Located in Oceania, Niue (pronounced Nē-OO ā) is one of the world’s largest coral islands, with a rugged 64 km coastline of steep limestone cliffs surrounded by coral reefs. It is roughly oval in shape and about the size of Washington DC. It is in a remote location, 2,400 km northeast of New Zealand and between Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. It has a tropical climate with a rainy season extending from November to mid-April. Regionally, Niue is called the Rock of Polynesia, with local inhabitants simply referring to it as The Rock. Translated, Niue means ‘behold the coconut’.

Its main natural resources are fish and arable land, which support a small industry and export market in fruits, root vegetables, and fish and meat products. With barriers of a small population, remoteness from major markets and few natural resources, its economy is based on subsistence gardening, with some cash crops raised for exporting. There is a small industry on the island that provides jobs for a few, mainly in processing passion fruit, lime oil, honey, vanilla, coconut cream and handicrafts. The remainder of the islanders are engaged in work on family plantations if they are not employed by the other two main employers, government and the development board.

Niue’s population of about 2000 (2009) lives mainly on the West coast of the island around Alofi, the capital. As many as 20,000 Niueans live in New Zealand and approximately another 500 in Australia. Out-migration has been a major problem for Niue, as it hinders economic development. The economy used to rely on remittances sent from families living abroad, but this is decreasing since many Niueans are now being born abroad and no longer consider sending money to family on the island to be necessary.

Predominantly Polynesian, Niueans make up the largest part of the population; under 25% are European and a mixture of other ethnic groups. All Niueans are New Zealand citizens, it having a history of governance first by the UK, then New Zealand and, since 1974, having the status of free association with New Zealand.

The main languages of Niue are Niuean, a Polynesian language similar to Tongan and Samoan, and English. The population is predominantly Protestant Christian.

The island is made up of 14 villages, each having one representative in the legislative branch of government. Due to its small economy, Niue is dependent on foreign aid, its biggest provider being New Zealand. It is a member in the main Pacific regional organisations: Pacific Island Forum (PIF), South Pacific community (SPC), the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), and the Pacific Island’s Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).

Niue’s government owns the only television (Television Niue) and radio stations (Radio Sunshine) on the island, both operated by the Niue Broadcasting Corporation. Niue has one weekly newspaper, the Niue Star. Nearly the entire population uses the internet, with free wireless internet available to all residents.