Niue

I

Introduction

Niue, self-governing island in free association with New Zealand, in the South Pacific Ocean. Niue is situated 460 km (290 mi) east of Tonga.

II

Land and Resources

Niue is a raised coral island with a circumference of 60 km (40 mi) and an area of 260 sq km (100 sq mi). The island's perimeter consists of uneven cliffs that drop abruptly into the sea. The interior is marked by a plateau that rises 60 m (200 ft) above sea level. The plateau is surrounded by a lower level, with an average elevation of 30 m (100 ft). Niue is encircled by a broken fringing reef.

The climate is tropical and humid. The average annual temperature is 27° C (81° F) and annual rainfall is 7,700 mm (300 in). Niue is covered with forest and light vegetation. Because of a shallow and scanty soil cover, cultivation is difficult. Animal life is limited on the island, but fish are abundant in coastal waters.

III

Population

The majority of Niue's residents are Polynesians, although a small number of Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans live there. The official languages are Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan, and English. Most people are literate in both languages. About half the island’s 2,000 people live in and around the capital, Alofi, on the island’s west side. Others live in villages scattered along a road that circles the island. Niue’s population has been in decline since the 1980s, due to limited economic opportunities. Approximately 15,000 Niueans live abroad, mainly in New Zealand, and incentives for them to return have been unsuccessful. Niueans are citizens of both Niue and New Zealand.

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Education in Niue is free for eight years of primary school and four years of secondary school, and is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. Only a few Niuean students seek university degrees, which they must obtain abroad. About 75 percent of the people belong to the Niuean Church, a Protestant religion. There are several minority religions, including Mormonism and Roman Catholicism.

IV

Economy

The official currency of Niue is the New Zealand dollar (NZ$1.40 equals U.S.$1; 2007 annual average). Most of Niue’s budget is supplied by aid from New Zealand, and the Niuean government is the largest employer. A few families have small businesses; others are engaged in agriculture. Remittances from Niueans living abroad remain a significant source of personal income.

Niue has a small but growing tourist industry. Exports include canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit, limes, and handicrafts. Agricultural production suffers occasional setbacks because of storms. New Zealand is Niue's chief trading partner; a small amount of trade is carried on with the Fiji Islands, Japan, Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), Australia, and the United States. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors was once an important source of trade revenue for Niue.

Transportation is a great barrier to both trade and tourism. There is no port in Niue and the only suitable anchorage lies off Alofi. Cargo is brought from New Zealand monthly. Scheduled air service also connects Niue with New Zealand. There are 230 km (140 mi) of roads.