General Fono Discussion on Change Plan

General Fono Discussion on Change Plan highlights Concerns by Taupulegas’

Tokelau’s main Governance body, the Council of Village Elders (Taupulega) brought forth its concerns over the Change Management Plan (CMP) report to the General Fono held on Nukunonu in early February 2015.

The Change Management Plan (CMP) Report proposed various changes to enhancing the services delivered, and the governing structure towards a quality life on Tokelau.

Taupulegas’ are supportive of the changes focusing on improving the service delivery, but their main concern is the structural changes to the current structure.

Some of the structural changes proposed in the report are believed to impinge on the culture and traditional institutions. It will have implications to the current governance structure and constitutional significance. There are also concerns surrounding the proposal in the report to have all responsibilities centralised, and removal of workforce under its mandate.

Taupulegas’ Representatives statements at the meeting encouraged the General Fono (Parliamentary Meeting) that any change should be owned by our communities to improve the house of Tokelau. The statement highlighted that the communities are concerned about any changes from outside, and suggest taking ownership of the relevant changes that Tokelau is comfortable with.

Government of New Zealand through the Administrator of Tokelau, Jonathan Kings, have supported the concerns of the Taupulega, and agreed that the structural changes should wait until Tokelau is ready.

Government of New Zealand is adamant that the plan must be Tokelauan’s.

The issue has been reverted back to each Taupulega for further discussions and to report back with their views on the way forward to the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government next month. The Ulu o Tokelau, Siopili Perez is leading the work on the matter.

ENDS

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