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89-419: Fagamalo is by the sea at the northernmost point of Savai'i. There is a small post office and next door to it is a police station which services the local district. The Tutaga Primary School is at the east end of the village near where a hospital was situated. Cyclone Ofa (1990) and Cyclone Valerie (1991) caused a lot of damage on the north and west coast of Savai'i and destroyed the seaside Itu-o-Tane College in

178-617: A Cabinet, the executive arm of government. General elections take place every three years, most recently on 29 April 2023. The judiciary, independent of the executive and the legislature, includes a High Court and a Court of Appeal , with appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Niue has operated as a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand since 3 September 1974, when

267-518: A New Zealand territory. The majority selected self-government, and Niue's written constitution was promulgated as supreme law. Robert Rex , ethnically part European, part native, was elected by the Niue Assembly as the first Premier of Niue , a position he held until his death 18 years later. In 1984, Rex became the first Niuean to receive a knighthood. In January 2004, Cyclone Heta hit Niue, killing one person and causing extensive damage to

356-672: A category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale . As it was named the system was located about 300 km (185 mi) to the east of Tuvalu and had started to curve more towards the south-southeast. During February 1, as Ofa started to affect Western Samoa, the NWOC reported that Ofa had become equivalent to a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) . The FMS subsequently reported during

445-549: A category 4 hurricane on the SSHWS. Later that day the FMS estimated that the system had peaked as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone, with 10-minute sustained wind speeds of 185 km/h (115 mph). Early on February 5, Ofa started to show signs that it had started to weaken, as it passed about 55 km (35 mi) to the west of Niue. Over the next day the system slowly weakened as it moved southwards, before late on February 6,

534-531: A few hours later. Despite passing about 160 km (100 mi) to the west of Pago Pago, Cyclone Ofa affected American Samoa between February 3–5 with wind gusts of up to 160 km/h (100 mph), which caused widespread and extensive damage to the territory. Ahead of the cyclone affecting the island nation, a gale warning was issued by the FMS for the American territory, while forecasting that very heavy rain, high seas and damaging sea swells would impact

623-525: A gale warning, as gale-force winds or stronger were forecast to occur over the island nation during the next day. A hurricane warning was subsequently issued later that day, after the system had accelerated towards the south-southeast and started to affect Niue. As winds on the island picked up the telecommunications center shut down its operations, while the satellite dish on the island was taken down. Radio New Zealand subsequently broadcast Special Weather Bulletins for Niue on air, after being requested to by

712-425: A handsome man can do a thing well . Some three generations ago the tulafale (orator chief) Nafo'i of Matautu, Savai'i, had guests. His young men prepared the food. When Nafo'i went into the cook-house to see how they were progressing, he noticed that they had not sufficiently pressed out the shredded coconut. So he applied himself to the job and did it right thoroughly. The others said, “Only a handsome man like Nafo'i

801-589: A less favourable environment. Ofa was declared an extratropical cyclone on February 8, though the system was still tracked by meteorologists until February 10. Ofa produced gales or high winds or gales on many islands, resulting in widespread damage due to a combination of storm surge and high seas. In all, eight people were killed and damage totaled to US$ 187 million. The worst effects were recorded in Samoa , where seven people were killed. Roughly 200 people were evacuated, and 10 to 20 others were injured through

890-532: A major impact on the island nation, along with the Samoa depression that affected the islands a few days later. The majority of the islands reported damage to vegetation and crops, such as bananas, coconuts and breadfruits. Staff housing and a chapel on a government secondary school campus were up-roofed and collapsed, while a supermarket building collapsed as a result of heavy swells. On Vaitupu Island around 85% of residential homes, trees and food crops were destroyed, while residential homes were also destroyed on

979-535: A member of the Pacific Community since 1980. Polynesians from Samoa settled Niue around 900 CE. Further settlers arrived from Tonga in the 16th century. Until the beginning of the 18th century, Niue appears to have had no national government or national leader; chiefs and heads of families exercised authority over segments of the population. A succession of patu-iki (kings) ruled , beginning with Puni-mata. Tui-toga, who reigned from 1875 to 1887,

