2023 Niuean general election
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All 20 members of the Niue Assembly | |||
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General elections were held in Niue on 29 April 2023.[1] The elections were originally planned to be held early, in late February or early March.[2] Eight new MPs and six women were elected.
Following the elections the Assembly elected Dalton Tagelagi as Premier.
Electoral system[edit]
The 20 members of the Assembly are elected by two methods; 14 are elected from single-member consistencies using first-past-the-post voting and six are elected from a single nationwide constituency by multiple non-transferable vote.[3] There are currently no political parties. After the election, the Members of the Assembly elect a Speaker of the Assembly from outside parliament, and a Premier, who must be an MP. The Premier then chooses a Cabinet.
In 2023, the candidate nomination fee was increased from NZ$11 to NZ$200.[4]
Campaign[edit]
A total of 42 candidates contested the election, of which 17 contested the six common roll seats.[1]
Results[edit]
Three of the common-roll seats went to newcomers, with the initial results indicating that the final seat would be decided by a coin-toss.[5][6] The final results on 3 May did not show a tie, with Sonya Talagi winning the last seat on the common roll by two votes.[7]
Six candidates, including Premier Dalton Tagelagi, were elected unopposed.[8] Six women were elected.[9] Three sitting MPs were unseated.[10]
In a secret ballot, the Assembly re-elected Dalton Tagelagi as Premier in a 16-4 vote against O'Love Jacobsen.[11] Tagelagi appointed his Cabinet on 12 May, the first gender-balanced Cabinet in Niuean history.[12][13]
Common roll[edit]
| Candidate | Votes | % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossley Tatui | 410 | 8.67 | Re-elected |
| Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui | 397 | 8.39 | Elected |
| Sinahemana Hekau | 390 | 8.24 | Elected |
| Billy Talagi | 367 | 7.76 | Re-elected |
| O'Love Jacobsen | 365 | 7.72 | Re-elected |
| Sonya Talagi | 362 | 7.65 | Elected |
| Birtha Lisimoni-Togahai | 360 | 7.61 | |
| Terry Coe | 340 | 7.19 | Unseated |
| Fapoi Akesi | 313 | 6.62 | |
| Tamuta Utalo | 233 | 4.92 | |
| Togia Sioneholo | 208 | 4.40 | |
| Victoria Posimani-Kalauni | 191 | 4.04 | |
| Ettie Lotomaanu P Pasene-Mizziebo | 185 | 3.91 | |
| Julie Sophai S M T Talagi-Funaki | 178 | 3.76 | |
| Charlie J K Tohovaka | 165 | 3.49 | |
| Mark Blumsky | 158 | 3.34 | |
| Fisa Igilisi Pihigia | 109 | 2.30 | |
| Total | 4,731 | 100.00 | |
| Source: [14] | |||
By constituency[edit]
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alofi North | Tutuli Heka | 35 | Elected | ||
| Alan Puleoti | 26 | ||||
| Stanley Frederick Tafatu | 17 | ||||
| Blank or invalid votes | 2 | – | |||
| Total | 78 | ||||
| Alofi South | Dalton Tagelagi | - | - | Re-elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| Avatele | Hetututama Hetutu | 26 | |||
| Ketiligi Saniteli Fereti | 13 | ||||
| Pita Vakanofiti | 28 | Re-elected | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 2 | – | |||
| Total | 69 | ||||
| Hakupu | Richie Mautama | - | - | Re-elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| Hikutavake | Ian Hipa | 9 | Elected | ||
| Masiniholo Lagaloga | 5 | ||||
| Opili Talafasi | 8 | Unseated | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 2 | – | |||
| Total | 24 | ||||
| Lakepa | Shield Palahetogia | 16 | |||
| Rhonda Tiakia Tomailuga | 35 | Elected | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 1 | – | |||
| Total | 52 | ||||
| Liku | Sionetasi Pulehetoa | 26 | |||
| Logopati Seumanu | 31 | Elected | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 0 | – | |||
| Total | 57 | ||||
| Makefu | Tofua Puletama | 22 | Re-elected | ||
| Tioneatali Kemusiaki Lolani | 14 | ||||
| Blank or invalid votes | 0 | – | |||
| Total | 36 | ||||
| Mutalau | Makaseau Ioane | 18 | Unseated | ||
| Maureen Melekitama | 29 | Elected | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 2 | – | |||
| Total | 49 | ||||
| Namukulu | Sione Sionetuato | - | - | Elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| Tamakautoga | Peter Funaki | 25 | |||
| Ricky Makani | 46 | Re-elected | |||
| Blank or invalid votes | 5 | – | |||
| Total | 76 | ||||
| Toi | Dion Taufitu | - | - | Re-elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| Tuapa | Mona Ainuu | - | - | Re-elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
| Vaiea | Talaititama Talaiti | - | - | Re-elected unopposed | |
| Blank or invalid votes | – | ||||
| Total | 100 | ||||
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Candidate list for Niue General Election released". RNZ. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Niue Premier indicates an early general election in 2023". Island Business. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Niue". IFES Election Guide.
- ^ Esther Pavihi (March 2023). "New changes in the lead-up to the 2023 general elections including $200 candidates nomination fee". TV Niue. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ a b Esther Pavihi (30 April 2023). "Several new members will be sworn in to the 18th Niue Legislative Assembly after the general election yesterday". TV Niue. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- ^ Matt Manukuo (1 May 2023). "Final seat in Niuean elections to be decided by hat-draw". Pacific Media Network. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Esther Pavihi (3 May 2023). "Sonya Talagi duly elected 6th Common Roll Member, while Lisimoni-Togahai has filed petition for a recount". TV Niue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ a b Esther Pavihi (14 April 2023). "List of candidates for the 2023 General Elections released; Tagelagi duly elected with 5 others". TV Niue. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Six women MPs voted into Niue's parliament". RNZ. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ Esther Pavihi (1 May 2023). "Two long serving MPs Terry Coe and Opili Talafasi will not be returning to the next Niue Legislative Assembly". TV Niue. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Dalton Tagelagi re-elected premier of Niue". RNZ. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Dalton Tagelagi forms Niue's first gender-balanced Cabinet". RNZ. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ Esther Pavihi (12 May 2023). "Premier Tagelagi announce first gender- balanced Cabinet". TV Niue. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Son of former Niue Premier among six newcomers to Parliament". RNZ. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
