Editing Niue (section)

==Government and politics==

{{Main|Politics of Niue}}
[[File:Dalton Tagelagi.jpg|thumb|[[Prime Minister of Niue|Prime Minister]] [[Dalton Tagelagi]]]]
The [[Niue Constitution Act 1974 (NZ)|Niue Constitution Act]] of 1974 vests executive authority in [[Monarchy in New Zealand|His Majesty the King in Right of New Zealand]] and in the [[Governor-General of New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0042/latest/DLM412797.html |title=Niue Constitution Act 1974: Schedule 2: The Constitution of Niue (English language version), s1 |publisher=legislation.govt.nz |date=29 August 1974 |access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref> The Constitution specifies that everyday practice involves the exercise of sovereignty by [[Cabinet of Niue|Cabinet]], composed of the [[Prime Minister of Niue|Prime Minister]] (currently [[Dalton Tagelagi]] since 11 June 2020) and of three other ministers. The Prime Minister and ministers are members of the [[Niue Assembly]], the nation's parliament.

The Assembly consists of 20 members, 14 of them elected by the electors of each village [[constituency]], and six by all registered voters in all constituencies.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.niuegov.com/ | title= Niue's Government and Politics | author= <!--Not stated--> | date= <!--Not stated--> |website = www.niuegov.com |publisher= <!--Not stated--> | access-date= 19 October 2017 }}</ref> Electors must be New Zealand citizens, resident for at least three months, and candidates must be electors and resident for 12 months. Everyone born in Niue must register on the electoral roll.<ref>{{Cite web|date= June 10, 2020|title= Enroll to vote|url= https://www.govt.nz/browse/engaging-with-government/enrol-and-vote-in-an-election/enrol-to-vote/|access-date= June 18, 2020|website= New Zealand Government}}</ref>

[[Politics of Niue#Political parties and elections|Niue has no political parties]]; all Assembly members are [[Non-partisan|independents]]. The only [[Politics of Niue#Political parties and elections|Niuean political party]] to have ever existed, the [[Niue People's Party]] (1987–2003), [[2002 Niuean general election|won once]] (in 2002) before disbanding the following year.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/144344/niue%27s-only-party-dissolved | title= Niue's only party dissolved |date= 21 July 2003 |publisher=[[RNZ]] |access-date= 19 June 2022}}</ref>

The Legislative Assembly elects a Speaker as its first official in the first sitting of the Assembly following an election. The speaker calls for nominations for prime minister; the candidate with the most votes from the 20 members is elected. The prime minister selects three other members to form a Cabinet, the executive arm of government.<ref>Constitution of Niue, s2.</ref> [[2023 Niuean general election|General elections]] take place every three years, most recently on 29 April 2023.

The judiciary, independent of the executive and the legislature, includes a [[Court system of Niue#High Court|High Court]] and a [[Court system of Niue#Court of Appeal|Court of Appeal]], with appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] in London.<ref name="Niue criminal court system">{{cite web
 | url= http://www.acclawyers.org/resources/niue/
 | title= Niuean criminal court system
 | publisher= Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers
 | access-date= 29 December 2010
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724223409/http://www.acclawyers.org/resources/niue/
 | archive-date= 24 July 2011
 | url-status= usurped
 }}</ref>

===Defence and foreign affairs===
{{main| Foreign relations of Niue}}
{{See also| Political status of the Cook Islands and Niue}}