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1068-674: A native red fe'i banana . For the next couple of centuries, Niue was known as Savage Island until its original name, "Niue", which translates as "behold the coconut", regained use. Whaling vessels were some of the most regular visitors to the island in the nineteenth century. The first on record was the Fanny in February 1824. The last known whaler to visit was the Albatross in November 1899. The next notable European visitors represented

1157-679: A number of attempts in other villages had failed. The chiefs of Mutalau village allowed him to land and protected him day and night at the fort in Fupiu. In July 1849, Captain John Erskine visited the island in HMS Havannah . Christianity was first taught to the Mutalau people before it spread to all the villages. Originally other major villages opposed the introduction of Christianity and had sought to kill Peniamina. The people from

1246-620: A prolonged period of dormancy. As a result, two shallow tropical depressions were spawned; one over the Coral Sea that went on to become Cyclone Nancy, while the other was first noted within the SPCZ over Tuvalu on January 27. Over the next two days the system developed little and remained slow moving, near the Tuvaluan atoll of Funafuti . During January 30, the depression moved towards the north-east and started to organize, as pressures near

1335-598: A result, it was not known what was broadcast to the public who were warned to expect strong winds rather than storm force winds and thus the FMS was left with no doubt, that the correct precautionary measures were not taken. During February 2, (February 1, Samoa Standard Time (SST) ) the meteorological stations at the Apia Observatory and the Faleolo Airport started to report gale-force winds. During that day rain became heavy and widespread, before as

1424-459: A small clockwise loop. Cyclone Ofa was considered to be the worst tropical cyclone to affect Polynesia since Severe Tropical Cyclone Bebe in 1972. The system affected seven different island nations and caused gales or much stronger winds in six of those countries, which resulted in damage ranging from moderate to very severe. Storm tide from the cyclone which is the combined effect of storm surge and high tide caused havoc in several countries and

1513-591: Is Niue's head of state in his capacity as King of New Zealand . Between 90% and 95% of Niuean people live in New Zealand, along with about 70% of the speakers of the Niuean language . Niue is a bilingual country , with 30% of the population speaking both Niuean and English. The percentage of monolingual English-speaking people is 11%, while 46% are monolingual Niuean speakers. Niue is a parliamentary democracy , with legislative elections every three years. Niue

1602-535: Is able to do a thing competently.” More recently, in 2002, the small village made the headlines in New Zealand when the chiefs declared Fagamalo smokefree and imposed fines on people who broke the local law. Le Lagoto Resort is a local hotel on the beach in Fagamalo. The office for scuba diving company 'Dive Savai'i' is located across the road from the resort. Cyclone Ofa Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa

1691-409: Is close to the settlement of Avatele in the southwest. Most of the population resides close to the west coast, around the capital, and in the northwest. Some Niue soils are geochemically very unusual. They are extremely weathered tropical soils, with high levels of iron and aluminium oxides ( oxisol ) and mercury, and they contain high levels of natural radioactivity . There is almost no uranium , but

1780-558: Is inside a triangle drawn between Tonga , Samoa , and the Cook Islands . It is 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand, and 604 kilometres (375 mi) northeast of Tonga. Niue's land area is about 261.46 square kilometres (100.95 sq mi) and its population was 1,689 at the Census in 2022. Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands . The terrain of the island has two noticeable levels. The higher level

1869-406: Is made up of a limestone cliff running along the coast, with a plateau in the centre of the island reaching approximately 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. The lower level is a coastal terrace approximately 0.5 km (0.3 miles) wide and about 25–27 metres (80–90 feet) high, which slopes down and meets the sea in small cliffs. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in

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1958-535: Is managed by the Niue Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit organisation providing advisory services to businesses. Joint ventures The government and the Reef Group from New Zealand started two joint ventures in 2003 and 2004 to develop fisheries and a 120-hectare (300 acre) noni juice operation. Noni fruit comes from Morinda citrifolia , a small tree with edible fruit. Niue Fish Processors Ltd (NFP)

2047-548: Is not a member of the United Nations (UN), but UN organisations have accepted its status as a freely associated state as equivalent to independence for the purposes of international law. As such, Niue is a member of some UN specialised agencies (such as UNESCO and the WHO ), and is invited, alongside the other non-UN member state, the Cook Islands , to attend United Nations conferences open to "all states". Niue has been

