Why are Tokelauan language and culture closely connected to Samoa?

The Tokelauan language and culture are closely connected to Samoa primarily due to historical migration and missionary influence. Linguistic evidence indicates that Tokelau was likely settled by people from Samoa.1

This cultural and linguistic affinity was further reinforced during the 19th century when Samoan missionaries, sponsored by the London Missionary Society and other groups, arrived to convert the inhabitants of the atolls to Christianity. Additionally, when New Zealand was granted jurisdiction over Tokelau in 1925, the territory was administered from Western Samoa, which facilitated ongoing social and cultural ties and led some Tokelauans to migrate there. Today, these deep-rooted connections remain a defining aspect of Tokelauan identity.12