Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Niue as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 120 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the adjacent Cook Islands, has caused it to be separately administered by New Zealand. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,229 in 2013) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
18 fieldsLand useshare of 260 sq km
Elevation extremes
- lowest point:
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Environment - current issues
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
People and Society
21 fieldsEthnic groups(2011 est.)
Religions(2011 est.)
Languages
Niuean (official) 46% (a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total:
- 13 years
- male:
- 12 years
- female:
- 15 years (2005)
Government
Self-governing parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
20 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Niue
note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee
- former:
- Savage Island
Dependency status
- self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
- Niue fully responsible for internal affairs;
- New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense;
- however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue
Capital
- name:
- Alofi
- geographic coordinates:
- 19 01 S, 169 55 W
- time difference:
- UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
Independence
19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution
- several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes);
- latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974);
- amended 1992, 2007 (2007)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006);
- the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark BLUMSKY (since September 2011)
- head of government:
- Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term;
- election last held on 24 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
- election results:
- Toke TALAGI re-elected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI 12, Stanley KALAUNI 8
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives)
- elections:
- last held on 12 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- ;
- Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges);
- note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the final appeal court beyond the Niue Court of Appeal
- note - Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program;
- the program is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries
- judge selection and term of office:
- Niue chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the premier;
- other judges appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the chief justice and the minister of justice;
- judges serve until age 68
- subordinate courts:
- High Court
Political parties and leaders
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description
- yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;
- the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross;
- the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country;
- yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand
National anthem
- name:
- "Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)
- lyrics/music:
- unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
note: adopted 1974
Economy
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
24 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2003)
Economy - overview
The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees.
Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream.
The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and financial services, although the International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in FY08/09 was US$5.7 million. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.
Agriculture - products
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Labor force - by occupation
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Exports - commodities
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Imports - commodities
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Exchange rates
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.247 (2013) · 1.2334 (2012) · 1.3874 (2010) · 1.6002 (2009) · 1.4151 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 1,000 kW(2010 est.)
Communications
5 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
- international:
- country code - 683 (2001)
Broadcast media
1 government-owned TV station with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 government-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2009)
Transportation
5 fieldsMilitary
No regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Niue.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/niue/2014.