Niue

Niue (/ˈnuːeɪ, njuːˈeɪ/ NEW-ay, noo-AY; Niuean: Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand, east of Tonga, south of Samoa, and west of the Cook Islands. Niue's land area is about 261 square kilometres (101 sq mi) and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. The island is located in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Solomon Islands to the northwest, and New Caledonia to the southeast. The Niuean capital is Alofi. The majority of Niue's land is uninhabited; about two-thirds of the population lives in Alofi. Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, and Niueans are New Zealand citizens. Niue is not a member of the United Nations, but UN organisations have accepted its status as a state as equivalent to independence for the purposes of international law. As such, Niue is a member of some UN specialised agencies, and is invited, alongside the other non-UN member state of the Cook Islands, to participate in meetings of several UN bodies. Niue is a member of the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Islands Trade Commission. The Niue Constitution Act 1974 describes Niue as an "independent state in free association with New Zealand". Niueans have the status of New Zealand citizens and vote in New Zealand general elections. 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 above sea level. A coral reef surrounds the island, with the only major break in the reef being in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi. A notable landform is the Hiku'alofa, or "folded cliffs", a type of fold mountain formed by the pressure of the westward-moving Pacific Plate on the Niuafo'ou, or Tonga, Plate. Niue is 667 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, 19 kilometres off the east coast of the island of Tonga, and 1,900 kilometres (1,200 mi) south of Samoa. Niue's closest neighbours are the Kermadec Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Wallis and Futuna, all of which lie more than 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) away. The island is about 101 kilometres (63 mi) long and 76 kilometres (47 mi) wide, with a total land area of 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi). The westernmost point is Liku'alofa, on the reef south of the village of Hakupu, while the easternmost point is Halagigie Point, on the reef north of the village of Makefu. Niue is a raised coral atoll consisting of 101 kilometres (63 mi) of coastline, and with a land area of 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi) is one of the world's largest coral islands. The island is roughly oval in shape, with a length of 101 kilometres (63 mi) and a width of 76 kilometres (47 mi). The coastline is almost completely encircled by a coral reef which rises to within a few metres of the shore in places, and is itself surrounded by a blue lagoon. The reef is largely continuous except for one break in the northwest, near the village of Hakupu. There are several islets off the reef, the largest of which is Halagigie Islet, lying close to Halagigie Point in the northeast. Niue is an uplifted coral atoll, with a central plateau rising 60 metres above sea level. The plateau is surrounded by cliffs which in places are up to 30 metres high. There are a number of caves in the cliffs, the largest of which is the Avaiki Cave, located in the southwest of the island. The island has two freshwater lakes, the larger of which is Lake Nui. Lake Nui covers an area of 1.5 square kilometres (0.58 sq mi) and is located in the centre of the island. The smaller lake, Lake Matavai, is located in the north of the island and covers an area of 0.35 square kilometres (0.14 sq mi). Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, and Niueans are New Zealand citizens. The Niue Constitution Act 1974 describes Niue as an "independent state in free association with New Zealand". Niue is not a member of the United Nations, but UN organisations have accepted its status as a state as equivalent to independence for the purposes of international law. As such, Niue is a member of some UN specialised agencies, and is invited, alongside the other non-UN member state of the Cook Islands, to participate in meetings of several UN bodies. Niue is a member of the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Islands Trade Commission. The Niuean head of state is the Queen of Niue, represented by the Governor-General of New Zealand. The head of government is the Premier of Niue, who is elected by the Niue Assembly. Niue is represented in New Zealand by a High Commissioner, and in Australia by a Commissioner. Niue is a member of the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Islands Trade Commission. The economy of Niue is small, with a GDP of $23 million in 2016. The main economic activity is subsistence agriculture, with some export of coconuts, honey, passionfruit, nonu fruit, and taro. Tourism is also a significant industry, with about 12,000 visitors in 2017. The Niue dollar is the official currency of Niue, and is pegged to the New Zealand dollar at a rate of 1 Niue dollar to 1.4 New Zealand dollars. Niue is a raised coral atoll in the South Pacific, northeast of New Zealand. It is one of the world's largest coral islands, with a land area of 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi) and a coastline of 101 kilometres (63 mi). The island is roughly oval in shape, with a length of 101 kilometres (63 mi) and a width of 76 kilometres (47 mi). The coastline is almost completely encircled by a coral reef which rises to within a few metres of the shore in places, and is itself surrounded by a blue lagoon. The reef is largely continuous except for one break in the northwest, near the village of Hakupu. There are several islets off the reef, the largest of which is Halagigie Islet, lying close to Halagigie Point in the northeast. Niue is a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, and Niueans are New Zealand citizens. The Niue Constitution Act 1974 describes Niue as an "independent state in free association with New Zealand". Niue is not a member of the United Nations,