History Niue

polynesians samoa settled niue around 900 ad. further settlers arrived tonga in 16th century.

until beginning of 18th century, niue appears have had no national government or national leader; chiefs , heads of families exercised authority on segments of population. around 1700 concept , practice of kingship appears have originated through contact tongans settled around 1600s. succession of patu-iki (kings) ruled, beginning puni-mata. tui-toga, reigned 1875 1887, first christian king.

the first europeans sight niue sailed under captain james cook in 1774. cook made 3 attempts land, inhabitants refused grant permission so. named island savage island because, legend has it, natives greeted him painted in appeared blood. substance on teeth hulahula, native red fe banana.

for next couple of centuries, niue known savage island until original name, niuē, translates behold coconut , regained use.

the next notable european visitors represented london missionary society; arrived in 1846 on messenger of peace. after many years of trying land european missionary, niuean named nukai peniamina taken samoa , trained pastor @ malua theological college. peniamina returned missionary of toimata fakafitifonua. allowed land in uluvehi mutalau after number of attempts in other villages had failed. chiefs of mutalau village allowed him land , assigned on 60 warriors protect him day , night @ fort in fupiu.

interior of church building in alofi, 1896.

photo thomas andrew (1855–1939).

in july 1849 captain john erskine visited island in hms havannah.

christianity first taught mutalau people before spread villages. other major villages opposed introduction of christianity , had sought kill peniamina. people village of hakupu, although last village receive christianity, came , asked word of god ; hence, village renamed ha kupu atua meaning word of god , or hakupu short.

in 1889 chiefs , rulers of niue, in letter queen victoria, asked stretch out towards mighty hand, niue may hide herself in , safe . after expressing anxiety lest other nation should take possession of island, letter continued: leave seems best you. if send flag of britain well; or if send commissioner reside among us, . british did not take offer. in 1900 petition cook islanders asking annexation included niue if possible . in document dated 19 october 1901, king , chiefs of niue consented queen victoria taking possession of island . despatch secretary of state colonies governor of new zealand referred views expressed chiefs in favour of annexation , document deed of cession . british protectorate declared, remained short-lived. niue brought within boundaries of new zealand on 11 june 1901 same order , proclamation cook islands. order limited islands related reference area in pacific described co-ordinates, , niue, @ 19.02 s., 169.55 w, lies within area.

the new zealand parliament restored self-government in niue 1974 constitution, following referendum in 1974 in niueans had 3 options: independence, self-government or continuation new zealand territory. majority selected self-government, , niue s written constitution promulgated supreme law. robert rex, ethnically part european, part native, appointed first premier, position held until death 18 years later. rex became first niuean receive knighthood – in 1984.

in january 2004 cyclone heta hit niue, killing 2 people , causing extensive damage entire island, including wiping out of south of capital, alofi.