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This is a list of monarchs who have reigned over the Pacific island of Niue. The island today is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, and recognises the Queen of New Zealand as monarch. Before this, however, the island previously had an indigenous monarchy, established around the beginning of the 18th century.
Before that time, there appears to have been no national government or national leader in Niue. Chiefs and heads of family exercised authority over segments of the population. Around 1700, the concept and practice of kingship appears to have been introduced through contact with Samoa or Tonga. From then on, a succession of patu-iki (kings) ruled the island, the first of whom was Puni-mata. The monarch was non-hereditary; patu-iki were reportedly elected by the Niuean population, with the candidates being issued from influential families. As described by Percy Smith in 1903, Niue appears therefore to have been a democraticelective monarchy.
He was the first patu-iki. His death, of old age, was followed by an interregnum of significant but indeterminate length.
Patua-valu
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He was nominated for kingship by the population's elected choice, Tage-lagi, who declined the position and opted instead to be Patua-valu's lifelong bodyguard. Patua-valu died of old age.
Galiga, also known as Galiaga-a-Iki and Galiaga of Palūki
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This patu-iki was murdered by a person called Tikomata. Following his death, Fakana-iki and Hetalaga vied to replace him, but failed to secure the approval of the population. Foki-mata eventually became the fourth patu-iki instead. He was the last king elected in times of peace.
Foki-mata
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1874?
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1874?
Pakieto
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1875?
1874?
1875?
He was patu-iki for only a year. Following his death, a war of succession occurred. He was one of the Tama-lagau people.
The second Christian Niuean monarch. One of his first acts as patu-iki in 1877 was to send a letter to the British monarchQueen Victoria, requesting that Niue be made a protectorate of the British Empire, to protect the island from other imperial powers, although his letter (and another sent in 1895) received no replies.
He was the king who finally ceded Niue to the British Empire on April 21, 1900, and who welcomed a Resident representative of the imperial government on Niue on September 11, 1901. Togia-Pulu-toaki remained patu-iki in 1903, when Niuē-fekai (or Savage) Island and its People was published and the date of his death, and whether or not he was succeeded, remains unclear.
From 1900 to 1901, Niue was ruled by the United Kingdom. In 1901, the island was annexed by New Zealand, which administered it in the name of the British Empire. On 26 September 1907, New Zealand attained the status of dominion, becoming the Dominion of New Zealand, and the British monarch from then on reigned over Niue in his or her capacity as monarch of New Zealand. Elizabeth II was the first monarch to be explicitly titled Queen of New Zealand, however, in 1952. Today, Niue is part of the Realm of New Zealand, the successor political entity to the dominion.