven months. The Buster called at Olohega (also known as Swains Island) for a day.