26 May 2014

Niue High Court makes ruling on petition inquiry

11:51 am on 26 May 2014

A Niue member of parliament, Dion Taufiti, has fought off a challenge to his Toi Village seat by a candidate who contested the result of the April general election.

An inquiry held by the chief justice, Patrick Savage, found there were no discrepencies in the tied vote, which Mr Taufitu later won on a draw of straws.

The chief justice also dismissed a challenge to the legality of four votes in the constituency.

Moke Vaha who contested the Toi seat claimed four voters - relatives of Mr Taufitu - were ineligible to vote because of a non-residential status.