What is the capital of Niue?
Country Name |
Niue note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee |
Full Country Name | none |
Former Name | Savage Island |
Etymology- history of name | the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word supposedly translates as "behold the coconut" |
Government Type | parliamentary democracy |
Capital Name | Alofi |
Capital - geographic coordinate | 19 01 S, 169 55 W |
Capital Time Difference | UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
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 |
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 at least two-thirds majority 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; note - in early 2021, the constitution review committee of the Assembly requested suggestions from the public about changes to the constitution |
Dependency Status | 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 |
Who is the president of Niue?
Executive Branch: |
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024) head of government: Premier Dalton TAGELAGI (since 10 June 2020) 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 8 May 2023 (next to be held in 2026) election results: Dalton TAGELAGI reelected premier; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4 |
Legal System: | English common law |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
Legislative Branch: |
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 29 April 2023 (next to be held in 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15% |
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 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 |
Regions or States: | none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order |
Political Parties and Leaders: | none |
International Organization Participation: | ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: | none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) |
Diplomatic Representation from US: |
embassy: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand) note: on 25 September 2023, the US officially established diplomatic relations with Niue |