Transcript
John Puka is remarkably upbeat when describing Fakaofo atoll's lacklustre defences against extreme weather.
"So this is all we've got - 2 metres of concrete. Ever seen a 2 metre tsunami?"
But the issue threatens the lives of all 1,500 people who call Tokelau home.
Some have already paid the price of living so close to the water's edge.
Fofo Poasa moved to Auckland in 1972 after his family land was enveloped by water because of a gap in the sea wall.
Mr Puka says Tokelauan families with means have been able to repair their walls but others have been left adrift.
"This is Fofo's family's issue. Without a wall here, their property might as well be beach. It used to be higher than those rocks, when we were kids."
New Zealand has recently stepped up its engagement with Tokelau, with climate change relief one of the top priorities.
Part of a $NZ100 million boost in climate-related assistance over the next four years will help reduce the risk of coastal flooding in Tokelau.
Last week, Civil Defence Minister Kris Faafoi toured its three atolls as the first New Zealand Minister to do so since 2004.
There he announced disaster relief packages and a new weather station on Nukunonu atoll.
Mr Faafoi says New Zealand recognises the danger Tokelau faces.
"It's about the future of their communities. They've been here for centuries but along with the rest of the world, they face the challenge of climate change and because as you can see here of the the nature of their coastline, they'll feel it more than others."
Mr Faafoi says it's likely New Zealand and Tokelau will work together on coastal barriers and protections in the future.
But he says they will need to wait for research, including from the new weather station.
"Once we have that better information we'll be able to piece that together with what they're saying on the islands and what they're seeing themselves with the hard data to then think about, ok so what do we do now as a New Zealand government together with the atolls of Tokelau to see how we start mitigating some of the coastal risks that they face here."
Mr Poasa, who lost his home in Fakaofo, isn't waiting around - he's building his own sea wall by hand.
Stone by stone, at 67-years-old.
"I'd like to come back and build up the family, aye.
"But you need to build up this wall first?
"Yeah."
Mr Poasa says it will take around 6 months of labour to complete his section of the sea wall.
