List of Niuean monarchs

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This is a list of monarchs who have reigned over the Pacific island of Niue. The island today is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, and recognises the Sovereign in Right of New Zealand as the head of state. Before this, however, the island previously had an indigenous monarchy, established around the beginning of the 18th century.

Contents

Before that time, there appears to have been no national government or national leader in Niue. Chiefs and heads of family exercised authority over segments of the population. Around 1700, the concept and practice of kingship appears to have been introduced through contact with Samoa or Tonga. From then on, a succession of patu-iki (kings) ruled the island, the first of whom was Puni-mata. The monarch was non-hereditary; patu-iki were reportedly elected by the Niuean population, with the candidates being issued from influential families. As described by Percy Smith in 1903, Niue appears therefore to have been a democratic elective monarchy.

List of patu-iki

The following is a list of the patu-iki of Niue: [1]

PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ReignNotes
StartEnd
Tihamau
Tepunua Mutalau
Leivalu
Hetalangi
Fakahinaiki
Punimatac.1700His death, of old age, was followed by an interregnum of significant but indeterminate length.
Ihunga
PatuavaluHe was nominated for kingship by the population's elected choice, Tagelagi, who declined the position and opted instead to be Patuavalu's lifelong bodyguard. Patuavalu died of old age.
Galiga, also known as Galiaga-a-Iki and Galiaga of PalūkiThis patu-iki was murdered by a person called Tikomata. Following his death, Fakana-iki and Hetalaga vied to replace him, but failed to secure the approval of the population. Foki-mata eventually became the fourth patu-iki instead. He was the last king elected in times of peace.
Fokimata
(–1874?)
1874?
Pakieto
(–1875?)
1874?1875?He was patu-iki for only a year. Following his death, a war of succession occurred. He was one of the Tama-lagau people.
Interregnum (–2 Mar 1876)
Mataio Tuitoga, also known as Ta-tagata
(–13 June 1887)
2 March 187613 July 1887The first christian king of Niue.
Fata-a-iki.jpg Fata-a-iki
(–1896)
1887 (de facto)
21 November 1888 (de jure)
15 December 1896The second christian Niuean monarch. One of his first acts as patu-iki in 1877 was to send a letter to Queen Victoria, requesting that Niue be made a protectorate of the British Empire, to protect the island from other imperial powers, although his letter (and another sent in 1895) received no replies.
Togia-Pulu-toaki Savage Island.jpg Togia-Pulu-toaki 1896 (de facto)
30 June 1898 (de jure)
1917He was the king who finally ceded Niue to the British Empire on 21 April 1900, and who welcomed a Resident representative of the imperial government on Niue on 11 September 1901. Togia-Pulu-toaki remained patu-iki in 1903, when Niuē-fekai (or Savage) Island and its People was published. The date of his death, and whether or not he was succeeded, remains unclear.

Imperial rule and free association

From 1900 to 1901, Niue was ruled by the United Kingdom. In 1901, the island was annexed by New Zealand, which administered it in the name of the British Empire. On 26 September 1907, New Zealand attained the status of dominion, becoming the Dominion of New Zealand, and the British monarch from then on reigned over Niue in his or her capacity as monarch of New Zealand. Elizabeth II was the first monarch to be explicitly titled Queen of New Zealand, however, in 1952. Today, Niue is part of the Realm of New Zealand, the successor political entity to the dominion.

List of British monarchs reigning over Niue

Portrait Regnal name
(Birth–Death)
ReignFull nameConsortHouse
StartEnd
Queen Victoria by Bassano.jpg Victoria
(1819–1901)
21 April 1900 (de facto)22 January 1901Alexandrina VictoriaWidowed Hanover
Eduard VII.jpg Edward VII
(1841–1910)
22 January 190126 September 1907Albert Edward Alexandra of Denmark Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

List of New Zealand monarchs reigning over Niue

Portrait Regnal name
(Birth–Death)
ReignFull nameConsortHouse
StartEnd
As a colony of New Zealand
Eduard VII.jpg Edward VII
(1841–1910)
26 September 19076 May 1910Albert Edward Alexandra of Denmark Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
King George 1923 LCCN2014715558 (cropped).jpg George V
(1865–1936)
6 May 191020 January 1936George Frederick Ernest Albert Mary of Teck Windsor [a]
HRH The Prince of Wales No 4 (HS85-10-36416).jpg Edward VIII
(1894–1972)
20 January 193611 December 1936Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick DavidNoneWindsor
King George VI LOC matpc.14736 A (cropped).jpg George VI
(1895–1952)
11 December 19366 February 1952Albert Frederick Arthur George Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Windsor
Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
6 February 195219 October 1974Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Philip Mountbatten Windsor
As a self-governing country
Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
19 October 19748 September 2022Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Philip Mountbatten Windsor
Premiers : Sir Robert Rex, Young Vivian, Frank Lui, Sani Lakatani, Young Vivian, Sir Toke Talagi, Dalton Tagelagi
King Charles III (July 2023).jpg Charles III
(born 1948)
8 September 2022presentCharles Philip Arthur George Camilla Shand Windsor
Premiers / Prime Ministers (since 2024): Dalton Tagelagi

Timeline of kings and queens regnant

Charles IIIElizabeth IIGeorge VIEdward VIIIGeorge VEdward VIIQueen VictoriaList of Niuean monarchs

See also

Notes

  1. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha until 1917, and Windsor thereafter.

References

  1. B. Schemmel (ed.). "Niue". Rulers.org. Retrieved 12 April 2025.

Sources