My World Factbook
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Niue’s remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to an estimated 1,398 in 2009) with substantial emigration to New Zealand 2,400 km to the southwest.
Government
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
note: pronunciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee
former: Savage Island
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue
self-governing parliamentary democracy
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)
Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
English common law; note - Niue is self-governing with the power to make its laws
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August 2006); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since May 2000)
head of government: Premier Toke TALAGI (since 18 June 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and 3 ministers
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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held on 18 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Toke TALAGI defeats incumbent Young VIVIAN in Legislative Assembly vote; Toke TALAGI - 14, Young VIVIAN - 5
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 on 7 June 2008 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - 20 independents
Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People’s Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]
NA
ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
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 star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand
name: “Ko e Iki he Lagi” (The Lord in Heaven)
lyrics/music: unknown/unknown, prepared by Sioeli FUSIKATA
note: adopted 1974
Military
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
none
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
