2020 Niuean general election

Last updated

2020 Niuean general election
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  2017 30 May 2020 2023  

All 20 members of the Niue Assembly

Premier before election

Toke Talagi
Independent

Elected Premier

Dalton Tagelagi
Independent

General elections were held in Niue on 30 May 2020 for the 20 members of the Niue Assembly. [1] The election resulted in the defeat of Premier Toke Talagi, who lost his seat. Fifteen incumbents were re-elected, including three who were unopposed. In Mutalu, a tie between two candidates resulted in one being elected by a coin toss.

Contents

Following the elections the Assembly elected Dalton Tagelagi as Premier.

Electoral system

The 20 members of the Assembly are elected by two methods; 14 are elected from single-member consistencies using first-past-the-post voting and six are elected from a single nationwide constituency by multiple non-transferable vote. [2] There are currently no political parties. After the election, the Members of the Assembly elect a Speaker of the Assembly from outside parliament, and a Premier, who must be an MP. The Premier then chooses a Cabinet.

Campaign

A total of 54 candidates contested the elections, of which 26 contested the six common roll seats. All twenty incumbents sought re-election. Three candidates – Mona Ainuu in Tuapa, Enetama Lipitoa in Namukulu and Talaititama Talaiti in Vaiea – were elected unopposed. [3] One of the candidates was former New Zealand MP and mayor of Wellington Mark Blumsky, who had become a naturalised Niuean citizen after ten years' residence. [4]

Results

The Premier Toke Talagi, in office for the previous twelve years, lost his seat, finishing tenth in the six-seat common roll constituency. [4] Five of the elected members were new to the Assembly. After a draw in Mutalau, the result was decided by a coin toss. [4]

The results of the election reduced the number of women in the Assembly dropped from 5 to 3, with only one women in cabinet, Mona Ainuu. [5]

In a secret ballot, the Assembly elected Dalton Tagelagi as Premier in a 13-7 vote against O'Love Jacobsen, and Hima Douglas was elected Speaker on the third ballot. [6] [7] The new Cabinet was announced on June 11. [8]

Common roll

CandidateVotes%Notes
Richard Hipa 4408.58Elected
Sauni Tongatule 3917.63Elected
Crossley Tatui 3777.35Re-elected
Stan Kalauni 3657.12Re-elected
O'Love Jacobsen 3586.98Re-elected
Terry Coe 3476.77Re-elected
Billy Talagi 2985.81Unseated
Tom Misikea2925.70
Joan Viliamu 2785.42Unseated
Toke Talagi 2184.25Unseated
Mark Blumsky 2184.25
Togia Sioneholo 1843.59
Alana Richmond Rex1753.41
Catherine Papani1573.06
Bill Vakaafi 1332.59
Rupina Morrissey1232.40
Deve Talagi1152.24
Stanley Tafatu1132.20
Ida Hekesi1072.09
Cherie Tafatu991.93
John Togahai891.74
Lagisia Manttan801.56
Young Vivian 721.40
Merry Iakopo541.05
Kenneth Green360.70
Biggle Posimani80.16
Total5,127100.00
Source: Broadcasting Corporation of Niue

By constituency

Results for constituencies [9]
ConstituencyCandidateVotes %Results
Alofi North Tutuli Heka 3649.3
Va'aiga Tukuitonga 3750.7Re-elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total73100
Alofi SouthLaga Lavini4119.3
Dalton Tagelagi 10850.9Re-elected
Charles Togahai6329.7
Blank or invalid votes0
Total212100
AvateleHetututama Hetutu2228.9
Atapana Siakimotu 2431.6
Pita Vakanofiti 3039.5Elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total76100
HakupuFapoi Akesi2623.0
Michael Jackson 3530.1Unseated
Richie Mautama 5246.0Elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total113100
Hikutavake Opili Talafasi 1456Re-elected
Pamela Togiakona1144
Blank or invalid votes0
Total25100
Lakepa Halene Kupa Magatogia 1122.9Unseated
John Operator Tiakia 3777.1Elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total48100
LikuSionetasi Pulehetoa1732.1
Pokotoa Sipeli 3667.9Re-elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total53100
Makefu Tofua Puletama 2863.6Re-elected
Mary Anne Talagi1636.4
Blank or invalid votes0
Total44100
Mutalau Makaseau Ioane 2650Elected
won on coin toss
Maureen Melekitama 2650Unseated
lost on coin toss
Blank or invalid votes0
Total52100
Namukulu Jack Willie Lipitoa --Re-elected
unopposed
Blank or invalid votes
Total100
Tamakautoga Peter Funaki 2631.3Unseated
Ricky Makani 5768.7Elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total83100
ToiHeketoa Kaulima731.8
Dion Taufitu 1568.2Re-elected
Blank or invalid votes0
Total22100
Tuapa Mona Ainu'u --Re-elected
unopposed
Blank or invalid votes
Total100
Vaiea Talaititama Talaiti --Re-elected
unopposed
Blank or invalid votes
Total100

See also

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References

  1. "Niue elections scheduled for next month". RNZ. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  2. Niue IFES
  3. Niue Election 2020 – Prelim List Archived 2020-06-03 at the Wayback Machine Tala Niue, 14 May 2020
  4. 1 2 3 Premier of Niue loses seat in election Radio New Zealand, 1 June 2020
  5. "Niue: Dalton Tagelagi to investigate financial state of government as priority | Pacific Media Network". pacificmedianetwork.com. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  6. "Dalton Tagelagi voted in as new Premier of Niue". RNZ. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. "Dalton Tagelagi New Premier | Talaniue". www.talaniue.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. "New Cabinet Line-up!". Talaniue. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. Broadcasting Corporation of Niue on Facebook Watch , retrieved 15 June 2020