NEW ZEALAND
Stuff
18 December 2005
By TARA ROSS
Tokelau's New Zealand administrator is sending a social worker to the island because of concern sexual abuse is being ignored.
Neil Walter is recruiting a two-person team to meet Tokelau's leaders and law enforcers in March to ensure they apply the law in sexual abuse cases.
Unease over two cases on the northern atoll of Atafu have divided the tiny territory, and some are saying it has become the new Pitcairn. Six Pitcairn Island men were convicted last year for sex offences dating back 40 years, and several others are awaiting trial on sex charges.
Walter said no legal action was taken against Atafu's pastor, Iosua Faamoni, who sexually abused his 12-year-old stepdaughter in 1992. He left the island after her revelation, but was allowed to return last year to run the church after he publicly confessed to his wrongdoing.