5 May 2017

Record number to contest Niue election

3:17 pm on 5 May 2017

A record number of candidates will be vying for a seat on Niue's common roll in Saturday's election.

There are 23 candidates standing for the six common roll seats and Chief Electoral Officer, Hubert Kalauni, said that's the highest number the island had ever seen.

The Electoral Commission was expecting a high voter turnout with voting stations open between 9am and 6pm in each of the 14 villages across the island.

Niue government building

Photo: RNZ/ Indira Stewart

While there were only 6 common roll seats available, MP's representing each of the 14 village constituencies will be elected to make up the 20-member parliament.

Mr Kalauni said about 1,100 people have registered to vote.

"We'll announce the provisional result by half past eight, nine o'clock. Yeah election over here is very, you know, the people are very active on that," said Hubert Kalauni.

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