Proposed constitutional amendments pass second reading in Niue

The small island nation of Niue is on the brink of change, as proposed constitutional amendments - including the official title of the country’s leader - have passed through their second reading. One of the proposed changes includes the changing of the government head’s title to that of Prime Minister, rather than the current title of Premier - one that has been in place since 1974. If it passes a public referendum and third reading, the current Premier Dalton Tagelagi will be known as Prime Minister - the first for the island nation. Niue’s Parliament - known as the Niue Assembly - was presented with four revised bills up for a second reading late last week (NZT). They were: Changing the title from Premier to Prime Minister, increasing the total number of Cabinet Ministers from four to six, extending the term of each Assembly from three to four years and amending the reference in the constitution from Audit Office to Auditor-General. Tagelagi said the proposed changes signified Niue’s increased focus on their self-governance and the island’s Pacific identity.
Read the full article here: The New Zealand Herald