Short facts about the government of Niue

Country name:

conventional long form:  none conventional short form:  Niue former:  Savage Island

Dependency status:

self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs

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 each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms

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

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) head of government:  Premier Sani LAKATANI (since 1 April 1999) cabinet:  Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers 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) election results:  Sani LAKATANI elected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA%

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) elections:  last held 19 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2002) election results:  percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 9, independents 11

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, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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

Source: World Factbook