<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Niue<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> none
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Niue
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> NE
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> English common law
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
<list style=hang>
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative Kurt MEYER (since NA)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Premier Frank F. LUI (since 12 March 1993; Acting Premier since December 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; consists of the premier and three other ministers
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative Assembly:</hi> elections last held on 6 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1996); results —percent of vote NA; seats—(20 total, 6 elected)
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars—a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross