1992 Niuean constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Niue on 13 June 1992.[1] The proposed amendments to the constitution were the first since the country's original constitution was approved in a 1974 referendum.[1] The changes were approved by a large majority of voters.[2]

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Proposed changes

The changes to the constitution included the introduction of the Niuean High Court and Court of Appeal, replacing the use of the equivalent courts in New Zealand.[3] The reforms also abolished the Niue Land Court and the Niue Land Appeal Court, instead creating a Land Division in the new High Court.[3]

Qualifications for political candidates were amended to require New Zealand citizenship.[3] It also removed article 31, a requirement for the Chief Justice to approve any legislative proposal that would affect criminal law or personal status.[3] This effectively removed the human rights element of the constitution.[3]

Aftermath

Following the approval of the changes, there was subsequent criticism that the individual changes should have been voted on separately, as well as of the removal of article 31.[3]

References
  1. Niue: General Information Secretariat of the Pacific Community
  2. Initial reports submitted by State parties under articles 16 and 17 of the covenant United Nations
  3. Pacific Constitutions - Overview Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine University of French Polynesia
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