Confusion around Niue election date

Niue's Cabinet has voted against a proposal to raise the fee for candidates in this year's election, keeping it at $11.50.

The island is due to go to the polls this year, but there is some confusion of what the exact date will be.

The premier, Sir Toke Talagi, who has been the island's leader since 2008, said at the opening of Parliament last week that the election would be held in May.

However, the chief electoral officer told TV Niue that he had not been informed of an election date.

But that has not stopped some from announcing various dates at village meetings; one meeting in Alofi South was told that it will be on 6 June, while Avatele was told it would be on 30 May.

Some candidates have expressed frustration at the lack of clarity, with common roll MP Crossley Tatui calling for a mechanism that makes the date known at least six months before the election.