What to do if someone dies in Tokelau

Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand. Three coral atolls — Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo — sit in the South Pacific approximately 500 kilometres north of Samoa. There is no airport on any of them. The only regular access is by vessel from Apia, Samoa, on a voyage of approximately two days. The vessel runs approximately fortnightly.

This geography shapes everything that follows. Call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 immediately. Lines are open 24 hours. New Zealand law applies throughout, and the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade administers the territory.

Immediate Steps

1. Contact the FCDO: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). They will notify the British High Commission in Wellington, which handles consular assistance for Tokelau.
2. Contact the Tokelau National Government (Taupulega): The village elders hold local authority. They will initiate death registration and coordinate with the NZ Administrator.
3. Contact the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT): MFAT administers Tokelau. They are the key official contact for documentation and export authorisation.
4. Contact a specialist repatriation firm: The multi-leg routing — vessel, then Samoa, then Auckland, then UK — across multiple legal jurisdictions requires professional coordination from the outset.

Death Registration

Death registration is handled by the Tokelau National Government and reported to MFAT in Wellington. New Zealand Coroner procedures apply for non-natural deaths, managed remotely given the territory’s geography. A specialist firm should begin documentation simultaneously with notification to MFAT.

The Repatriation Route

1. Vessel from the atoll to Apia, Samoa (approximately 2 days; approximately fortnightly schedule)
2. Apia (APW) to Auckland (AKL) approximately 3 hours via Samoa Airways or Air New Zealand
3. Auckland (AKL) to London Heathrow (LHR) approximately 26 hours via Qantas or Air New Zealand

Where the deceased is on a different atoll to the vessel’s next port of call, an inter-atoll transfer may be needed before the main voyage to Samoa. A specialist firm should establish the vessel’s position and schedule immediately.

Samoa Transit

Apia is in an independent sovereign nation (Samoa). Transit through Samoa requires documentation compliant with Samoan regulations. This is an additional layer not present in most New Zealand territory repatriations. A specialist firm should begin coordinating Samoan transit paperwork before the vessel departure.

Documents You Will Need

Community Considerations

Atafu and Fakaofo are predominantly Congregationalist Christian communities. Nukunonu is predominantly Roman Catholic. Village elders (Taupulega) hold considerable authority, including in decisions about burial. A specialist firm should establish respectful contact with village leadership early in the process. Local burial on the atoll is common; repatriation to New Zealand or the UK requires careful negotiation with family and community.

Burial and Cremation

There is no cremation facility on any of the three atolls. Burial on the atoll or repatriation are the only options. Given the logistical constraints, some families choose to have the deceased buried locally on Tokelau and hold a memorial service in the UK.

Useful Contacts and Sources

• FCDO Consular Assistance: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
• FCDO Travel Advice (Tokelau): gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tokelau
• British High Commission Wellington: via FCDO
• NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: mfat.govt.nz
• Tokelau National Government: via MFAT Wellington

For further guidance on the full international repatriation process, see our guide to what happens when someone dies abroad, or contact our team to speak with a specialist.