Niue is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about 261 square kilometres (101 sq mi) and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. It is 604 kilometers northeast of Tonga. The island is commonly referred to as "The Rock", which comes from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia". Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. The terrain of the island has two noticeable levels. The higher level is made up of a limestone cliff running along the coast, with a plateau in the centre of the island reaching approximately 60 metres above sea level. The lower level is a coastal terrace approximately 0.5 km wide and about 25–27 metres high, which slopes down and meets the sea in small cliffs. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in the reef being in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi.
Politics of Niue takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a non-partisan system. Niue is self-governing in free association with New Zealand and is fully responsible for internal affairs. New Zealand retains some responsibility for external affairs, in consultation with Niue. The Niue Constitution Act 1974 (NZ) vests executive authority in Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand and the Governor-General of New Zealand. The constitution specifies that in everyday practice, it is exercised by a Cabinet of the Premier of Niue and three other ministers. The premier and ministers must be members of the Niue Assembly, the nation's legislative assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician who has twice been the premier of his country. Representing the Niue People's Action Party, he defeated sitting premier Sani Lakatani in May 2002 elections. Vivian had previously served as premier for a brief period from 12 December 1992 to 9 March 1993 following the death of Sir Robert Rex. He had also previously been the secretary general of the Pacific Community from 1979 until 1982. He was re-elected to the Niue Assembly unopposed in elections that were held in April 2005. He was again re-elected unopposed to Parliament in the 2008 elections. However, he lost his position as premier when he was successfully challenged by fellow MP Toke Talagi after that election. Talagi was elected premier by the Assembly, with fourteen votes to Vivian's five, and one abstaining.
Sir Robert Richmond Rex was the first Premier of the Pacific island state of Niue.
The Niue Assembly is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members; 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three-year term. Niue follows the Westminster system of government, with the Premier elected by the Assembly and the Cabinet drawn from it.
Sani Elia Lagigietama Lakatani is a former Premier of Niue. He was a member of the Niue People's Party.
Parliamentary elections were held in Niue on June 7, 2008. They were initially expected to be held in April, but were delayed until June 2008. Niue has a 20-member legislative assembly, called the Niue Assembly, whose members are elected by approximately 600 registered voters. The assembly consists of 20 total members, 6 elected on a common roll and 14 representatives of the villages
Frank Fakaotimanava Lui,, is a former Premier of the Pacific Island state of Niue.
The Premier of Niue is Niue's head of government. They are elected by the Niue Assembly, and forms a Cabinet consisting of themselves and three other members of the Assembly.
Tauveve O’Love Jacobsen is a Niuean politician and diplomat. She served as Niue's High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2011 to 2017. Her predecessor was Sisilia Talagi, Niue's first female diplomat and High Commissioner. She had previously served as a member of the Niue Assembly and a minister in Toke Talagi's government. She was previously a long-standing leading figure in the informal parliamentary Opposition to Young Vivian's government. She was, from 2008 to 2011, Minister of Health, Minister of Public Works, Minister of Women's Affairs, and Minister in charge of the Niue Power Corporation. She had previously been Minister of Education, Health, Environment, Training and Development. Additionally, Jacobsen is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and Patroness of the Niuean Volleyball Association.
Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi was a Niuean politician, diplomat, and statesman. He served as Premier of Niue from 2008 to 2020.
Terry Donald Coe is a Niuean politician and former cabinet minister. He is a member of the Niue Assembly, elected from the common roll.
Pokotoa Sipeli is a Niuean politician. Following the 2008 general election, he is a Member of the Niue Assembly, representing the constituency of Liku, and a member of Premier Toke Talagi's Cabinet, as Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Minister of Administrative Services.
Tamakautoga is one of the fourteen villages within the Pacific Ocean island nation of Niue. Tamakautoga is located in the southwestern portion of the island and borders the villages of Avatele, Hakupu, and Niue's capital, Alofi, meeting all three at a quadripoint. The village's population at the 2017 census was 160, up from 136 in 2011. This number has fallen significantly from the 19th century which was reported to be 275 in an 1899 mission census. Tamakautoga is represented by Andrew Funaki in the Niue Assembly.
Joan Sisiati Tahafa Viliamu is a Niuean politician and former Cabinet minister.
Dalton Tagelagi is a Niuean politician and Premier of Niue since June 2020. He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7.
India–Niue relations refers to bilateral relations between India and Niue.
Mona Ainuu is a Niuean politician and Cabinet Minister.
Talaititama Talaiti is a Niuean politician and member of the Niue Assembly.
Billy Graham Talagi is a Niuean politician and former Member of the Niue Assembly.
