Niue:
Government

Click to enlarge

Pages for other countries and territories

Other pages in this profile of Niue:
Geography, People, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Country name	Definition conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: Savage Island
Dependency status	Definition 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	Definition self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital	Definition name: Alofi geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions	Definition 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	Definition on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday	Definition Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution	Definition 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system	Definition English common law; note - Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Suffrage	Definition 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch	Definition 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 Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008) 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 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
Legislative branch	Definition 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 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Judicial branch	Definition Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders	Definition Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders	Definition NA
International organization participation	Definition ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US	Definition none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US	Definition none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description	Definition 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