2136-413: Is not officially claimed by Niue, and the existence of Haymet Rocks (1,273 km (791 mi) east-southeast) is in doubt. Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. The terrain consists of steep limestone cliffs along the coast with a central plateau rising to about 60 metres (200 ft) above sea level. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in the reef being in

2225-566: 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." Niue established diplomatic relations with India on 30 August 2012. 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

2314-809: The London Missionary Society ; they arrived on the Messenger of Peace . After many years of trying to land a European missionary, they abducted a Niuean named Nukai Peniamina and trained him as a pastor at the Malua Theological College in Samoa. Peniamina returned in 1846 on the John Williams as a missionary with the help of Toimata Fakafitifonua. He was finally allowed to land in Uluvehi Mutalau after

2403-514: The Niue People's Party (1987–2003), won once (in 2002) before disbanding the following year. 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

2492-644: The Ottawa Treaty and the Treaty of Rarotonga . The country became a member state of UNESCO on 26 October 1993. It established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on 12 December 2007. The joint communique signed by Niue and China differs in its treatment of the 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

2581-618: 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." Niue has a representative mission ( High Commission ) in Wellington , New Zealand. Initially, Niue's foreign relations and defence were

2670-497: The Royal New Zealand Navy can be employed for this task including its Protector -class offshore patrol vessels . These naval forces may also be supported by Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, including P-8 Poseidons . New Zealand forces also provide additional logistics and specialized support for Niue. However, these forces are limited in size with, for instance, only infrequent air force overflights of

2759-686: The Secretary of State for the Colonies from the Governor of New Zealand referred to the views expressed by the Chiefs in favour of "annexation" and to this document as "the deed of cession". A British Protectorate was declared, but it remained short-lived. Niue was brought within the boundaries of New Zealand on 11 June 1901 by the same Order and Proclamation as the Cook Islands. The Order limited

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2848-532: The Solomon Islands , but no other locations are known. The island has a tropical rainforest climate ( Af ) according to the Köppen climate classification with high temperatures and rainfall throughout the year. Although there are no true wet or dry seasons, there is a noticeably wetter stretch from October to May. A leader in green growth , Niue is also focusing on solar power provision, with help from

2937-454: The American territory rebuild and recover from the Cyclone. The President subsequently declared the islands a major disaster area on December 9, which enabled Samoans to claim federal aid. During February 2, the FMS issued a gale warning for Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu islands, while issuing the rest of Tonga with tropical cyclone alerts and a strong wind warnings. During February 3, as

3026-543: The EEZ. In 2023 New Zealand's forces were described by the Government as "not in a fit state" to respond to regional challenges. 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. Niue has its own customs regulations. Niue's gross domestic product (GDP)

3115-532: The European Union. However, Niue currently deals with one of the highest rates of greenhouse gas production per capita in the world. This must be considered however in the context of the small population, and the installed generating capacity of between 833 kW to 1MW. Niue aims to become 80% renewable by 2025. The Niue Island Organic Farmers Association is currently paving way to a Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) committed to making Niue

3204-485: The FMS and the NZMS. The island was affected by hurricane-force winds for several hours during February 5, as Ofa's eye passed about 30 km (20 mi) to west of the island. At around 03:00 UTC Niue recorded what was its lowest ever recorded pressure of 962.4 hPa (28.42 inHg). Very high seas which reportedly were several meters high, swept over the islands northern and western coasts, with virtually all of

3293-541: The FMS issued a gale warning for Wallis while maintaining the alert for Futuna, as it was expected to pass near enough to Wallis to cause gale-force winds on the island. After the system continued to move southwards and had become a severe tropical cyclone it triggered the declaration of a red alert as well as the Organization of the Civil Security Response plan for the whole of the territory. It

3382-544: The FMS passed the primary warning responsibility for Ofa to the New Zealand Meteorological Service , after the system had moved below 25°S . The system subsequently weakened very quickly and started to transition into an extratropical cyclone , as it encountered strong upper level winds and cooler waters . The system completed this transition during February 8, before the remnants were last noted during February 10 after they had performed

3471-562: The ISO acknowledged that this was a mistake and the words "the Republic of" were deleted from the ISO list of country names. Niue has no regular indigenous military forces; defence is the responsibility of New Zealand. 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 317,500 square kilometres (122,600 sq mi). Vessels of

