WELLINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's foreign minister, Winston Peters, said his government will support Tokelau's decision for another referendum on self-determination.

    Radio New Zealand Intentional reported Wednesday that Peters also said "it will take time to organize another vote."

    The head of the Tokelau assembly said earlier it has agreed to hold another referendum on independence from New Zealand by 2008.

    Less than four months ago, a referendum determined to retain Tokelau's status as a territory of New Zealand.

    New Zealand Government said that although the dependent Tokelauhas a population of about 1,600, it had been exercising the responsibilities of self government for many years. Tokelau had its own judicial system and public service.

    But the New Zealand opposition National Party said Tokelau's desire for another referendum is being driven by "financial inducements."

    A New Zealand-based Tokelauan community leader, Tione Vulu, said Tokelauan leaders should not rush into another referendum on self-determination.

    While Tokelau's assembly has agreed to seek another referendum next year or early 2008, Vulu said "the people have already voted."

    Tokelau is the last of New Zealand's dependent territories to vote on self determination.

    At the moment there are 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories left on the UN's decolonization list, while there were 72 such territories when the Organization was established in 1945. The last Non-Self-Governing Territory that exercised the right to self-determination was East Timor, which gained independence in 2002. Enditem