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 Alofi

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); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
election results: Sani LAKATANI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 19 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2002)
head of government: Premier Sani LAKATANI (since 1 April 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers

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)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelected
elections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)

Judicial branch Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Sani LAKATANI]

Political pressure groups and leaders NA

International organization participation ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, 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

NOTE: The information regarding Niue on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Niue Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Niue Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.