 Country 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
Government type:
self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name:Alofigeographic 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)
Legal system:
English common law
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 Mark BLUMSKY (since September 2011)head of government:Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) cabinet:Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers 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 Appealnote - 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 AINiue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
name:'Ko e Iki he Lagi' (The Lord in Heaven)lyrics/music:unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA note:adopted 1974 |