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Do you vote for self-government for Niue in free association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and the Niue Constitution Act 1974 ? | |||||||||||||||||||
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A constitutional referendum was held in Niue on 3 September 1974. [1] The constitution was approved by 65% of voters, and came into force on 19 October. [1]
The proposed constitution was drafted by Robert Quentin Quentin-Baxter, a Professor of Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence at Victoria University of Wellington, in consultation with the Niue Assembly. [2] The new constitution would make Niue an autonomous region under the sovereignty of New Zealand; islanders would gain New Zealand citizenship and be able to settle freely in New Zealand. [1] It provided for a 21-member Assembly, consisting of a Speaker and 20 elected members (14 elected from single-member constituencies based on the villages and six from a single island-wide constituency). The Assembly would elected a Premier, who would choose three other members of a four-person Executive Council. [2]
The referendum was approved by the Niue Assembly on 16 July 1974, [1] and the proposed constitution was approved in the New Zealand Parliament through the Niue Amendment Bill and the Niue Constitution Act. [2]
Do you vote for self-government for Niue in free association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and the Niue Constitution Act 1974? [1]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 887 | 65.41 | |
| Against | 469 | 34.59 | |
| Total | 1,356 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 1,356 | 97.98 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 28 | 2.02 | |
| Total votes | 1,384 | 100.00 | |
| Source: Direct Democracy | |||
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Niue is a country in the South Pacific Ocean with an estimated population of 1,190. Since 1974, it has been self-governing in free association with New Zealand. Niue controls its own internal affairs, while New Zealand retains responsibility for its defence and external relations and is required to provide necessary economic and administrative assistance.
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