_#_Independence: became a self-governing territory in free
association with New Zealand on 19 October 1974

_#_Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

_#_Legal system: English common law

_#_National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established
British sovereignty), 6 February (1840)

_#_Executive branch: British monarch, premier, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: Legislative Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974);

Head of Government--Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since NA October
1974)

_#_Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

_#_Political parties and leaders:
Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN

_#_Elections:

Legislative Assembly--last held on 8 April 1990 (next to be
held March 1993);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(20 total, 6 elected) independents 5, NIP 1

_#_Member of: ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF

_#_Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free
association with New Zealand)

_#_Flag: 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

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New
Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the
shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand--the grants are used to pay
wages to public employees. The agricultural sector consists mainly of
subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export.
Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit,
lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign
collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years
has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans
to New Zealand.

_#_GNP: $2.1 million, per capita $1,000; real growth rate NA%
(1989 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (1984)

_#_Unemployment rate: NA%

_#_Budget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY85 est.)

_#_Exports: $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985);

commodities--canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit
products, pawp