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Government of Niue

Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
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
Government type:self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of 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:on 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:19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
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 John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 12 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2008)
election results: Young VIVIAN reelected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN 85%, O'Love JACOBSEN 15%
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 30 April 2005 (next to be held in April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, 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 one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Niue Quickstats

  • Population: 1,492
  • Area: 260 sq km
  • Density:
  • GDP (total): $7.6 million (not ranked)
  • GDP (per capita):
  • Literacy: 95%

Languages of Niue

Useful to know

  • Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
  • Dial code: +683

International Trade

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