Kelihiano Kalolo Explained

Honorific Prefix:Aliki
Kelihiano Kalolo
Order:20th, 27th, 29th & 31st Tokelau: [[Head of Government of Tokelau|Ulu-o-Tokelau]]
1Blankname:Administrator
1Namedata:Don Higgins
Term Start:6 March 2023
Term End:12 March 2024
Predecessor:Siopili Perez
Successor:Alapati Tavite
1Blankname1:Administrator
1Namedata1:Ross Ardern
Term Start1:8 March 2021
Term End1:19 May 2022
Predecessor1:Fofo Tuisano
Successor1:Siopili Perez
1Blankname2:Administrator
1Namedata2:Ross Ardern
Term Start2:12 March 2019
Term End2:9 March 2020
Predecessor2:Afega Gaualofa
Successor2:Fofo Tuisano
1Blankname3:Administrator
1Namedata3:Jonathan Kings
Term Start3:February 2012
Term End3:March 2013
Predecessor3:Foua Toloa
Successor3:Salesio Lui
Spouse:Atene Kalolo

Aliki Kelihiano Kalolo[1] [2] is a Tokelauan politician who has served several times as the Head of the Government of Tokelau (Tokelau: Ulu-o-Tokelau), or Tokelau: Ulu, most recently from 6 March 2023 to 12 March 2024.[3] He previously served in the same position from February 2012 to March 2013, again from 12 March 2019 to 9 March 2020, and again from 8 March 2021 to 19 May 2022. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education, Economic Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, prior to and then simultaneously to his leadership of the government. The office of Tokelau: Ulu rotates on an annual basis between the Tokelau: [[Politics of Tokelau|faipule]] of each of the country's three atolls; Kalolo, as Tokelau: faipule of Atafu, took office as Tokelau: Ulu for the first time in 2012.[4] [5] [6]

As Tokelau: Ulu, he oversaw the replacement of Tokelau's old ship, the MV Tokelau, which was considered no longer to be safe and seaworthy, with the newer, custom-built PB Matua, provided by New Zealand.[7] In June 2012, Kalolo sacked his Minister for Transport, Foua Toloa, over the latter's insistence that the MV Tokelau was still seaworthy, and New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully's indication that the New Zealand government could not work with Toloa. Toloa's portfolios (Finance, Telecommunications, Energy and Transport) were taken over by the Tokelau: Ulu.[8]

Kalolo also oversaw the small country's transition from diesel-powered energy to solar energy, implemented by the New Zealand company Vector in 2012, this system was upgraded and repaired in 2020, also under his leadership.[9]

In September 2012, he was appointed Chancellor of the regional University of the South Pacific. Prior to becoming Tokelau: Ulu, he had served as the University's co-ordinator in Tokelau.

His first term as Tokelau: Ulu ended in March 2013; his successor was Salesio Lui, the Tokelau: faipule of Nukunonu.[10]

He became Tokelau: Ulu again in March 2019, replacing Afega Gaualofa. He was succeeded by Fofo Esera Tuisano.

He became Tokelau: Ulu once again in March 2021, replacing Fofo Esera Tuisano.[11]

In 2020, Kalolo drafted a referendum set for 2025 for the territory to gain more autonomy or possibly become independent from New Zealand.[12]

His third term as Tokelau: Ulu ended on 19 May 2022 and he was succeeded by Siopili Perez, Tokelau: faipule of Nukunonu.[3]

He was elected Ulu once again on 6 March 2023,[13] and succeeded by Alapati Tavite on 12 March 2024.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=211358 "University has new chancellor"
  2. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=66667 "End-of-year target for Tokelau’s renewable energy scheme"
  3. News: Tokelau: Heads of government (Ulu-o-Tokelau) . Rulers.org . 30 March 2024.
  4. Te Vakai, 10th edition
  5. http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=693097712505103c26588542905dcc "Tokelau thanks Fiji on decolonisation efforts"
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20111010193346/https://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Pacific/Tokelau/0-who-tokelau.php "Who's Who in Tokelau"
  7. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74255 "Tokelau leader dumped after losing confidence of New Zealand Foreign Minister"
  8. http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=69178 "Concern for council unity in removing Tokelau minister"
  9. News: New solar system for Tokelau . 27 March 2022 . Radio New Zealand . Radio New Zealand . 4 March 2020.
  10. http://www.tokelau.org.nz/About+Us/Government/HOW+TOKELAU+IS+GOVERNED.html "How Tokelau is governed"
  11. Web site: Tokelau opens parliament for 2021 . RNZ . 9 March 2021 . 9 March 2021.
  12. Web site: Tokelau: Veteran leader pushes for poll on independence | Pacific Media Network .
  13. Web site: Tokelau welcomes new head of government . RNZ . 13 March 2023 . 13 March 2023.