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GEOGRAPHY Niue is a large upraised coral atoll, and is a standalone land mass in the centre of a triangle of Polynesian islands made up of Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. Located 2400km north east of New Zealand, on the eastern side of the international dateline.
TIME ZONE Niue is 11 hours behind Greenwich mean time.
CLIMATE Niue is a tropical island, warm during the day with a pleasant drop in temperature at night all year round. April – November (winter) the temperature range is 20-28 degrees Celsius. December-March (summer) the temperature range is 22-30 degrees Celsius. Year round it is worth bringing a light rain jacket and cardigan for cooler evenings. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Avg Max °C 30 30 30 29 28 27 27 27 28 28 28 29 Avg Min °C 23 23 23 22 21 20 20 19 19 20 21 22 CURRENCY AND BANKING The New Zealand dollar is legal tender in Niue.
Most businesses have EFTPOS and accept NZ debit cards, Mastercard and Visa. Some EFTPOS facility providers will allow you to withdraw cash.
Niue does not have ATM's on island but you can withdraw extra cash from Kiwibank in Alofi. Kiwibank accept ONLY NZ debit cards, Mastercard and Visa. Open 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Note also that Kiwibank does not handle foreign exchange.
The Niue Tourism Visitor Information Centre is also able to accept all major credit cards for payment of accommodation, tours and some other essential services. There is a 5% surcharge which is incurred for use of this facility.
Tipping – while not expected it is always appreciated.
LANGUAGE Niuean and English are widely spoken in Niue. The following Niuean words are handy to learn: Greetings or hello: Fakaalofa lahi atu Thank you: Fakaaue Please: Fakamolemole Eat: Kai Drink: Inu Good luck: Kia monuina
PEOPLE Scattered throughout the 14 neat and colourful villages, Niue’s less than 1500 residents enjoy dual citizenship, as a self-governing nation in free association with New Zealand. They are bilingual, speaking both Niuean and English, and enjoy an independent lifestyle. The locals are very respectful, genuinely friendly and hospitable to visitors and have accepted tourism as an important component to their economic development and well being. They are well educated and enjoy life.
MEDICAL The Niue Foou Hospital is located at Kaimiti, Alofi. Clinic Hours Mon - Thursday 8am - 4pm, Fri 9am - 10am & 7pm - 8pm, Sat & Sun & Public Holidays 9am - 10am & 7pm – 8pm ph 4100. Emergency ph 999. Charges for health services will apply to all visitors.
Safe drinking water is from natural spring and rain water but there is bottled water available if preferred. If you have any special concerns, please check with us or contact your nearest travel agent before departure.
RELIGION The church plays a large part in the community and there are many denominations catered for. Attending a mass is recommended no matter what your beliefs may be just to experience the beautiful singing.
LOCAL CUSTOMS Wearing swimwear in villages and the town is not advised. A paleu (sarong) should be worn around swimwear in public so as not to offend locals. Sunday is a respected and quiet day in Niue. Most people attend church in the morning and again in the afternoon. Throughout the country, Sunday is considered to be a day of rest and worship and visitors are asked to be considerate of the local Sunday observances. Many people play golf, go sightseeing and swimming on Sunday, but certain activities such as boating and fishing are not allowed. Anyone not sure of Sunday protocols are welcome to check at the Niue Tourism Visitor Information Centre for guidance.
HISTORY Niue’s history falls into four defined periods: pre-Christianity, Christianity, the Colonial era and self government. The documentation of Niue’s history was primarily oral and passed down through the generations. It has only been since the period of New Zealand governance that a great deal of literature has been compiled on Niue’s history.
Niue is believed to have been inhabited for over a thousand years. Oral tradition and legends speak of the first settlement by Huanaki and Fao, together with the Fire Gods from Fonuagalo, the Hidden Land. Some authorities believe that the island was settled during two principal migrations, one from Samoa and one from Tonga with a smaller migration from Pukapuka in the Cook Islands.
In 1774, the English navigator Captain James Cook sighted Niue but was refused landing by the locals on three different attempts. He then named Niue ‘Savage Island’. Missionaries from the LMS (London Missionary Society) established Christianity in 1846. Niue chiefs gained British Protectorate status in 1900, and in 1901 Niue was annexed to New Zealand. In 1974 Niue gained self-government in free association with New Zealand and government to this day has followed a Westminster-style rule with a 20 member assembly. The Premier is selected by the House and the Premier then selects 3 other members for Cabinet posts.
POLITICAL TIMELINE
1690'S - Feb 1917 Niue-Fekai chiefdom
21 Jun 1774 Visited by British Commander Captain James Cook aboard
HMS Resolution and named Niue Savage Island when he was refused landing
1846 Christianity introduced.
21 Apr 1900 British protectorate declared after repeated
requests.
20 Oct 1900 Niue ceded to and annexed by U.K.
20 Oct 1900 - 11 Jun 1901 Part of the British Western Pacific Territories.
11 Jun 1901 Niue and Cook Islands made part of New Zealand;
Niue part of the Cook Islands.
23 Nov 1903 Niue administration separated from Cook Islands
(Niué).
1 Apr 1916 Administration of Niue defined and Minister for
the Cook Islands made responsible.
9 Dec 1932 Responsibility for Niue transferred to Minister of
External Affairs.
25 Oct 1963 Executive Committee and Niue Island Assembly
re-defined; delegation of Resident Commissioners'
functions to Executive Committee authorized
(fully delegated from 1 Nov 1968).
1 Jan 1967 Administration of Niue fully separated from Cook
Islands (by Niue Act of 7 Oct 1966).
31 Oct 1968 Responsibility for Niue transferred to Maori and
Island Affairs Department.
19 Oct 1974 Niue self-governing (territory in free association
with New Zealand) (Niue).
