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 has trended downwards over recent decades (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to 1,618 in 2017) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.

noun:

Niuean(s)

adjective:

Niuean

total:

NA (2018)

male:

NA

female:

NA

total population:

NA (2017 est.)

male:

NA

female:

NA

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Niue

former:

Savage Island

etymology:

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

note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee

• self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
• Niue is 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)

history:

several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)

amendments:

• proposed by the Assembly;
• passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by the majority of votes in a referendum;
• passage of amendments to a number of sections, including Niue’s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two thirds of votes in a referendum;
• amended 1992, 2007 (2017)

chief of state:

• Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
• represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patricia Lee REDDY (since 28 September 2016);
• the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Kirk YATES (since May 2018)

head of government:

Premier Sir 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 12 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)

election results:

Toke TALAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Toke TALAGI (independent) 15, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 5

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 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2020)

election results:

• percent of vote by party - NA;
• seats by party - independent 20;
• composition - men 15, women 5, percent of women 25%

highest courts:

• 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

general assessment:

• sole provider services for over 1000 landlines and fixed wireless lines;
• cellular telephone service operates on AMPS and GSM platforms;
• difficult geography presents challenges for rural areas (2018)

domestic:

single-line (fixed line) telephone system connects all villages (and virtually all households) on island (2018)

international:

country code - 683; landing point for the Manatua submarine cable linking Niue to several South Pacific Ocean Islands (2019)

total:

234 km (2017)

paved:

210 km (2017)

unpaved:

24 km