Living in Niue

The natives of Niue originated from the islands of Tongans, Cook Islands and Samoa. Due to the mix of these three cultures, Niue developed their own unique culture and a language which has traces of all these three neighbors. Though the culture and languages is quite similar to the neighbors but is quite different and has its own flavor and dialect.

The English translation of Niue is ‘Behold! Coconut!’ which was the expression which occurred when the neighboring natives discovered the island which was nothing but rocks but still full of coconut trees. This was an indication that the island was capable of inhabitation as the natives settling had learnt the immense use of the coconut tree and over the centuries have developed the art of using the tree in many ingenious ways for survival.

Niue is quite different from is Polynesian neighbors. It does not have the priest and chief hierarchy at the seat of power but have traditionally been a democratically led society. The Niuean are quite used to the democracy from of self governance since ages and when the country got its independence from New Zealand in 1974 its government was a democracy having a legislative assembly of 20 elected members led by a elected Premier.

Before the Christian missionaries arrived on the island of Niue in the mid 1800s, most of the natives lived in caves along the coast line of the island. The island geology initially dictated the ways in which the domestic life in and around the coastline caves evolved. However, in the mid 1900s due to the fear of the American and the French, the micro kingdom which had by then fully converted to Christianity ceded itself to the British throne and became a part of the British Empire. The administration control was shifted to New Zealand when it got independence in 1901. However, the island gained its independence from New Zealand in 1974.

The country being predominantly Christian, Sunday is a rest day and even recreation activities are not allowed on Sundays. The country is a relaxed country with no hurry in any area of life.