In this exclusive, BCN News reports the historic occasion when Speaker Hima Douglas signed into law the changes to the Niue constitution.
Of the four constitutional amendment polls put to the public referendum last Saturday, two were successful and were signed into law by the Speaker of the Niue Assembly. The first amendment is to change the name of the leader of government from Premier to Prime Minister. The second amendment changes the name Audit Office to Auditor General of New Zealand.
Just before 10am today, the Speaker of the Niue Assembly Hima Douglas signed into law the two amendments to the Niue constitution after the final results were released by the Chief Electoral Officer, Darren Tohovaka Wednesday afternoon.
The other two amendment polls to increase the number of the Cabinet from four to six and to extend the term of the Niue Assembly from three to four years were not supported by the public.
The signing was done inside the Niue Assembly Chambers and witnessed by the Cabinet and the members of the Constitution Review Committee and staff of the Premier and Cabinet Services.
Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi was invited to say a few words to which he said that he was ‘humbled by the decision of the people’.
Seven hundred and seventeen (717) valid votes were counted to change the name from Premier to Prime Minister. Three hundred sixty-nine (369) voted yes while three hundred forty-eight (348) voted no.
It was a resounding no from the public to increase the members of the Cabinet with 494 electors voted against while 224 voted yes and similarly for the vote to extend the term of the Niue Assembly, the public felt strongly against this with 516 voted no and 204 voted yes.
According to the law, a simple majority of votes cast in the public referendum is needed to change this part of the constitution.