Niue has operated as a [[Self-governance|self-governing]] state in [[associated state|free association]] with New Zealand since 3 September 1974, when the people endorsed the Constitution in a plebiscite.<ref>Masahiro Igarashi, ''Associated Statehood in International Law'', p. 167</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-333490132/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338833420 |title=Towards self-government, or something |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=45 |issue=10 |page=7 |date=1 October 1974 |access-date=19 June 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Niue is fully responsible for its internal affairs. Niue's position concerning its external relations is less clear-cut. Section 6 of the [[Niue Constitution Act]] provides that: "Nothing in this Act or in the Constitution shall affect the responsibilities of Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand for the external affairs and defence of Niue." Section 8 elaborates but still leaves the position unclear: <blockquote>Effect shall be given to the provisions of sections 6 and 7 [concerning external affairs and defence and economic and administrative assistance respectively] of this Act, and to any other aspect of the relationship between New Zealand and Niue which may from time to time call for positive co-operation between New Zealand and Niue after consultation between the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the [[Prime Minister of Niue]], and in accordance with the policies of their respective Governments; and, if it appears desirable that any provision be made in the law of Niue to carry out these policies, that provision may be made in the manner prescribed in the Constitution, but not otherwise."</blockquote>

Niue has a representative mission ([[High Commission]]) in [[Wellington]], New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.nu/wb/pages/niue-new-zealand-high-commission.php|title=Government of Niue – Niue & New Zealand High Commission – Komisina Tokoluga Niue mo Niu Silani|website=www.gov.nu|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807130914/https://www.gov.nu/wb/pages/niue-new-zealand-high-commission.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Initially, Niue's foreign relations and defence were the responsibility of New Zealand.<ref name=McDonald2018>{{cite thesis |url=https://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10063/6941/thesis_access.pdf?sequence=1 |title=Decolonisation and Free Association: The Relationships of the Cook Islands and Niue with New Zealand |last=McDonald |first=Caroline |publisher=Victoria University of Wellington |date=2018 |type=PhD |access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref>{{rp|207}} However, Niue gradually began to develop its own foreign relations, independent of New Zealand.<ref name=McDonald2018/>{{rp|208}} It is a member of the [[Pacific Islands Forum]] and of a number of regional and international agencies. It is not a member of the United Nations, but is a state party to the [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]], the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]], the [[Ottawa Treaty]] and the [[Treaty of Rarotonga]]. The country became a member state of [[UNESCO]] on 26 October 1993.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://erc.unesco.org/portal/UNESCOMemberStates.asp?language=en |title= UNESCO.ORG &#124; Communities &#124; Member States |publisher= Erc.unesco.org |access-date= 20 November 2012 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110728143254/http://erc.unesco.org/portal/UNESCOMemberStates.asp?language=en |archive-date= 28 July 2011 }}</ref> It established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on 12 December 2007.<ref name=xinhua2007>{{cite web|url= http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/12/content_7236560.htm|title= Full text of joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Niue|publisher= [[Xinhua News Agency]]|date= 12 December 2007|access-date= 6 March 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212547/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/12/content_7236560.htm |archive-date= 3 March 2016}}</ref> The joint communique signed by Niue and China differs in its treatment of the [[Political status of Taiwan|Taiwan question]] from that agreed by New Zealand and China. New Zealand "acknowledged" China's position on [[Taiwan]] but has never expressly agreed with it, but Niue "recognises that there is only one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of China."<ref name=xinhua2007/> Niue established diplomatic relations with India on 30 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=190019985|title= India establishes Diplomatic Relations with Niue|publisher= Ministry of External Affairs of India|date= 4 September 2012|access-date= 4 September 2012}}</ref> On 10 June 2014, the Government of Niue announced that Niue had established diplomatic relations with Turkey. The Honourable Minister of Infrastructure [[Dalton Tagelagi]] formalised the agreement at the Pacific Small Island States Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/foreign-minister-davutoglu-in-the-last-six-years-we-have-taken-significant.en.mfa |title=Foreign Minister Davutoğlu "In the last six years, we have taken significant steps to strengthen our relations with Pacific Island States" |publisher=Republic of Türkiye |date= |access-date=19 June 2022}}</ref>

People of Niue have fought as part of the New Zealand military. During [[World War I]] (1914–1918), Niue sent about 200 soldiers as part of the [[New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion]] in the New Zealand forces.<ref name=Tagi_tote>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=8qDVcnZUCZIC|title= Tagi tote e loto haaku – My Heart is Crying a Little: Niue Involvement in the Great War 1914–1918|year= 2000|author= Margaret Pointer|publisher= Editorips@usp.ac.fj|isbn= 978-982-02-0157-6}}</ref>

