1974 Niuean constitutional referendum
3 September 1974
Do you vote for self-government for Niue in free association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and the Niue Constitution Act 1974 ?
Results
Choice
 Votes  %
Yes 887 65.41%
No 469 34.59%
Valid votes 1,356 97.98%
Invalid or blank votes 28 2.02%
Total votes 1,384 100.00%

A constitutional referendum was held in Niue on 3 September 1974.[1] The constitution was approved by 65.4% of voters, and came into force on 19 October.[1]

Background

The proposed constitution was drafted by Robert Quentin Quentin-Baxter, a Professor of Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence at Victoria University of Wellington, in consultation with the Niue Assembly.[2] The new constitution would make Niue an autonomous region under the sovereignty of New Zealand; islanders would gain New Zealand citizenship and be able to settle freely in New Zealand.[1] It provided for a 21-member Assembly, consisting of a Speaker and 20 elected members (14 elected from single-member constituencies based on the villages and six from a single island-wide constituency). The Assembly would elected a Premier, who would choose three other members of a four-person Executive Council.[2]

The referendum was approved by the Niue Assembly on 16 July 1974,[1] and the proposed constitution was approved in the New Zealand Parliament through the Niue Amendment Bill and the Niue Constitution Act.[2]

Results

Do you vote for self-government for Niue in free association with New Zealand on the basis of the Constitution and the Niue Constitution Act 1974?[1]

Choice Votes %
For88765.40
Against46934.60
Invalid/blank votes28–
Total1,384100
Registered voters/turnout
Source: Direct Democracy

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Niue, 3 September 1974: Constitution Direct Democracy (in German)
  2. 1 2 3 Niue moves to self-government Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1974, p2
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