'It’s only a word': Niue’s Premier is now Prime Minister

Niue’s recent referendum saw strong support for a change to the title of Premier to Prime Minister, which the Pacific island nation’s leader Dalton Tagelagi says is good for diplomacy.

The referendum on the proposed changes to Niue's Constitution also sought approval to increase the Cabinet from four to six members, and the term of the Assembly from three to four years.

The Bill to change the title of Premier was signed into law by the Speaker last Monday, Prime Minister Tagelagi says.

He has long advocated for the change and told PMN Niue's Faama Viliamu that he would only be referred to as Premier in the island nation.

“When they acknowledge all the leaders of the region, they acknowledge Prime Ministers and Presidents," Tagelagi said.

From left, Avatele MP Pita Poimamao Vakanofiti, Amanda Luxon, Christopher Luxon and Dalton Tagelagi during PM Luxon's first visit to Niue in June.

“They don't acknowledge [the title] Premier…They're used to the term Prime Ministers and Presidents.

"It's not only that. Before any of these changes, I did write to the Government General and also the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, and the feedback was welcomed by them."

“But it's only a word. It's only to be consistent with the understanding of the region and the outside world.”

Tagelagi was first elected to the Niuean Assembly in 2008 and Premier in 2020.

The public voted 57 per cent in favour of a motion to identify the Auditor–General as the country’s official auditor. But Tagelagi doesn’t understand why so many were against it - 43 per cent.

“It’s just aligning what we have in the Constitution with the law that’s already in New Zealand,” says Tagelagi.

He says the large vote opposing the change to Auditor-General suggests people didn’t fully understand the meaning of the proposed changes because it was “straight-forward” and should have been supported in greater numbers.

The voting public strongly rejected proposals to increase the number of ministers in the Cabinet from four to six and to increase the term of the Niue Assembly from three to four years.

Some 71 per cent voted against extending the general assembly term and 69 per cent rejected the proposal to increase the number of Cabinet members.

Tagelagi questions whether enough was done to properly inform the Niue population about the proposed changes.

“Look, we can only try and help them understand the importance of these changes,” he says.

But he accepted that the people had made their decision.

Watch Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi's full interview on PMN Niue: https://www.facebook.com/PMNNiue/videos/972734391319555