A self-determination referendum was held in Tokelau between 11 and 15 February 2006, supervised by the United Nations,[1] The proposal would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, akin to the Cook Islands and Niue.

However, although 60% of voters voted in favour, a two-thirds majority was required for the proposal to succeed.

However concerns among this community may have influenced those who were eligible to vote, thereby contributing to the referendum's failure.

Do you agree that Tokelau become a self-governing state in Free Association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and as in the draft Treaty notified to Tokelau?Outgoing Tokelau Ulu (head of government) Pio Tuia suggested in February 2006 that since the vote failed to pass by such a small margin, the issue was likely to be revisited in a few years' time.

[6] An unintended result of the United Nations' recent efforts to promote decolonization in Tokelau has been the re-emergence of a Tokelauan claim to Swains Island, which is legally part of American Samoa, hitherto a somewhat dormant issue.