Niue: History

Pre-20th-Century History

A clue to understanding Niue's early history lies in its language, which is based on Samoan and Tongan, and contains traces of the Cook Islands' Pukapukan dialect. These Polynesian settlers arrived just over 1000 years ago, but with little inter-island trade they faced a severely isolated and somewhat difficult existence on a limestone island lacking rivers and useful soils.

Niue entered the 'modern' era in 1774, with the arrival of that most intrepid Yorkshiremen, Captain James Cook. Finding the islanders less welcoming, Cook dubbed the landfall 'Savage Island', in contrast to the Tongans' 'Friendly Islands'. Cook's attempts to land were repulsed on three occasions, a fact which the friendly locals have been trying to atone for ever since. Christianity came to the island in 1846 thanks to the efforts of one of Niue's most famous sons, Peniamina, who converted to the religion whilst on Samoa.

Modern History

By the end of the 19th century the islanders' conversion to Christianity was complete. This allowed the next stage of the colonial process to take place: Niue was declared part of the British Empire. It's not clear exactly what the Niueans thought about this turn of events - they were never asked. In any event, Niue was henceforth administered from New Zealand. This could have been worse: it could have been the Belgians. The Niueans never relished being lumped in, for bureaucratic reasons, with the Cook Islands, and became independent in 1974, but they still operate in 'free association' with New Zealand and hold New Zealand citizenship. Enjoying the best of both worlds, Niue celebrated the centenary of free association in October 2001.

Recent History

With its democratically elected legislative assembly of 20 members, Niue is the world's smallest self-governing state. Past problems with air links with the outside world have been eased with regular flights from New Zealand and Samoa, and the ongoing decline in population has currently abated, albeit at very low levels. However Niue remains heavily dependent of government aid and family remittances from New Zealand, but hopes to reinforce its fragile economy by promoting its charms as an ecotourism destination. More ambitiously it is a significant IT hub of the Pacific deriving revenue from sales of the .nu domain name, and in 2003 became the first island to get free wireless Internet coverage. Cyclone Heta hit Niue in January 2004, claiming the life of one person and causing widespread damage. Since Cyclone Heta, Niue is slowly bouncing back with greater confidence derived from local entrepreneurs taking advantage of the improved air access to provide a greater range of facilities and activities for the adventurous traveller.

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