Te Papa is open. Visiting Te Papa during Alert Level 2
Kei te tuwhera a Te Papa. Te toronga mai ki Te Papa i raro i te Pae Mataara 2

  1. Home
  2. Discover the collections
  3. Read, watch, play
  4. Pacific

Tokelau

Tokelau is in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawai‘i and Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out more about Tokelau through videos, blogs, and an activity book.

  • Aerial still of Tokelau
    Watch: Scenes of Tokelau atolls

    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.

  • Woman holds a fishing net. Behind her is a house and palm trees
    Photos of life in Tokelau, 2017

    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.

    Collections Online

  • A woman prepares bread to fry in a pot, while another woman weaves with flax. They are sitting on a beach
    Photos of life in Tokelau, 1981

    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.

    Collections Online

  • 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.

  • 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

  • Illustration of a group of men preparing to tattoo
    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

  • Fan made of coconut and pandanus leaves, featuring an orange and blue pattern woven throughout
    Ili (fan)

    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).

    Collections Online

  • 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

  • =""
    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