Tokelau Translation service

CCJK provides services in Tokelau translation and interpretation. To obtain a free quote for an upcoming Tokelau project, please contact CCJK.

Tokelau language

Tokelau is a Polynesian language closely related to Tuvaluan. It is spoken by about 1,500 people on the atolls of Tokelau, and by the few inhabitants of Swains Island in neighboring American Samoa. It is a member of the Samoic family of Polynesian languages. It is the official language of Tokelau. In addition to the population of Tokelau, it is spoken by approximately 2,900 Tokelau expatriates in New Zealand.

Tokelau Phrases

English Tokelau
My grandmother lives in Nukunonu. Ko toku nena e i Nukunonu.
Hello, how are you? Malo ni, ea mai koe?
Welcome taloha
Happy birthday manuia to aho fanau
Happy New year manuia te Tauhaga Fou

Tokelau Introduction

Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400 in the South Pacific Ocean. The atolls lie north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the more distant Line Islands and northwest of the Cook Islands.

Culture & Society

To some extent the inhabitants retain cultural ties with Samoa but there are also strong links with Tuvalu where the culture is also distinctly moulded by the atoll environment. There are also linguistic and family ties with both countries. Faka-Tokelau, the Tokelau way of life, is centred on family and community. There is a complex social and economic order based on the values of community and sharing which remains strong despite the pressure of external influences. Village affairs are conducted by a council of elders consisting of representatives of the families.

Tokelaus are citizens of New Zealand which gives them free right of access to that country. In the 1960s and early 1970s the New Zealand Government operated the Tokelau Resettlement Scheme to overcome crowding on the atolls. Many families migrated to New Zealand and later sponsored others who wanted to emigrate. The scheme was suspended in 1976 when the population stabilised. Currently some 3000 Tokelaus live in New Zealand; other small communities can be found in Samoa, American Samoa and Hawai’i.