The US Coastguard has delivered fresh water to drought hit atolls in Tokelau.

The cutter Walnut, which has its own desalination unit, has also brought water provided by New Zealand to the three islands which make up the New Zealand territory, Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Presenter: Filipo Lui, President of the Tokelauan community in the Hutt Valley, near Wellington

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Tokelau has been without rain for so long they've had to hire ships to bring water from Samoa.

The three remote atolls comprising the New Zealand territory have not had any rain for five months, and villages have less than twenty per cent of water remaining in their tanks.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully says Tokelau has less than a week's worth of drinking water left.

Presenter: Bruce Hill

Speaker: Jovilisi Suveinakama, General Manager of the Tokelau Liaison Office in Samoa

"The three atolls of Tokelau were hit hard by Cyclone Percy over the weekend," Marian Hobbs said. "Damage is still being assessed but we know that much of Nukunonu was under water at one stage, and buildings and crops have been affected.

"We can only be thankful that at this stage there has been no suggestion of any deaths or serious injuries.

"The New Zealand Government has