The 1999 General Elections on Niue Saw the End of the Government Of
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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 oppo- nent 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 gov- ernment (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 sup- porting 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. Niue By contrast Lui’s opponent, Mrs Tukuitonga, staged an effective door- The 1999 general elections on Niue to-door campaign in Alofi North. saw the end of the government of Lui’s failure to campaign well even Frank Lui, who had served as the in his own constituency reflected a island’s premier for six years. On 19 degree of complacency and also per- March, however, not only was Premier haps some fatigue. After twenty-five Lui unable to win another term at the years in politics he may have lost head of Niue’s government, but he touch with the voters and some of was also defeated in the contest for his his enthusiasm for the job. This seems seat in the Niue Assembly. He lost the to have been reflected in an apparent Alofi North district to Mrs Va‘ainga lack of concern over population losses 232 the contemporary pacific • spring 2000 and an unwillingness (or inability) to complemented by a further 6 that assist businesses in difficulty. Attempts are elected by the island as a whole. to promote freer regional trade may Known as common roll seats, these also have backfired, with growers attract a great deal of public attention unhappy over the import of vegetables and a fairly substantial number of and fruit to Niue. candidates. For 1999 there were 20 Lui had been Niue’s third premier people competing for the six seats, since self-government was achieved, with the top-polling candidate win- succeeding Young Vivian, who had ning 502 votes (of 992 votes cast), held office briefly following the death and the twentieth-polling candidate of Sir Robert Rex. Another member gaining only 31. As has happened at of his government was also punished some past elections, a woman finished by the voters. Minister of Finance in first position. O’Love Jacobsen, Aokuso Pavihi lost his seat in Avatele a cabinet minister in the Lui govern- to Billy Graham Talagi, a former ment, led the field, followed by member of the assembly. Thus the another former cabinet minister, Terry two leading members of Niue’s gov- Coe (who had been the leading com- ernment, the premier and the finance mon roll candidate in 1996) with 485 minister, were both ousted by the votes. In third position came the npp electorate. That this was not an indis- leader Sani Lakatani with 474 votes, criminate anti-incumbent vote is clear followed by Hima Douglas with 461, from the other results. and Michael Jackson and Toke Talagi In four electorates—Vaiea (Talaiti- each with 414 votes. The new assem- tama Talaiti), Hakupu (Young Vivian), bly members include Douglas (a Liku (Pokotoa Sipeli), and Namukulu broadcaster), Toke Talagi (a former (Jack Willie Lipitoa)—the sitting public servant with business and members were elected unopposed. financial experience), Motufoou (an As for the remaining ten village con- employee of the Niue Development stituencies, incumbents were reelected Bank), Puletama (a planter), Billy in six of them—Alofi South (Robert Graham Talagi, and Mrs Tukuitonga. Matua Rex), Tamakoutoga (Peter The first meeting of the Legislative Funaki), Lakepa (John Operator Assembly was held a week after the Tiakia), Toi (Dion Taufiti), Hikuta- election. On Friday, 26 March, the vake (Opili Talafasi), and Tuapa (Fisa assembly elected former assembly Pihigia), with five of them winning by member Tama Posimani (the npp wide margins. Apart from Lui and nominee) as its Speaker. The vote was Pavihi, the only other electorate 14–6 and was followed immediately assembly member to lose his seat was by the election of Lakatani as premier Mutulau’s Hafe Vilitama, who was (defeating Jacobsen, the first woman defeated by Bill Vakaafi Motufoou ever to be nominated for the position) (by 38 votes to 29). There was only by the identical margin. Mrs Jacobsen one seat, Makefu, where there was was supported by Coe, Tiakia, Talaita, no incumbent candidate, and the Funaki, and Lipitoa. An hour later result, a 22–21 victory for Tofua Lakatani announced his cabinet, Puletama, could not have been closer. which included Young Vivian as Niue’s 14 electorate seats are deputy (responsible for Education, political reviews • polynesia 233 Community Affairs, Art, Culture, Manila to plead for a loan from the Women’s Affairs, Youth Affairs, and Asian Development Bank (adb). This Environment), Dion Taufitu (Admin- he failed to achieve, not surprisingly, istrative Services, Public Works, Agri- given Niue’s ambiguous political sta- culture, Fisheries, Forestry, Employ- tus, dwindling population, and mea- ment, and Broadcasting), and Robert ger economic resources. New Zealand Rex Jr (Health, Niue Public Service was also unenthusiastic about the Commission, Justice, Lands and Sur- prospect of having to meet the pay- vey, Shipping and Trade, Police and ments on any adb loan were Niue to Immigration). In addition, Douglas default. In any case the rejection may and Toke Talagi were appointed asso- have saved Niue from acquiring an ciate ministers, Talagi with responsi- unmanageable debt burden. bilities for economic development and The application to the Asian Devel- civil aviation, and the experienced opment Bank was a response to the and capable Douglas available for major challenge facing the govern- a range of activities. ment, one that is more ongoing and Lakatani retained some of the more vital to its economic and political powerful ministerial responsibilities future. While New Zealand appears for himself. These included Finance, to be constitutionally obligated to Economic Development, Offshore provide financial support for Niue, Banking, Tourism, Civil Aviation, Post it has nevertheless been resolute in and Telecommunications, and Exter- implementing annual $250,000 cuts nal Affairs. While in some parliamen- in budgetary assistance. At this rate tary systems there would be strong all such assistance will disappear resistance to a head of government eventually, leaving the Niue govern- also holding the Finance portfolio— ment in the interim to discover or to say nothing of External Affairs as invent ways to provide some income well—the size of Niue’s cabinet (lim- for itself. This will be difficult to ited to four members) and the scale of accomplish, as the population attri- its economy and politics makes such a tion and the absence of economic combination more plausible. growth leave the island with little in Lakatani’s first challenges as pre- the way of a tax base. Rumors that mier and minister of finance were not New Zealand aid may disappear especially pleasant ones. First, he had altogether by 2002 or 2003 seem to deliver on his campaign promise to somewhat premature, however. repeal the previous government’s leg- While some other Pacific islands islation granting Niue’s cabinet minis- have been experiencing environmental ters (including the premier) a 60 per- and social stresses due to a rising pop- cent pay increase. This painful duty ulation, for Niue the pressures stem was partly achieved, with a 40 per- from the steady loss of its people. cent reduction being implemented as During the eleven-year period in from 1 July 1999 (the discrepancy which I have been writing these com- between the two being explained as mentaries for The Contemporary a cost-of-living adjustment). Pacific, the number of people living The second major challenge on Niue has declined by slightly more involved a journey by Lakatani to than 25 percent. Few countries in 234 the contemporary pacific • spring 2000 recent times have had to grapple with health services? Could the island’s the problems brought about by such many abandoned homes be easily an unusual phenomenon. If this trend renovated? What are the likely conse- continues much further, it seems quences for land use, the environment, inevitable that the question of Niue’s fishing, community activities, the status as a self-governing state “in free economy, and so on? No one knows. association with New Zealand” will Although the New Zealand govern- come up for review. The experience ment’s present willingness to allow at of the Chatham Islands (admittedly least some Niueans to continue to physically closer to New Zealand receive New Zealand superannuation than Niue), which are an integral part even if they return to Niue has been of New Zealand, provides a possible welcome, it is interesting that initial model for policymakers. reactions (intended to be reassuring) Even the introduction of full from Premier Lakatani suggested that “portability” for Niuean recipients of perhaps not many residents would New Zealand government pensions want to come back in any case, and (“superannuation”) is expected to so there was no need for alarm.