Facts about Niue
Niue has one primary school on the island, one secondary school, and one early childhood education facility.
When cyclones battered Niue in 1959 and 1960, the new houses built with New Zealand aid introduced modern conveniences, which changed Niuean attitudes.
Niue's economy is very small with a GDP of around U.S. $7.6 million (estimated in 2000).
Remittances from Niuean expatriates, generally from New Zealand, constitute a significant proportion of Niue's income as well.
Niue is located about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.
Forests and woodland make up 19 percent of Niue, arable land 19 percent, permanent crops eight percent, permanent pastures four percent, and "other" makes up 50 percent.
Many participants are based in New Zealand, and some play for their adopted country—the most-capped All Black center Frank Bunce is Niuean-Samoan.
Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing public services by almost half.
Niue had been offered autonomy in 1965 (along with the Cook Islands, which accepted), but had asked for its autonomy to be deferred another decade.
Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs while New Zealand retains responsibility for foreign affairs and defense.
Around 1936, when the census recorded 54 Niue-born residents in New Zealand, family members began establishing themselves in New Zealand so that others could follow.
Fears that the Niuean language might disappear led to the establishment of the Niue Foundation, and publication in the twentieth century of a revised Niuean dictionary and hymn book.
In August 2005, Australian mining company Yamarna Goldfields suggested that Niue might have the world's largest deposit of uranium.
The British granted Niue to New Zealand in 1901 for services during the South African War.
Niueans increasingly looked to New Zealand as a land of opportunity, and Niue’s main export has become its people.
Niue was first settled by Polynesian sailors from Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.
New Zealand’s 2001 census showed there were 5,328 New Zealand residents born in Niue, while 20,148 included Niuean ancestry in their ethnicity.
Niue's remoteness and the cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands have caused it to be separately administered.
The constitution specifies that in everyday practice, executive authority is exercised by the Cabinet of the Premier of Niue and three other ministers.
Popular hip hop artist Che Fu draws heavily on his Niuean–M?ori heritage for inspiration.
Despite being one of the world’s smallest rugby-playing nations, in 2003, Niue beat both Japan and the U.S. Other popular sports include kilikiti (Niuean cricket), netball (a sport based on basketball), and softball.
In 1887, King Fataaiki wrote to Queen Queen Victoria of England, requesting that Niue be placed under British protection, but his request was turned down.
The premier and ministers must be members of the Niue Assembly, the nation's legislative assembly.
The economy of Niue suffers from the Pacific Island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.
Niue's terrain is marked by steep limestone cliffs along the coast with a central plateau rising to about 200 feet (60 m) above sea level.
Niue gained its autonomy in 1974 in free association with New Zealand, which handles the island's military and foreign affairs.
Seventy-five percent of Niueans belong to the Ekalesia Niue, or Niuean Church, which is a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society.