Niue

Niue, the Rock of Polynesia, is located in South Pacific Ocean. The island nation is a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. Niue is situated in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands. The island’s government is completely responsible for its internal affairs but external affairs and defense are New Zealand’s responsibilities. Alofi is the capital of Niue.

HISTORY:- The Polynesian sailors first settled in the region around 900 AD, followed by the Tonga people in the 16th century. In 1774, British sailor Captain James Cook first arrived in the land. The island was known as Savage Island. King Fata-a-iki offered the land to the British during the 19th century. In 1900, Britain accepted the offer and Niue became a British protectorate. In the following year, New Zealand conquered Niue. New Zealand’s 1974 constitution granted self-government with Robert Rex as the first Premier of Niue.

GEOGRAPHY:- Niue is located at 19 02 S, 169 52 W in the Oceania. It is a small island in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising total 260 sq km area. The coastline is 64 km along with the Pacific Ocean. The lowest point is Pacific Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is an unnamed location near Mutalau settlement (68 m). Niue is composed of steep limestone cliffs along the coasts, with the central plateau.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Niue is tropical, modified by the southeast trade winds.

GOVERNMENT:- Sine 1974, Niue is a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. It has an autonomous parliamentary democracy. The Niue Constitution Act of 1974 is the formal constitution of the island. The legal system is based on the English common law. The island has the power to make its own laws. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen Elizabeth II (chief of state), the Governor General of New Zealand, the New Zealand High Commissioner, Premier (head of government), and cabinet. The Queen is represented by the Governor General of New Zealand. Both the UK and New Zealand are represented by the New Zealand High Commissioner. The premier is elected by the Legislative Assembly on a 3-year term.

Legislative branch comprises unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court of New Zealand and the High Court of Niue.

 Two dominant political parties of Niue are Alliance of Independents or AI and Niue People's Action Party. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Head of State     Queen Elizabeth II

Premier     Toke Talagi

Governor General of New Zealand   Anand Satyanand

New Zealand High Commissioner   John Bryan

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Niue has no administrative divisions.

CULTURE:- John Pule is the most prominent writer of Niue. Rugby union, soccer are widely practiced in the island while amongst women, Netball is very popular. Niue is very rich in music and dances.

ECONOMY:- Isolation from other nations, limited resources, and a small population are the main hindrances to the economic growth of the island. It is a small state-controlled economy.

GDP (official exchange rate): $10.01 million (2003).

 

GDP - real growth rate: 6.2% (2003 est.).

Labor force: 663 (2001).

Unemployment rate: 12% (2001).

Population below poverty line: NA%.

Budget:  

Revenues: $15.07 million

Expenditures: $16.33 million (FY0405).

Agriculture - products: Coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle. 

Industries: Tourism, handicrafts, food processing.

Exports: $201,400 (2004).

Exports – commodities: Canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts.

Exports - partners: New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2006).

Imports:$9.038 million (2004).

Imports - commodities: Food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs.

Imports - partners: New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2006).

Economic aid - recipient: $2.6 million from New Zealand (2002).

Debt - external: $418,000 (2002 est.).

Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD).

LANGUAGE:- Niuean, English are the official languages of Niue.

CITIES:- Alofi is the capital of Niue.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Niue is 1,444 (July 2008 est.) with an average growth rate of -0.032%.

Literacy rate: NA.

RACE:-

Niuen 78.2%

Pacific islander 10.2%

European 4.5%

Mixed 3.9%

Asian 0.2%

Unspecified 3% (2001).

RELIGION:-

Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%

Latter-Day Saints 8.8%

Roman Catholic 7.2%

Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%

Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%

Other 8.4%

Unspecified 8.7%

None 1.9% (2001).

HEALTH:-

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 64/78

Healthy life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2003): 59/62

Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births): 42

Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population): 236/81

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 300

UNICEF:- UNICEF’s Child Protection Programme fights against violence against children. UNICEF and its partners provide psychosocial support to social, environmental or political conflict-affected children. UNICEF’s Adolescent Development and Child Health Programme promotes awareness on HIV among the youth, trains the youth to enhance their skills. Teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and trafficking of children are the major issues with the country. UNICEF supplies vaccines at a low cost. UNICEF partners with civil registrars and health ministries to assist them in birth registration

TRANSPORTATION:-

Airports: 1 (2007); Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

Roadways: total: 234 km

Ports and terminals: None.