3560-617: The King in Right of New Zealand and in the Governor-General of New Zealand . The Constitution specifies that everyday practice involves the exercise of sovereignty by Cabinet , composed of the 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

3649-562: The New Zealand Defence Forces, though its ability to maintain a continuous presence was limited (see above). Niue is part of the Tongan tropical moist forests terrestrial ecoregion. The island is home to approximately 60 native or pre-European plants, and approximately 160 naturalised flowering plant species. Compared to other Polynesian islands, Niue has sparse documentation for what plants were traditionally found on

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3738-630: The REP-5 programme and were installed recently by the Niue Power Corporation on the roofs of the high school and the power station office and on ground-mounted support structures in front of the hospital. They will be monitored and maintained by the NPC. In 2014, two additional solar power installations were added to the Niue national power grid, one funded under PALM5 of Japan is located outside

3827-492: The Royal New Zealand Air Force delivered urgently needed supplies via airdrop, before further assistance from New Zealand arrived by sea. Cyclone Ofa affected Western Samoa between February 1–4, with heavy rain, huge waves, sea spray , storm surge and wind gusts exceeding 150 km/h (95 mph). This created an impact on the island nation that had not been encountered in over 100 years, while

3916-555: The Tuila power station – so far only this has battery storage, the other under European Union funding is located opposite the Niue International Airport Terminal. In 2023, the governments of Niue and other island states at risk from climate change ( Fiji , the Solomon Islands , Tuvalu , Tonga and Vanuatu ) launched the "Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific", calling for

4005-649: The agreement at the Pacific Small Island States Foreign Ministers meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. 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. 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,

4094-560: The ancient connection with Fiji. During World War II , Fagamalo, which had a wharf and anchorage, was the main village and administrative centre on Savai'i and home for a resident commissioner of Allied forces defending the South Pacific against Japan. The government administration centre was later moved from Fagamalo to Tuasivi village on the north coast towards Salelologa township and ferry terminal. Samoan proverb originating from Matautu. O faiva 'aulelei translates as Only

4183-686: The area. On February 4, within the immediate aftermath of the cyclone, the Lieutenant Governor Galea'i Peni Poumele placed the whole of American Samoa under a state of emergency. Upon his return from an international conference the Governor Peter Tali Coleman subsequently wrote to the United States President George H. W. Bush on February 7, asking him to declare the islands a federal disaster area and asked for money to help

4272-405: The central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi. A number of limestone caves occur near the coast. The island is roughly oval in shape (with a diameter of about 18 kilometres (11 mi)), with two large bays indenting the western coast, Alofi Bay in the centre and Avatele Bay in the south. Between these is the promontory of Halagigie Point. A small peninsula, TePā Point (Blowhole Point),

4361-400: The east coast of Wallis, as high seas, heavy swell and a storm surge of about 1 metre (3.3 ft) above the astronomical tide caused flooding on the east coast of Wallis. Minor damages to trees, houses, plantations of yams and taros, government buildings and village roads was reported, while no there were no deaths or casualties reported on Wallis. A gale warning was issued by the FMS for

4450-517: The east of Niuatoputapu. As a result, the Haapai and Tongatapu island groups did not receive any gale-force winds from the system, while Niuatoputapu only experienced storm force winds from the system. Severe damage to houses, church buildings, coconut plantations, food crops and other vegetation, was reported on the islands of Tafahi and Niuatoputapu. Over 70% of the housing in Niuatoputapu

4539-485: The edge of its area of responsibility for a few days, the Wallis and Futuna Meteorological Service decided to inform local authorities about the system and their expectations for it to develop further. During the next day, after the system had been named Ofa, the FMS issued a tropical cyclone alert, before a yellow alert was triggered as the system was expected to intensify further and impact both islands. During February 2,

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4628-428: The electors of each village constituency , and six by all registered voters in all constituencies. 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. Niue has no political parties ; all Assembly members are independents . The only Niuean political party to have ever existed,

4717-562: The entire island, including wiping out most of the south of the capital, Alofi. On March 7, 2020, the International Dark-Sky Association announced that Niue had become the first entire country to be designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. On 29 September 2022, President Joe Biden announced that the United States would recognise Niue as a sovereign nation. On 25 September 2023, recognition

