Acknowledges the decision of the General Fono in 2008 that consideration of any future act of self-determination by Tokelau will be deferred and that New Zealand and Tokelau will devote renewed effort and attention to ensuring that essential services and infrastructure on the atolls of Tokelau are enhanced and strengthened, thereby ensuring an enhanced quality of life and opportunities for the people of Tokelau;
2
Welcomes the progress made towards the devolution of power to the three taupulega (village councils) since 2004, and notes that further discussion is planned on the recommendations in the report on the devolution review, compiled in 2012;
3
Notes with appreciation that Tokelau and New Zealand remain firmly committed to the ongoing development of Tokelau for the long-term benefit of the people of Tokelau, with particular emphasis on the further development of facilities on each atoll that meet their current requirements, including investment to connect Tokelau to an undersea cable for faster and more reliable Internet services;
4
Recalls the consideration by Tokelau of its National Strategic Plan for 2016–2020, which prioritizes good governance, human development, infrastructure development, sustainability and climate change adaptation, and notes the completion by Tokelau of the Plan, which determines development and other priorities for the 2016–2020 period, and the Plan’s focus on infrastructure development to support service delivery, including through transport and telecommunications solutions;
5
Acknowledges the ongoing and consistent commitment of New Zealand to meeting the social and economic requirements of the people of Tokelau, including through new shipping service assets and shipping infrastructure development, and budget support for the delivery of education services ranging from early childhood education to foundation courses for tertiary study, as well as the support and cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization;
6
Commends the completion by Tokelau in 2013 of the Tokelau Renewable Energy Project with the support of the administering Power and receipt by the Government of the Renewable Energy Award granted by the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority;
7
Also commends Tokelau for the recent measures taken to safeguard the health of its peoples through its “Tobacco-Free Tokelau by 2020” policy, and encourages the necessary support for its implementation from the administering Power, the United Nations system and relevant stakeholders;
8
Acknowledges the need of Tokelau for continued support from the international community and its desire to become part of the discussions on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,2 the impacts of climate change and the protection of the environment and oceans, and in this regard encourages, as appropriate, assistance towards the implementation of the climate change strategy of Tokelau, entitled “Living with change: an integrated national strategy for enhancing the resilience of Tokelau to climate change and related hazards, 2017–2030”, and the associated plan, and also acknowledges the efforts of the administering Power to include in its national reporting to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change3 the climate mitigation action taken by Tokelau;
9
Recalls with satisfaction the establishment and operation of the Tokelau International Trust Fund to support the ongoing needs of Tokelau, and calls upon Member States and international and regional agencies to contribute to the Fund and thereby lend practical support to Tokelau in overcoming the problems of smallness, isolation and lack of resources;
10
Welcomes the cooperative attitude of the other States and territories in the region towards Tokelau and their support for its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs, and in this regard notes the successful chairmanship by Tokelau of the tenth annual ministerial meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, held in Tokelau on 1 and 2 July 2014, the representation of the Agency by the Ulu-o-Tokelau at the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, held in Apia from 1 to 4 September 2014, and the signing by Tokelau of the Pacific Islands Development Forum Charter on 27 April 2016 so as to become the twelfth member of the Forum;
11
Calls uponthe administering Power and United Nations agencies to continue to provide assistance to Tokelau as it further develops;
12
Recognizes the positive actions taken by the administering Power to transmit to the Secretary-General under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations information regarding the political, economic and social situation of Tokelau;
13
Commends the commitment of both Tokelau and New Zealand to continuing to work together in the interests of Tokelau and its people;
14
Requeststhe Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of Tokelau and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session.