Niue is not a republic, but for a number of years the ISO list of country names ([[ISO 3166-1]]) listed its full name as "the Republic of Niue". In its newsletter of 14 July 2011, the ISO acknowledged that this was a mistake and the words "the Republic of" were deleted from the ISO list of country names.<ref>
{{cite web
 | url= http://www.iso.org/iso/newsletter_vi-9_fiji-myanmar_and_other_minor_corrections-incl_bulgaria_corrected_2011-07-14_e_.pdf
 | title= ISO 3166-1 Newsletter VI-9 "Name changes for Fiji, Myanmar as well as other minor corrections"
 | date = 14 July 2011
 | access-date= 9 August 2020 | quote = Correct the long name which was incorrect[.]
}}
</ref>

Niue has no regular indigenous military forces; defence is the responsibility of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/niue/#military-and-security | title=Niue | date=14 December 2022 }}</ref> The [[New Zealand Defence Force]] has responsibilities for protecting the territory as well as its offshore exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The total offshore EEZ is about {{convert|317500|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/30/the-ocean-is-everything-pacific-state-of-niue-declares-all-of-its-waters-protected |title=Tiny Pacific island nation declares bold plan to protect 100% of its ocean |access-date=22 August 2023|website=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 May 2022 |last=Turrell |first=Claire }}</ref> Vessels of the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] can be employed for this task including its {{sclass|Protector|offshore patrol vessel|1}}s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/assets/Uploads/DocumentLibrary/NavyToday_Issue261.pdf |title=Illegal Fishing Targeted |access-date=21 August 2023|website=Navy Today |date=December 2021}}</ref> These naval forces may also be supported by [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] aircraft, including [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|P-8 Poseidons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/more-than-20-fishing-vessels-inspected-during-new-zealand-led-south-pacific-fisheries-patrol/ |title=More than 20 fishing vessels inspected during New Zealand-led South Pacific fisheries patrol |access-date=21 August 2023|website=New Zealand – Ministry for Primary Industries |date=11 August 2023}}</ref> New Zealand forces also provide additional logistics and specialized support for Niue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre/news/nz-navy-hydrographers-get-to-work-mapping-niues-unique-landscape/|title=NZ Navy Hydrographers get to work mapping Niue's unique landscape |access-date=22 August 2023|website=New Zealand Defence Force |date=28 July 2022}}</ref>

However, these forces are limited in size with, for instance, only infrequent air force overflights of the EEZ.<ref name="news_mongabay_com" /> In 2023 New Zealand's forces were described by the Government as "not in a fit state" to respond to regional challenges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/08/04/new-zealand-military-not-fit/#google_vignette |title=New Zealand Military 'Not in a Fit State,' Government Says |access-date=21 August 2023|website=The Defence Post |date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/cutting-edge-new-aircraft-have-increased-nzs-surveillance-capacity-but-are-they-enough-in-a-changing-world-209495 |title=Cutting-edge new aircraft have increased NZ's surveillance capacity – but are they enough in a changing world?|access-date=22 August 2023|website=The Conversation |date=26 July 2023}}</ref> New Zealand's subsequently announced "Defence Policy and Strategy Statement" noted that shaping the security environment, "focusing in particular on supporting security in and for the Pacific" would receive enhanced attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defence.govt.nz/assets/publication/file/23-0195-Defence-Policy-and-Strategy-Statement-WEB.PDF |title=Defence Policy and Strategy Statement 2023 |access-date=21 August 2023|website=New Zealand Government |date=August 2023}}</ref>

Niue has its own customs regulations.<ref>[https://niue.tradeportal.org/media/Customs%20Act%201966.pdf Niue Customs Act 1966], [https://niue.tradeportal.org/media/Customs%20Tariff%20Act%201982.pdf Niue Customs Tariff Act 1982]</ref>