4806-480: The entire population was left in a state of shock. Ahead of Ofa affecting Western Samoa, the FMS issued various gale and storm force wind warnings for Samoa, however, due to communication and various other problems some of these warnings did not reach the Apia Observatory . Some of the warnings that did get through were distorted and contained strong wind warnings, rather than storm force wind warnings. As

4895-494: The government made a major commitment to rehabilitate and develop the private sector. In 2004, the New Zealand government allocated $ 1 million for the private sector, and spent it on helping businesses devastated by the cyclone, and on construction of the Fonuakula Industrial Park. This industrial park is now completed and some businesses are already operating from there. The Fonuakula Industrial Park

4984-731: The island (almost no records are found between the documentation by James Cook's crew in 1774, and Truman G. Yuncker 's botanical survey of the island in 1940). The Huvalu Forest Conservation Area is a 5,400 hectare (20 sq. mi.) site on the eastern side of the island. It was established in 1992 and protects the largest area of primary forest in Niue. It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of crimson-crowned fruit doves , blue-crowned lorikeets , Polynesian trillers and Polynesian starlings . The Niue Constitution Act of 1974 vests executive authority in His Majesty

5073-551: The island, the letter continued: "We leave it with you to do as seems best to you. If you send the flag of Britain that is well; or if you send a Commissioner to reside among us, that will be well". The British did not initially take up the offer. In 1900 a petition by the Cook Islanders asking for annexation included Niue "if possible". In a document dated 19 October 1900, the "King" and Chiefs of Niue consented to "Queen Victoria taking possession of this island". A despatch to

5162-492: The islands of Niutao, Nui and Nukulaelae. On Funafuti sea waves flattened the Hurricane Bebe bank at the southern end of the airstrip, which caused sea flooding and prompted the evacuation of several families from their homes. In Nui and Niulakita there was a minor loss of the landscape because of sea flooding while there were no lives lost. After the systems had impacted Tuvalu, a Disaster Rehabilitation Sub-Committee

5251-513: The islands to which it related by reference to an area in the Pacific described by co-ordinates, and Niue, at 19.02 S., 169.55 W, lies within that area. Niue International Airport was established in 1970 and opened to commercial flight passengers in November 1971. The New Zealand Parliament restored self-government in Niue with the 1974 Niue Constitution Act , following the 1974 Niuean constitutional referendum in which Niueans had three options: independence, self-government, or continuation as

5340-707: The islands. Extreme damage to crops and trees was also recorded. Elsewhere, Ofa was blamed for the lowest ever recorded pressure on the island of Niue , along with considerable damage. Towards the end of January 1990, a surge in the Northern Hemisphere's trade winds and the Southern Hemispheres monsoon, led to the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) and the Australian monsoon trough becoming active after

5429-440: The landings to the sea washed away or badly damaged. Considerable damage was recorded to the islands hospital, hotel, roads, houses, churches and other facilities for public use. Due to the damage to the power lines, electricity was out for about 24 hours. Most of the islands private water supply tanks were contaminated by saltwater and declared unsuitable for drinking. There were lives lost or significant injuries reported, while

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5518-483: The next day that the system had become a category 3 severe tropical cyclone. Ofa passed about 110 km (70 mi) to the west of the Western Samoan Island of Savai'i between 10:00 and 18:00 UTC during February 3. Early the next day as the system started to accelerate towards the south-southeast towards the island nation of Niue , the NWOC estimated that Ofa had peaked with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 215 km/h (130 mph), which made it equivalent to

5607-444: The people endorsed the Constitution in a plebiscite. 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

5696-467: The phasing out of fossil fuels ; a "rapid and just transition " to renewable energy ; and a strengthening of environmental law , including introducing the crime of ecocide . In 2022, Niue declared its entire EEZ to be a marine park, though enforcement of that declaration would be a challenge. The entire Fisheries Division was reported to have only five staff and there were no locally based patrol boats. Enforcement would depend on stronger support from

5785-420: The position unclear: 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

