18 May 2011

Talagi re-elected as Niue premier

10:40 am on 18 May 2011

Niue's Toke Talagi has been retained as premier after garnering the support of 12 of the 20 MPs in yesterday's first meeting of the new parliament.

He says he's honoured and humbled to get to continue in the position.

Mr Talagi says he knew a week ago he had the numbers and this was confirmed yesterday morning when their nominee for speaker, Ahohiva Levi, was elected.

He says the new government will continue efforts to stabilise the island's finances while growing the economy and to use the returns to help the people.

"Whether that is by way of salary increases by tax reforms or whether it is by way of cost of living adjustments, although I don't favour that, or by way of direct incursions into assisting, say, old folks at home, young people with large families and so on, so they can continue to enjoy a good life here."

He will name his three person Cabinet today and says as with the previous executive it will be short on experience.