Election Committee on Nukunonu atoll carrying out a mock election in the lead up to the official national election held on 5 February, 2026 Photo: Elena Pasilio
Polling stations are now closed in Tokelau and counting for the national election is underway.
Voting took place in Nukunonu, Atafu, Fakaofo, and also in Apia, Samoa.
Eligible voters on each atoll will choose a Faipule, Pulenuku (mayor), Hui Taupulega 1 (first council representative), Hui Taupulega 2, (second council representative), Hui Taulelea (men's representative) and Hui Fatupaepae (women's representative).
The position of the Ulu o Tokelau (head of government) rotates among the three Faipule. Voters can only choose a representative on their own atoll.
In a brief update on the Government of Tokelau's social media page, Margaret Pedro said that as per the Tokelau election rules of 2022, the open hours for any voters to come in were from 9am to 2pm, similar to the villages.
"We were very fortunate that we had no challenges or any issues."
She said the final process and procedure of the election remained the scanning process.
"It's really important to emphasise that counting is not done in Apia, it's important to know that the scanning per ballot papers are actually scanned individually to each of the respective villages and the count is down there," she said.
More than 1600 people live in the New Zealand realm nation.
"We would like to thank you for your patience, and we ask you for your patience as the three villages facilitate, populate and consolidate the numbers, and we also pray for our government and leaders," Pedro said
This year marks 100 years since Tokelau became a territory of New Zealand.
