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Tokelau

  • Ariel view of a ring-shaped island
    Faka-Tokelau: Living with Change

    Faka-Tokelau: Living with Change

    Explore Tokelau’s unique way of life, faka-Tokelau, through the lenses of two New Zealand photographers. Glenn Jowitt visited in 1981, Andrew Matautia 36 years later, in 2017.

    On now
    Temporary exhibition

    Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

  • Teenagers on a boat, blue clear water below them
    Community in Tokelau: Learning from ‘atoll life’

    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.

    Te Papa Blog

  • A lady in a yellow shirt holds up some of her weaving
    Weaving in Tokelau: Novena’s story

    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.

  • A man on a tropical island holds a rod
    Seven things you should know about Tokelau

    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.

    Te Papa Blog

  • An illustration of men sat on the, palms and a hut in the background
    An environmental profile of Tokelau

    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.

    Te Papa Blog

  • Line drawing of a tattooed woman
    The history of Tokelau tatau and tattooing

    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.

    Te Papa Blog

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

    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’.

    Te Papa Blog

  • Front cover of the Tokelau language activity book and some inside pages picturing the Tokelau flag
    Tokelau language activity book

    Tokelau language activity book

    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).

    Activity book

  • Small wooden box with a string handle
    Tuluma – fishing boxes of Tokelau

    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).

    Te Papa Blog

  • A black and white photo of a group of adults standing on some steps smiling
    From Tokelau to New Zealand

    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.

    Te Papa Blog

  • Sepia photograph of huts with people sat under them
    Four rare 1886 photographs from Olohega, Tokelau

    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.

    Te Papa Blog