Patu-iki ("chief of chiefs") is the title that was given to the leader of the
Pacific Ocean island of
Niue.
The position was not hereditary, and was elected by the people from among the heads of influential families.
[ ]John Macmillan Brown
John Macmillan Brown (5 May 1845 – 18 January 1935) was a Scottish-New Zealand academic, administrator and promoter of education for women.
Brown was born in Irvine, the sixth child of Ann Brown and her husband, James Brown, a sea captain. ...
reported it as being "purely nominal", with no real power. The first Patu-Iki was Puni-mata in around 1700, and the last was Togia-Pulu-toaki
Togia-Pule-toaki was the eighth and possibly final ''patu-iki'' of the Pacific Ocean island of Niue, taking power in 1896 following the death of the previous incumbent, Fata-a-iki, and formally ordained on June 30, 1898.
Under Togia-Pule-toaki's ...
, who ceded Niue to the British Crown in 1900.
The concept of kingship in Niue may have arisen due to increased contact with the monarchial systems in place in Samoa and Tonga.
See also
*List of Niuean monarchs
This is a list of monarchs who have reigned over the Pacific island of Niue. The island today is a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand, and recognises the Sovereign in Right of New Zealand as the head of state. Befor ...
References
Former monarchies of Oceania
Niuean monarchs
History of Niue
{{Niue-stub