5874-454: The radioactivity or the other trace elements have been demonstrated, and calculations show that the level of radioactivity is probably much too low to be detected in the population. These unusual soils are very rich in phosphate , but it is not accessible to plants, being in the very insoluble form of iron phosphate , or crandallite. It is thought that similar radioactive soils may exist on Lifou and Mare near New Caledonia , and Rennell in

5963-464: The radionucleides Th-230 and Pa-231 head the decay chains . This is the same distribution of elements as found naturally on very deep seabeds, but the geochemical evidence suggests that the origin of these elements is extreme weathering of coral and brief sea submergence 120,000 years ago . Endothermal upwelling, by which mild volcanic heat draws deep seawater up through the porous coral, almost certainly contributes. No adverse health effects from

6052-479: The reef being in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi . Niue is subdivided into 14 villages (municipalities). Each village has a council that elects its chairperson. The villages are at the same time electoral districts; each village sends an assemblyperson to the Niue Assembly (parliament). As part of the Realm of New Zealand , New Zealand conducts most diplomatic relations on behalf of Niue. Niueans are citizens of New Zealand and Charles III

6141-418: The responsibility of New Zealand. However, Niue gradually began to develop its own foreign relations, independent of New Zealand. 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 ,

6230-420: The sister Lega went to the south-west of the island to the place that is known today as Salega . In 1978, the Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir George Cakobau , arrived in Fagamalo during a state visit to Samoa. The High Chief of Fiji had requested a visit to Tui Fiti's sacred ground. An ancient kava ceremony was carried out in the village and Cakobau was given a chiefly title by the matai in recognition of

6319-456: The storm. Niue Niue ( / ˈ nj uː eɪ / , / n iː ˈ juː eɪ / ; Niuean : Niuē ) is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand . It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia , and predominantly inhabited by Polynesians . The island is commonly referred to as "The Rock", which comes from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia". Niue's position

6408-469: The system moved towards Tonga, the FMS predicted that it would pass about 55 km (35 mi) to the east of Niuatoputapu, at about 1100 UTC February 4, (0000  UTC+13 , February 5). As a result, the FMS issued a hurricane warning for Niuatoputapu and gale warnings for the rest of the Tonga. Ofa subsequently moved more towards the southeast than expected and passed about 110 km (70 mi) to

6497-521: The systems center rapidly falling. During the next day the system subsequently started to curve south-eastwards and away from Tuvalu, before the United States Naval Western Oceanography Center (NWOC) initiated advisories on the system and designated it as Tropical Cyclone 13P during January 31. At 19:17 UTC on January 31, Fiji Meteorological Service named the system Ofa, after it had developed into

6586-456: The total loss on the island from the cyclone was estimated at around US$ 2.5 million. Within the aftermath of the cyclone the Royal New Zealand Air Force flights brought in emergency medical supplies, generators, water and fuel pumps, and food to Niue while a New Zealand navy vessel, the Endeavour, delivered additional foodstuffs, as well as building and plumbing materials, two weeks after

6675-416: The traditional sub-district of Matautu, an area which took the lead in the attack during war. Matautu is also said to have been settled by Fijians or people from a place called Fiti. The name Matautu is traced back to a figure called Utu, whose father was called Lautalatoa from Fiti. Utu had a brother called Taua and a sister called Lenga. Taua went and settled further west at what is now called Sataua , and

6764-460: The village of Hakupu, although the last village to receive Christianity, came and asked for a "word of God"; hence, their village was renamed "Ha Kupu Atua" meaning "any word of God", or "Hakupu" for short. In 1889, the chiefs and rulers of Niue, in a letter to Queen Victoria , asked her "to stretch out towards us your mighty hand, that Niue may hide herself in it and be safe". After expressing anxiety lest some other nation should take possession of

6853-399: The village. The school was rebuilt inland in a neighbouring village. Five to ten minutes to the east of Fagamalo are the villages of Saleaula and Sato'alepai . Towards the west are the villages of Safotu and Safune . In Samoan mythology , Fagamalo is the home of Tui Fiti , a spirit deity who resides in the sacred forest, vao sa , an area that is tapu in the village. Fagamalo is in

6942-437: The whole of Tokelau during February 2, as Ofa started to affect the island with heavy rain, high seas and strong to gale-force winds. Ofa caused extensive damage to the islands public buildings, after sea walls around the atolls of Nukunonu , Atafu and Fakaofo were washed away by high seas. Around 80% of the breadfruit and coconut trees were destroyed or damaged by the winds, while an inundation of water associated with Ofa

