Niue

The 1999 general elections on Niue saw the end of the government of Frank Lui, who had served as the island's premier for six years. On 19 March, however, not only was Premier Lui unable to win another term at the head of Niue's government, but he was also defeated in the contest for his seat in the Niue Assembly. He lost the Alofi North district to Mrs Va'ainga Tukuitonga (a retired schoolteacher) by a vote of 63 to 51. Such is the nature of politics on this small island, still losing population (now down to approximately 1,750 people). Had only seven people voted differently, Premier Lui would have gained another three-year term in the twenty-member assembly.

Lui's loss of power appears to have resulted from a number of factors. Until the end he remained an opponent of "party politics," leaving the Niue People's Party (NPP) the only political party on the island. After campaigning for several years the party at last began to make headway in 1999, although it remains far from dominant (its leader, Sani Lakatani, only came third in the "common roll" seats). Nevertheless its much greater visibility and activity in the villages left it with an advantage over the government (which, without a formal political party organization, remained a group of "independents"). Under some pressure, Lui sought to assist the campaigns of some of those supporting his government, but the result was a neglect of his own constituency race as well as a general failure to communicate effectively either in the villages or through the media.

By contrast Lui's opponent, Mrs Tukuitonga, staged an effective door-to-door campaign in Alofi North. Lui's failure to campaign well even in his own constituency reflected a degree of complacency and also perhaps some fatigue. After twenty-five years in politics he may have lost touch with the voters and some of his enthusiasm for the job. This seems to have been reflected in an apparent lack of concern over population losses and an unwillingness (or inability) to assist businesses in difficulty. Attempts to promote freer regional trade may also have backfired, with growers unhappy over the import of vegetables and fruit to Niue.

Lui had been Niue's third premier since self-government was achieved, succeeding Young Vivian, who had held office briefly following the death of Sir Robert Rex. Another member of his government was also punished by the voters. Minister of Finance Aokuso Pavihi lost his seat in Avatele to Billy Graham Talagi, a former member of the assembly. Thus the two leading members of Niue's government, the premier and the finance minister, were both ousted by the electorate. That this was not an indiscriminate anti-incumbent vote is clear from the other results.

In four electorates--Vaiea (Talaititama Talaiti), Hakupu (Young Vivian), Liku (Pokotoa Sipeli), and Namukulu (Jack Willie Lipitoa)--the sitting members were elected unopposed. As for the remaining ten village constituencies, incumbents were reelected in six of them--Alofi South (Robert Matua Rex), Tamakoutoga (Peter Funaki), Lakepa (John Operator Tiakia), Toi (Dion Taufiti), Hikutavake (Opili Talafasi), and Tuapa (Fisa Pihigia), with five of them winning by wide margins. Apart from Lui and Pavihi, the only other electorate assembly member to lose his seat was Mutulau's Hafe Vilitama, who was defeated by Bill Vakaafi Motufoou (by 38 votes to 29). There was only one seat, Makefu, where there was no incumbent candidate, and the result, a 22-21 victory for Tofua Puletama, could not have been closer.

Niue's 14 electorate seats are complemented by a further 6 that are elected by the island as a whole. Known as common roll seats, these attract a great deal of public attention and a fairly substantial number of candidates. For 1999 there were 20 people competing for the six seats, with the top-polling candidate winning 502 votes (of 992 votes cast), and...