Country Profile, Niue

Niue

Country Profile Niue is a self-governing territory associated with New Zealand, which is responsible for Niue’s external affairs and defence. Like New Zealand, Niue recognizes the British monarch as head of state. The legislative body, called the Assembly, has 20 members (one from each village and six elected from the general population). The premier is head of government and is elected from and by the Assembly after each general election. Niuean villages have a loose structure, and authority is widely dispersed. Village councils make most of the decisions; there are no hereditary ranks or ruling class. Economy Niue relies heavily on aid from New Zealand, Australia, and the United Nations (UN). It also earns income from tourism, the sale of postage stamps, access fees to fishing waters, remittances from Niueans working overseas, and small amounts of exports to New Zealand. Principal exports include taro, honey, passion-fruit products, pawpaws, and handicrafts. The working currency is the New Zealand dollar. Niue coinage is sold to collectors.

Transport and Communication
Niue has one perimeter road and three cross-island roads. Motor vehicles are common. There is no public transport system, but government workers are provided with transport to work. Niueans drive on the left-hand side of the road. Links to other countries are limited—a supply ship calls once every month, but other vessels stop infrequently at Alofi, the only accessible harbour. There are two weekly flights to and from Hanan International Airport, near Fonuakula. Airmail service is routed through Auckland, New Zealand. A government-run radio and television station broadcasts six days a week for a few hours each day. Most residents have access to a telephone. There is one weekly privately owned newspaper. Education
Education on Niue is free for primary and secondary school children, and is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 14. upils from all villages commute to the one primary school and to Niue High School in Alofi. Most students stay to the end of their primary school education (gaining a Fifth Form Certificate), but few finish secondary school. College courses can be taken through the Niue branch of the University of the South Pacific (based in Fiji), but full university study must be done abroad, mainly in New Zealand. With a population that has dwindled to less than 2,000, however, the island requires few schools. Limited economic opportunities have meant a steady decline in population. Nearly twice as many Niueans live abroad as on the island, mainly in New Zealand, and there is little incentive to return to their tiny island home. Health and Welfare
The government provides most medical and dental services at nominal charges. Doctors from New Zealand live in Niue and do island rounds, and maternal and childcare support are provided at a basic level. Alofi has a hospital that can handle most needs, but patients requiring advanced treatment are taken to New Zealand. Infant mortality is low, and most tropical diseases are absent. Epidemics of dengue fever, an infectious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, arise at times, but the illness is rarely fatal. Geographical Facts
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W Map references: Oceania Area: total: 260 sq km land: 260 sq km water: 0 sq km Area—comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 64 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m Natural resources: fish, arable land Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 19% other: 50% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: typhoons Environment—current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Geography—note: one of world's largest coral islands