7031-421: The winds picked up most communications with the island nation were lost. At the height of the storm the only means of communication with Western Samoa, was through a Polynesian Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft that was standing at Faleolo Airport. The Apia meteorological office was hit by high sea waves at 21:45 UTC (10:45 SST) and had to be abandoned due to rising floods before being completely destroyed

7120-527: The world's first fully organic nation by 2020. In July 2009, a solar panel system was installed, injecting about 50 kW into the Niue national power grid. This is nominally 6% of the average 833 kW electricity production. The solar panels are at Niue High School (20 kW), Niue Power Corporation office, (1.7 kW) and the Niue Foou Hospital (30 kW). The EU-funded grid-connected photovoltaic systems are supplied under

7209-560: Was NZ$ 17 million in 2003, or US$ 10 million at purchasing power parity . Its GDP had increased to US$ 24.9 million by 2016. Niue uses the New Zealand dollar. The Niue Integrated Strategic Plan (NISP) is the national development plan, setting national priorities for development. Cyclone Heta set the island back about two years from its planned timeline to implement the NISP, since national efforts concentrated on recovery efforts. In 2008, Niue had yet to fully recover. After Heta,

7298-713: Was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in Polynesia in February 1990. The system was first noted on January 27, 1990, near Tuvalu, as a shallow tropical depression that had developed within the South Pacific Convergence Zone. The cloud pattern slowly organized, and on January 31, while located east of Tuvalu, Ofa attained cyclone intensity. Moving slowly southeast, Ofa developed storm-force winds. It attained hurricane-force winds on February 2. Cyclone Ofa reached peak intensity on February 4. Shortly after, its peak Ofa began to weaken over

7387-663: Was appointed to evaluate the damage caused and make recommendations to the National Disaster Committee and to the Cabinet on what should be done to help rehabilitate the affected areas. Emergency food aid and other humanitarian relief assistance was received from donors and the Red Cross. The total cost of reconstruction in the island nation was estimated to have exceeded $ US1 million. During January 31, after Ofa's precursor depression had remained near

7476-401: Was completely destroyed, while the roofs of the remaining 30% were partially or completely damaged. On Niuafo'ou a moderate amount of damage was reported, but was generally confined to crops and vegetation. One death was attributed to Ofa on Niuafo'ou, while overall the system caused about US$ 3.2 million in damage to Tonga. Early on February 4, the island nation of Niue was placed under

7565-450: Was declared by President Biden and diplomatic relations were established. Niue is a 261.46 km (100.95 sq mi) raised coral atoll in the southern Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga. There are three outlying coral reefs within the exclusive economic zone , with no land area: Besides these, Albert Meyer Reef, (almost 5 km (3.1 mi) long and wide, least depth 3 m (9.8 ft), 326 km (203 mi) southwest)

7654-406: Was responsible for washing away or contaminating topsoil. The whole population of Swains Island was made homeless, after their homes suffered extensive damage. The island also suffered from a complete loss of agricultural crops including bananas, pawpaws, breadfruits and taro. No deaths or serious injuries were reported within the island nation. About a week after the system had affected Tokelau,

7743-439: Was subsequently decided to put the satellite telecommunication antenna into its survival position, which as a result meant that Wallis and Futuna were cut off from the international telecommunication network. The system subsequently passed about 240 km (150 mi) to the east of the island and produced gale-force winds on the island for a brief period during that day. Despite numerous objections residents were evacuated from

7832-468: Was the first of the country's kings to adopt Christianity. The first Europeans to sight Niue sailed under Captain James Cook in 1774. Cook made three attempts to land, but the inhabitants refused to grant permission to do so. He named the island "Savage Island" because, as legend has it, the natives who "greeted" him were painted in what appeared to be blood. The substance on their teeth was hulahula,

7921-469: Was the major cause of destruction. Overall the system killed at least eight people while it was estimated that the overall damage would amount to over US$ 180 million with damage totals of at least US$ 150 million and US$ 30 million in Western and American Samoa. The island nation of Tuvalu was affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa during February 1, with strong to gale-force winds causing

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