Our last colony

I see in the NZ Herald that the PM is off to visit Tokelau, the last colony of the former powerful New Zealand Empire 🙂

I recall the last PM, David Lange, who visited it, as this happened when I was at school, and one of my classmates went along as his father (who worked for MFAT) had been appointed the Civil Service Administrator. The only access was by way of long boat trip so he got to know Lange quite well spending several days on a baot with him.

The return boat was delayed, so Paul was late getting back to school. He took great delight though in giving the teacher a hand written note from Prime Minister David Lange asking Paul to be excused for being late for school as he had been assisting the Prime Minister. The teacher was suitably impressed!