8 Nov 1974 Responsibility for Niue affairs transferred from
Minister of Island Affairs to Minister Foreign
Affairs.
1700's Fokimata
1790's Pakieto (b. 17.. - d. 179.)
1790's - 2 Mar 1876 Interregnum
2 Mar 1876 - 13 Jul 1887 Mataio Tuitoga (b. 18.. - d. 1887)
13 Jul 1887 - 21 Nov 1888 Vacant
21 Nov 1888 - 15 Dec 1896 Fataaiki (b. 1830? - d. 1896)
15 Dec 1896 - 30 Jun 1898 Vacant
30 Jun 1898 - Feb 1917 Togia Puletoaki (b. 182. - d. 1917)
New Zealand Government Resident Agents, Niue
10 Sep 1901 - 1902 Stephenson Percy Smith (b. 1840 - d. 1922)
1902 - Feb 1904 Christopher Freke Maxwell (b. 1858 - d. 1924)
Resident Commissioners, Niue
Feb 1904 - Aug 1907 Christopher Freke Maxwell (b. 1858 - d.1924)
Jan 1907 - Mar 1907 Henry Greyshott Cornwall (b. 1866? - d. 1940)
(acting for Maxwell)
Aug 1907 - 31 Mar 1916 Henry Greyshott Cornwall (b. 1866? - d. 1940)
Resident Commissioners of Niue
1 Apr 1916 - 1917 Henry Greyshott Cornwall (b. 1866? - d. 1940)
1917 - Apr 1918 John Crouchley Murray Evison (b. 1874 - d. 1947)
(1st time) (acting)
Apr 1918 - 28 Jan 1921 Guy Norman Morris (1st time) (b. 1886 - d. 1949)
28 Jan 1921 - Nov 1922 John Crouchley Murray Evison (s.a.)
(2nd time)
Nov 1922 - May 1925 Guy Norman Morris (2nd time) (s.a.)
May 1926 - 27 Jun 1931 Albert Arthur Luckham (b. 1883 - d. 1957)
27 Jun 1931 - Jan 1942 William Moody Bell (b. 1879 - d. 1954)
Jan 1942 - 28 Dec 1943 Joseph Patrick McMahon-Box (b. 1891 - d. 1944)
(acting to Apr 1942)
28 Dec 1943 - 16 Aug 1953 Cecil Hector Watson Larsen (b. 1908 - d. 1953)
(acting to 14 Apr 1944)
Aug 1953 - Dec 1953 .... (acting)
Dec 1953 - Aug 1956 Jock Malcolm McEwen (b. 1915 - d. 2010)
Aug 1956 - Dec 1958 Albert Oliver Dare (b. 1917 - d. 1982)
Jan 1959 - Dec 1961 David Walter Reginald Heatley (b. 1905 - d. 1997)
Jan 1962 - Jun 1968 Lyle Allen Shanks (b. 1924 - d. 2009)
1968 - 1973 Selwyn Digby Wilson (b. 1933)
1973 - 18 Oct 1974 C.A. Roberts (b. 1921)
Queen¹
19 Oct 1974 - the Queen of the New Zealand Governors-general
19 Oct 1974 - the Governors-general of New Zealand
Leader of Government Business
1 Jan 1967 - 3 Mar 1972 Robert Richmond Rex (b. 1909 - d. 1992) Non-party
Leader of Government
4 Mar 1972 - 18 Oct 1974 Robert Richmond Rex (s.a.) Non-party
Premiers
19 Oct 1974 - 12 Dec 1992 Robert Richmond Rex (s.a.) Non-party;1987
NPAP
(from 31 Dec 1983, Sir Robert Richmond Rex)
12 Dec 1992 - 12 Mar 1993 Mititaiagimene Young Vivian (b. 1935) NPAP
(1st time)(acting to Dec 1992)
12 Mar 1993 - 26 Mar 1999 Frank Fakaotimanava Lui (b. 1935) Non-party
26 Mar 1999 - 1 May 2002 Sani Elia Lagigietama Lakatani (b. 1936) NPP
1 May 2002 - 18 Jun 2008 Mititaiagimene Young Vivian (s.a.) NPP;2003 Non-party
(2nd time)
18 Jun 2008 - Toke Tufukia Talagi (b. 1960) Non-party
(from 31 Dec 2016, Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi)
New Zealand Representatives in Niue
1 Nov 1974 - 1977 William Joseph Ashwell (b. 1930 - d. 1995)
2 Apr 1977 - 1979 Ian McGregor
31 Aug 1979 - 1982 Terry Baker
31 Mar 1982 - 1984 Malcolm McNamara
22 Sep 1984 - 1986 John Roland Springford (b. 1925 - d. 2007)
5 Dec 1986 - 1991 Mel Taylor
17 Mar 1991 - 1994 Kurt Meyer
16 May 1994 - 16 Oct 1994 Warren Searell
High Commissioners for New Zealand in Niue
16 Oct 1994 - 1997 Warren Searell
27 May 1997 - May 2000 Mike Pointer
May 2000 - Feb 2003 John Bryan (1st time)
14 Feb 2003 - 26 Sep 2005 Sandra Rose Te Hakamatua (b. 1952)
Lee-Vercoe (f)
3 Oct 2005 - Feb 2006 Kurt Meyer (2nd time) (acting)
Feb 2006 - Jan 2008 Anton Ojala (b. 1968)
15 Jan 2008 - 2010 Brian Smythe
2010 - Sep 2010 John Bryan (2nd time)(acting)
Sep 2010 - Oct 2010 Tauaasa Taafaki (acting)
Oct 2010 - Feb 2014 Mark H. Blumsky (b. 1957)
Feb 2014 - David Ross (Ross) Ardern (Father of NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern) (b. 1954)