Niue

Niue

AREA	262.7 sq km (101.4 sq miles).
POPULATION	2321 (1994).
POPULATION DENSITY	8.8 per sq km (1994).
CAPITAL	Alofi.
CAPITAL POPULATION	900 (1987).
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 2400 (1500 miles) northeast of New Zealand. Affectionately known as 'the rock', Niue is reputedly the largest upraised coral atoll in the world. It has 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 ebony trees known. Light and scattered forest covers approximately 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 Mike Pointer since 1997. Head of Government: Premier Sani Lakatani since 1999.
LANGUAGE	Niuean and English.
RELIGION	Mostly Ekalesia Niue, a Protestant denomination; also Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Jehovah's Witness, Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 11.
ELECTRICITY	240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are the standard 3-pin type.

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