Niue: Holidays, events and national customs
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date, but are based on the location of Easter. Easter takes place on the first Sunday that follows the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which ends on Holy Saturday, is 46 days before Holy Saturday. The date for Pentecost is then 50 days after Easter. The Corpus Christi festival is celebrated on the 2nd Thursday after Pentecost. All Saints’ Day is celebrated for Orthodox Christians on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost, but for Catholic Christians the date is fixed on November 1st. On October 31, Protestants celebrate Reformation Day. The Halloween festival also takes place on this day.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
February 6 | Waitangi Day. The day commemorates the signing of the Waitangi Treaty in New Zealand, which forms the foundation of the New Zealand state. |
March April | Good Friday, Easter Monday |
April 25 | ANZAC Day. Australian-New Zealand Army Day, commemorating those who fell in World War II. |
6th of June | Birthday of the British Queen (Queen’s Birthday) |
October 19 | Constitution Day |
25 December | Christmas |
December 26 | Boxing Day, Boxing Day |
Source: Countryaah – Niue Holidays
Other public holidays
January: traditional takai week with dancing events in Alofi
Special national customs
Young men entering adulthood have their hair cut off that has not been cut since childhood; however, young girls entering adulthood have their ears pierced.
Niue: climate
December to March is hurricane season with average temperatures of around 28 °C. The southeast trade wind blows from April to November and the average temperature is 25 °C.
The best time to travel to Niue
The best time to travel to Niue is April to November, outside of the hurricane season.
Climate table
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 14-15 | 28-29 | 23-24 |
February | 14-15 | 28-29 | 23-24 |
March | 15-16 | 28-29 | 22-23 |
April | 11-12 | 24-25 | 21-22 |
May | 12-13 | 25-26 | 22-23 |
June | 11-12 | 25-26 | 18-19 |
July | 9-10 | 25-26 | 18-19 |
August | 9-10 | 25-26 | 18-19 |
September | 8-9 | 25-26 | 19-20 |
October | 10-11 | 25-26 | 20-21 |
November | 10-11 | 26-27 | 21-22 |
December | 11-12 | 28-29 | 22-23 |
Niue: National customs
Young men entering adulthood have their hair cut off that has not been cut since childhood;
however, young girls entering adulthood have their ears pierced.
Niue: Sightseeing
UNESCO World Heritage Site
There are currently no UNESO world cultural or natural heritage sites in Niue. At the moment there are no proposals for Niue to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Museums
National Museum/Alofi
Artifacts and the history of the country are shown here.
The opening times are: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific was founded in 1968. Due to the geography of the South Pacific states, the university is spread over many locations. The University of the South Pacific is funded by 12 states, these are:
- Cook Islands
- Fiji Islands
- Kiribati
- Marshal Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- Solomon Islands
- Samoa
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
The main campus of the university is located in Suva, Fiji Islands. A total of around 16,000 students are currently studying at all branches. The University of the South Pacific offers the following degree programs:
- Agricultural Sciences
- Computer science
- journalism
- tourism
- Social sciences
- environmental Protection
- Economics
natural beauties
Vaikono Chasm
caves, washed-out pools of water, rock formations.
Togo Chasm
Togo Chasm, located on the southeastern coast of Niue, is wonderful for hiking and, like Vaikono Chasm, impresses with its washed-out water basins, waves and rock formations.
Arches of Talava
A fantastic cliff with several arches over the sea, complemented by side caves with red and green stalactites and stalagmites.
Huvalu Conservation Area
Rainforest and its wildlife
Sports
Diving and snorkeling
Diving and snorkeling are particularly attractive here, as no rivers flow into the sea and visibility of up to 40 m in the water is not uncommon.