Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi - whose title was then Premier - with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon in June. Photo: RNZ/Giles Dexter
A referendum in Niue has supported two bills for name changes only.
Niue's government has announced the official results of a referendum to make changes to its constitution.
They show two of the four bills were supported - changing the title of Premier to Prime Minister; and changing the name of the Audit Office to the Auditor General.
These have been signed into effect, meaning Premier Dalton Tagelagi's title is now Prime Minister.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Hima Douglas, signed both bills alongside the Clerk to the Assembly, Melissa Talagi-Douglas, in the presence of members of the Constitution Review Committee, Cabinet ministers, and government officials.
Around 700 people voted in the referendum on 31 August, with a simple majority required for the bills to pass.
The first bill, to change the Premier's title, had 369 votes in favour and 348 against. The fourth bill, on the name change foe the Audit Office, was supported 413 votes to 303.
Tagelagi expressed his appreciation to the Office of the Speaker, Constitution Review Committee, Crown Law Office and everyone that participated in the referendum.
"Regardless of what government is in place, everyone should always support the government of the day," he said.
"These changes are not about me, nor the Cabinet ministers or members of this House.
"This is not only about us today but for the future generations of Niue."
The unsuccessful bills were to increase the number of ministers in the Cabinet from four to six, and to increase the term of the Niue Assembly from three to four years.
For both of these, the votes against them were more than double the number of supportive votes.
Election results for the village councils for Liku, Lakepa, Mutalau and Makefu that were held on Saturday have also been released.
