World Country Guide

General Information

Area
262.7 sq km (101.4 sq miles).

Population
1761 (official estimate 2004).

Population Density
6.7 per sq km.

Capital
Alofi. Population: 404 (2004).

Geography
Niue is an isolated island located 480km (298 miles) east of Tonga, 560km (348 miles) southeast of Western Samoa, 980km (609 miles) west of Rarotonga and 2400km (1500 miles) northeast of New Zealand. Affectionately known as ‘the rock’, Niue is reputedly the largest upraised coral atoll in the world. It has 6178 acres (2500 hectares) of the most undisturbed forests in the world, designated tapu areas by the locals, where no humans were allowed to set foot for centuries. Now all the tapu forests, except the one controlled by Hakupu village, are penetrable. These forests are full of lush undergrowth, coconut palms and some of the oldest-known ebony trees on earth. Light and scattered forest covers approximately 34,594 acres (14,000 hectares). At the edge of the forest, the coast gives way to coral outcrops.

Government
Self-governing state in ‘free association’ with New Zealand. (New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs.) Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by High Commissioner Sandra Lee. Head of Government: Premier Young Vivian since 2002.

Language
Niuean and English.

Religion
Most people belong to the Ekalesia Niue, a Protestant denomination; also Apostolic, Bahaii Faith, Christian Outreach Church, Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Jehovah’s Witness, Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist.

Time
GMT - 11.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are the standard three-pin type.

Communications

Telephone
IDD and local facilities are available. Country code: 683. International calls can also be made directly from the telephone or with the assistance of an operator. There are telephones in hotels, motels and guest houses. Services are run by the Telecommunications Department located at the Commercial Centre in Alofi, which also provides fax facilities, and is open 24 hours a day. Dial 999 for the Police, Fire or Hospital.

Internet
The island has a wireless Internet service provided by the Niue Internet Users Society. ISPs include Internet Niue (website: www.niue.nu).

Post
The Niue Post Office is open Mon-Fri 0830-1500.

Press
The Niue Star is published weekly in English and Niuean.

Television
Television Niue broadcasts in English and Niuean five evenings a week but other programming is available outside of these times.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.