Niue’s villages are the focus of Internet Niue’s current sponsorship programme. The IUSN Foundation that funds Internet Niue presents a $500 grant to each village council at the village’s annual show day. Foundation chief executive Per Darnell says the wifi service is free to villagers, but transmitters are normally hosted on land or buildings under … Read more …
What's Hot?
Speaking up for the Pacific
20 April 2013Internet Niue and its service provider RockET Systems have been speaking up in international forums on behalf of internet users in Niue and the wider Pacific. RockET director Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui says it’s important that the global internet community is constantly reminded of the internet access issues faced by small Pacific Islands. “Satellite connections such as … Read more …
Linking with our Pacific friends
22 November 2012Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui, director of Internet Niue’s service provider RockET Systems Limited, has been elected to the board of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the world-wide Internet Society (PICISOC). He will also serve as PICISOC secretary for two years. The chapter, which represents the interests of Oceania-Pacific internet users, seeks to provide impartial and relevant advice … Read more …
Fascinating Niue
Who calls the shots?
Niue has a democratically elected parliamentary government with 20 elected representatives in the Fale Fono (Niuean Assembly). One member is elected by each of the 14 villages and the remaining six from a common national roll.
The Premier and the Speaker of the House are chosen by a vote by the 20 elected representatives. The Premier then selects and presides over a cabinet of ministers, drawn from all members of parliament. There are no formal political parties in Niue.
General elections are held once every three years. In the most recent, on 7 May 2011, three new members were elected on the common roll, with PM Hon Toke Talagi topping the vote. There was only one change in the village seats, with Salilo Tongia beating Tofua Puletama in a close contest for Makefu. After members were sworn in, Talagi — with 12 of 20 votes — was re-elected Premier for the term ending 2014 .
Following the 2011 election, there was a successful High Court challenge to the swearing in of Dion Taufitu, the successful candidate for the constituency seat of Toi. A by-election followed in which Taufitu increased his majority from five to seven of the 18 votes cast.
