Niue

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 1,190 in 2014) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

mean elevation:

NA

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:

unnamed elevation near Mutalau settlement 68 m

agricultural land:

19.1%;

• arable land 3.8%;
• permanent crops 11.5%;
• permanent pasture 3.8%

forest:

71.2%

other:

9.7% (2011 est.)

noun:

Niuean(s)

adjective:

Niuean

total:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

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

etymology:

the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut"

• 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

name:

Alofi

geographic coordinates:

19 01 S, 169 55 W

time difference:

UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

• several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes);
• latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974);
• amended 1992, 2007 (2016)

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry MATEPARAE (since 31 August 2011); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Ross ARDEN (since February 2014)

head of government:

Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)

cabinet:

Cabinet chosen by the premier

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• premier indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term;
• election last held on 24 April 2014 (next to be held in 2017)

election results:

Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 12, Stanley KALAUNI 8

description:

unicameral Assembly or Fono Ekepule (20 seats; 14 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 directly elected from the National Register or "common roll" by majority vote; members serve 3-year terms)

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

highest resident 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

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

note: Niue is a participant in the Pacific Judicial Development Program, which is designed to build governance and the rule of law in 15 Pacific island countries

• 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

name:

"Ko e Iki he Lagi" (The Lord in Heaven)

lyrics/music:

unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA

note: adopted 1974

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

domestic:

single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island

international:

country code - 683 (2015)

total:

120 km

paved:

120 km (2011)

country comparison to the world: 214