List of Niuean monarchs

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 democratic elective monarchy.

List of patu-iki

Name Portrait Birth Death Start End Notes
Puni-mata ? ? c. 1700 ? He was the first patu-iki. His death, of old age, was followed by an interregnum of significant but indeterminate length.
Patua-valu ? ? ? ? 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 ? ? ? ? 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 ? 1874? ? 1874?
Pakieto ? 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.
Tui-toga, also known as Ta-tagata ? June 13, 1887 March 2, 1885 June 13, 1887 The first Christian King of Niue.
Fata-a-iki ? 1896 1887 (de facto)
November 21, 1888 (de jure)		 1896 The second Christian Niuean monarch. One of his first acts as patu-iki in 1877 was to send a letter to the British monarch Queen 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.
Togia-Pulu-toaki ? ? 1896 (de facto)
June 30, 1898 (de jure)		 ? 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.

Imperial rule and free association

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.

List of British monarchs reigning over Niue

Name Portrait Birth Death Start End Notes
Victoria 24 May 1819 22 January 1901 April 21, 1900 (de facto) 22 January 1901
Edward VII 9 November 1841 6 May 1910 22 January 1901 26 September 1907

List of New Zealand monarchs reigning over Niue

Name Portrait Birth Death Start End Notes
Edward VII 9 November 1841 6 May 1910 26 September 1907 6 May 1910
George V 3 June 1865 20 January 1936 6 May 1910 20 January 1936
Edward VIII 23 June 1894 28 May 1972 20 January 1936 11 December 1936
George VI 14 December 1895 6 February 1952 11 December 1936 6 February 1952
Elizabeth II 21 April 1926 Living 6 February 1952 Incumbent

Sources

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