Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Pacific Islands Treaty Series

Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the French Republic concerning the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundaries between Wallis and Futuna and Tokelau [2003] PITSE 5 (30 June 2003)

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC CONCERNING THE DELIMITATION OF THE MARITIME BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WALLIS AND FUTUNA AND TOKELAU

(Atafu, 30 June 2003)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: SEE ARTICLE 6

THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC -

DESIROUS of strengthening the bonds of neighbourliness and friendship between the two States and in particular between the peoples of Wallis and Futuna and the peoples of Tokelau;

RECOGNISING the need to effect a precise and equitable delimitation of the respective maritime areas in which the two states exercise sovereign rights;

BASING themselves on the rules and principles of relevant international law, as expressed in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of December 10th, 1982, which entered into force on November 16th 1994;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS –

Article 1

The delimitation line of the maritime areas located between the French Republic off the Territory of Wallis and Futuna, and Tokelau, is a line of equidistance, considered in this particular case as an equitable solution in conformity with international law. This line has been determined by using the nearest baselines from which the territorial sea of each state is measured.

Article 2

2.1 The delimitation line of the maritime areas located between the French Republic off the Territory of Wallis and Futuna, and Tokelau shall be formed by the arcs of the geodesics joining the geographical co-ordinates listed in paragraph 2.2 of this Article.

2.2 The line referred to in paragraph 2.1 of this Article is formed by a series of geodesics connecting in the order stated in the points below, as defined by their geographical co- ordinates -

Latitude (South) Longitude (West)

1 10° 56' 20" 174° 16' 45"

2 10°41'04" 174°36'14"

3 9° 53' 03" 175°36' 58"

Article 3

3.1 The geographical co-ordinates referred to in paragraph 2.2 of Article 2 are based on the World Geodetic System (WGS 84).

3.2 This line is drawn for illustrative purposes on the chart annexed to this Agreement.^[1]

Article 4

The line referred to in Article 2 shall be the maritime boundary between the areas referred to in Article 1 in which the Parties exercise, or will exercise, in accordance with international law, any sovereign rights or jurisdiction.

Article 5

Any dispute arising between the Parties with respect to the interpretation or the application of this Agreement shall be resolved by peaceful means, in accordance with international law.

Article 6

Each Party shall notify the other in writing of the completion of the constitutional procedures required for the entry into force of this Agreement. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the later of these notifications.

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the representatives of the two Governments, being duly authorized for this purpose, have signed this Agreement.

DONE in triplicates at Atafu on the 30th of June 2003, in the French, English and Tokelauan
languages, of which the French and English will be equally authentic texts.

^[1] Please note, chart not included in this publication.