2020 Niuean general election

General elections were held in Niue on 30 May 2020.[1]

2020 Niuean general election

30 May 2020
All 20 members of the Niue Assembly
Premier before election Toke Talagi Independent Elected Premier Dalton Tagelagi Independent

Electoral system

The 20 members of the Assembly are elected by two methods; 14 are elected from single-member consistencies and six are elected from a single nationwide constituency.[2] Both types of seat use first-past-the-post voting.

Campaign

A total of 54 candidates contested the elections, of which 26 contested the six common roll seats. Three candidates – Mona Ainuu in Tuapa, Enetama Lipitoa in Namukulu and Talaititama Talaiti in Vaiea – were elected unopposed.[3] One of the candidates was former New Zealand MP and mayor of Wellington Mark Blumsky.[4]

Results

The Premier Toke Talagi, in office for the previous twelve years, lost his seat, finishing tenth in the six-seat common roll constituency.[4] Five of the elected members were new to the Assembly. After a draw in Mutalau, the result was decided by a coin toss.[4]

The results of the election reduced the number of women in the Assembly dropped from 5 to 3, with only one women in cabinet, Mona Ainuu.[5]

In a secret ballot, the Assembly elected Dalton Tagelagi as Premier in a 13-7 vote against O'Love Jacobsen, and Hima Douglas was elected Speaker on the third ballot.[6][7] The new Cabinet was announced on June 11.[8]

Common roll results

Candidate	Votes	%	Result
Richard Hipa	440	8.58	Elected
Sauni Tongatule	391	7.63	Elected
Crossley Tatui	377	7.35	Re-elected
Stan Kalauni	365	7.12	Re-elected
O'Love Jacobsen	358	6.98	Re-elected
Terry Coe	347	6.77	Re-elected
Billy Talagi	298	5.81	Unseated
Tom Misikea	292	5.69
Joan Viliamu	278	5.42	Unseated
Toke Talagi	218	4.25	Unseated
Mark Blumsky	218	4.25
Togia Sioneholo	184	3.59
Alana Richmond Rex	175	3.41
Catherine Papani	157	3.06
Bill Vakaafi	133	2.59
Rupina Morrissey	123	2.40
Deve Talagi	115	2.24
Stanley Tafatu	113	2.20
Ida Hekesi	107	2.09
Cherie Tafatu	99	1.93
John Togahai	89	1.74
Lagisia Manttan	80	1.56
Young Vivian	72	1.40
Merry Iakopo	54	1.05
Kenneth Green	36	0.70
Biggle Posimani	8	0.16
Total	5,127	100
Valid votes
Invalid/blank votes
Total
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Broadcasting Corporation of Niue

Results by constituencies

Results for constituencies[9]

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	%	Results
Alofi North	Tutuli Heka	36	49.3
	Va'aiga Tukuitonga	37	50.7	Re-elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	73	100
Alofi South	Laga Lavini	41	19.3
	Dalton Tagelagi	108	50.9	Re-elected
	Charles Togahai	63	29.7
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
Total		212	100
Avatele	Hetututama Hetutu	22	28.9
	Atapana Siakimotu	24	31.6
	Poimamao Vakanofiti	30	39.5	Elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
Total		76	100
Hakupu	Fapoi Akesi	26	23.0
	Michael Jackson	35	30.1	Unseated
	Richie Mautama	52	46.0	Elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
Total		113	100
Hikutavake	Opili Talafasi	14	56	Re-elected
	Pamela Togiakona	11	44
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	25	100
Lakepa	Halene Kupa Magatogia	11	22.9	Unseated
	John Operator Tiakia	37	77.1	Elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	48	100
Liku	Sionetasi Pulehetoa	17	32.1
	Pokotoa Sipeli	36	67.9	Re-elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	53	100
Makefu	Tofua Puletama	28	63.6	Re-elected
	Mary Anne Talagi	16	36.4
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	44	100
Mutalau	Makaseau Ioane	26	50	Elected won on coin toss
	Maureen Melekitama	26	50	Unseated lost on coin toss
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	52	100
Namukulu	Jack Lipitoa	-	-	Re-elected unopposed
	Blank or invalid votes		–
	Total		100
Tamakautoga	Peter Funaki	26	31.3	Unseated
	Ricky Makani	57	68.7	Elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	83	100
Toi	Heketoa Kaulima	7	31.8
	Dion Taufitu	15	68.2	Re-elected
	Blank or invalid votes	0	–
	Total	22	100
Tuapa	Mona Ainu'u	-	-	Re-elected unopposed
	Blank or invalid votes		–
	Total		100
Vaiea	Talaititama Talaiti	-	-	Re-elected unopposed
	Blank or invalid votes		–
	Total		100

References

1. Niue elections scheduled for next month Radio New Zealand, 16 April 2020
2. Niue IFES
3. Niue Election 2020 – Prelim List Tala Niue, 14 May 2020
4. Premier of Niue loses seat in election Radio New Zealand, 1 June 2020
5. "Niue: Dalton Tagelagi to investigate financial state of government as priority | Pacific Media Network". pacificmedianetwork.com. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
6. "Dalton Tagelagi voted in as new Premier of Niue". RNZ. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
7. "Dalton Tagelagi New Premier | Talaniue". www.talaniue.com. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
8. "New Cabinet Line-up!". Talaniue. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
9. Broadcasting Corporation of Niue on Facebook Watch, retrieved 2020-06-15