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Tokelau cyclone guide

Tokelau is three low lying coral atolls, Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo, in the South Pacific cyclone basin, and is a territory within the Realm of New Zealand. Because the atolls sit only a few meters above sea level, storm surge and large swells are a serious risk even from a cyclone that passes well offshore. The Disaster Management Unit, under the Ministry of Climate, Oceans and Resilience, leads national disaster work, but day to day preparedness runs through each atoll's Taupulega (village council). Cyclone Percy struck all three atolls in February 2005, Tokelau's worst cyclone in decades, damaging seawalls, the hospital, schools, and crops, though no one died. Tokelau has very little official web presence of its own, so this page is shorter and less certain than most on this site.

Checked on November 6, 2026

Every phone number and web address on this page was checked against official sources on that date. Details can change, especially during a storm. Always follow instructions from the Disaster Management Unit (DMU), within the Ministry of Climate, Oceans and Resilience (MiCORe). Tokelau has no single published national emergency number. Follow announcements from your Taupulega (village council) and the Tokelau government. Emergency numbers will be added once official pages confirm them.

What to know in Tokelau

  • The National Disaster Management Officer is a full time position based in Tokelau, stationed within the Disaster Management Unit, which the Tokelau government describes as an arm of the Ministry of Climate, Oceans and Resilience.
  • Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory within the Realm of New Zealand. Tokelau runs its own government bodies, courts, and public services, and New Zealand's government handles Tokelau's international obligations, defense, security, and its maritime zone, working closely with Tokelau.
  • During Cyclone Percy in February 2005, the first word that a cyclone was coming reportedly reached Tokelau by a phone call from New Zealand, and a regional report said the system meant to pass warnings from Fiji did not work as planned. Follow the Taupulega on your atoll and any warning passed on by officials, and do not assume a warning will arrive by any one channel.
  • News coverage in 2026 reported that the Samoa Meteorological Service issues weather forecasts and warnings for Tokelau, and that Tokelau has no local radio, so warnings are emailed to officials on each atoll, who then alert residents. No Tokelau or Samoa government page was found confirming this arrangement directly, so treat it as how things worked in that reported case, not a confirmed standing rule.

Emergency and information numbers

Service Number Notes
Fakaofo Taupulega (village council) office +690-731-598 Office of the Fakahoa (coordinator) for Fakaofo atoll, as listed on the Tokelau government contact page. Not an emergency line.
Nukunonu Taupulega (village council) office +690-42-27 Office of the Pule Fakahoa (general manager) for Nukunonu atoll, as listed on the Tokelau government contact page. Not an emergency line.
Atafu Taupulega (village council) office +690-22-216 Office of the Fakatonu (director) for Atafu atoll, as listed on the Tokelau government contact page. Not an emergency line.

Official alerts and information

  • Tokelau government bulletins: Tokelau government news bulletins, which have carried past cyclone preparedness and recovery updates. Check the date on each bulletin. Website.

National resources

  • Tokelau government (tokelau.org.nz): Tokelau's government site, run through the Tokelau Apia Liaison Office. Carries bulletins, administration pages, and the national contact list. Website.
  • New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Tokelau: New Zealand government page on its relationship with Tokelau. Website.

For state agencies across the country, see the official sources page.

Evacuation centers

Open only when announced

Evacuation centers open only when officials announce them, and not every center opens for every storm. Check the official list of open centers before you leave home. Bring your own bedding, food, water, and medicines.

No national list of shelters is published on an official page. Ask your Taupulega (village council) where to go, since each atoll organizes its own cyclone preparedness.

Radio, TV and weather

Keep a battery or hand crank radio. When power and cell service fail, radio is often the only way to hear official updates.

Official forecasts

  • Samoa Meteorological Service: Reported in 2026 news coverage as the service that issues forecasts and warnings for Tokelau. Not confirmed directly on an official Samoa or Tokelau government page, and historically Tokelau's warnings have instead been passed on from the Fiji Meteorological Service. Follow your Taupulega for official local alerts. Website.
  • Fiji Meteorological Service (RSMC Nadi): The regional tropical cyclone centre site for the South Pacific, which has historically issued cyclone bulletins covering Tokelau. Website.

After the storm: help for displaced residents

If your home is damaged or you cannot go back, these organizations help with shelter, food, money, and paperwork. Many programs open only after a disaster declaration, so check their pages for current status.

Relief organizations

  • New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: New Zealand has provided emergency supplies and disaster recovery support to Tokelau in the past, including after Cyclone Percy in 2005. This is past practice, not a standing guarantee, so follow your Taupulega and Tokelau's government for current help. Website.

Sources

Checked on November 6, 2026. If a number or address here is wrong, please tell us at Keith@KMyers.me.