Niue

General Information
	Area: 262.7 sq km (101.4 sq miles). Population: 1,745 (1999). Population Density: 7.9 per sq km. Capital: Alofi. Population: 900 (1987). Geography: Niue is an isolated island located 480km (298 miles) east of Tonga, 560km (348 miles) southeast of Western Samoa, 980km (609 miles) west of Rarotonga and 2400 (1500 miles) northeast of New Zealand. Affectionately known as 'the rock', Niue is reputedly the largest upraised coral atoll in the world. It has 2500 hectares of the most undisturbed forests in the world, designated tapu areas by the locals, where no humans were allowed to set foot for centuries. Now all the tapu forests, except the one controlled by Hakupu village, are penetrable. These forests are full of lush undergrowth, coconut palms and some of the oldest ebony trees known. Light and scattered forest covers approximately 14,000 hectares. At the edge of the forest, the coast gives way to coral outcrops. Government: Self-governing state in 'free association' with New Zealand. (New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs.) Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by High Commissioner Mike Pointer since 1997. Head of Government: Premier Sani Lakatani since 1999. Language: Niuean and English. Religion: Most people belong to the Ekalesia Niue, a Protestant denomination; also Latter Day Saints (Mormon), Jehovah's Witness, Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist. Time: GMT - 11. Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are the standard 3-pin type. Telephone: IDD and local facilities are available. Country code: 683. Outgoing international calls must be made through the operator. There are telephones in hotels, motels and guest-houses. Services are run by the Telecommunications Department located at the Commercial Centre in Alofi, which also provides fax facilities, and is open 24 hours a day. The following are local emergency telephone numbers: Police - 999. Fire - 4133. Hospital - 998. Internet/E-mail: ISPs include Internet Niue (website: www.niue.nu). Postal: The Niue Post Office is open Mon-Fri 0830-1500. Press: The Niue Star is published weekly in English and Niuean. Television Niue broadcasts in English and Niuean in the evenings only.
Travel
	AIR: Royal Tongan Airlines (WR) provides twice-weekly flights to Niue from Tonga with connections from Auckland, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, Samoa, Fiji and Los Angeles, USA. International airport: Niue International (IUE) (Hanan) is 7km (4 miles) north of Alofi. Tour buses are available from the airport to all tourist destinations. There are some shops at the airport, open for scheduled flights. Departure tax: NZ$20. Children under 5 years are exempt. SEA: It is possible to visit Niue by yacht; weekday arrivals are preferred. Moorings and buoys are available.
Entry
	Passport Visa Return Ticket Required Australian  Yes  1  Yes British  Yes  1  Yes Canadian  Yes  1  Yes Japanese  Yes  1  Yes Other EU  Yes  1  Yes USA  Yes  1  Yes
	PASSPORTS: Required by all. VISAS: 1. Not required by bona fide tourists staying less than 30 days with return or onward tickets and sufficient funds for length of stay. However an Entry Permit is required by all nationals, which is granted on arrival (except to nationals of New Zealand and Australia who only require a passport). Visas are required for all nationals staying up to 30 days. Types of visa: Ordinary and Transit. Transit visas are not required by nationals of New Zealand or by other nationals continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided they hold valid onward documentation and are not leaving the airport. Validity: Entry Permit - 30 days. Extensions are available from the Immigration Office, PO Box 67, Administration Blocks, Alofi, Niue (tel: 4122; fax: 4150). Additional Visa Information: http://www.emb.com/nzemb

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