Alofi is the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

of the Pacific Ocean island nation of

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

. With a population of 597 in 2017, Alofi has the distinction of being the second smallest national capital city in terms of population (after

Ngerulmud Ngerulmud () is the seat of government of the Republic of Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean. It replaced Koror City, Palau's largest city, as the capital in 2006. The settlement is located in the state of Melekeok on Babeldaob, the co ...

, capital of

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

). It consists of the two villages: Alofi North and Alofi South where the government headquarters are located. SPC 2008, p.4.

History

In January 2004, Niue was hit by the fierce tropical storm

Cyclone Heta Severe Tropical Cyclone Heta was a Category 5 tropical cyclone that caused moderate damage to the islands of Tonga, Niue, and American Samoa during late December 2003 and early January 2004. Heta formed on December 25, 2003; it reached a maximum ...

which killed two people and did extensive damage to the entire island. Many of Alofi's buildings were destroyed, including the hospital. Government buildings were shifted to a less exposed site inland from the west coast, named Fonuakula, after the storm.

East-West Center East West (or East and West) may refer to: *East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture Arts and entertainment Books, journals and magazines *'' East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...

This site is still within the village boundaries of Alofi South.

Geography

Overview

It is located at the centre of

Alofi Bay Alofi Bay is the northern of the two large bays which make up most of the west coast of the island of Niue, the other being Avatele Bay south of it. It stretches from Makapu Point in the island's northwest to Halagigie Point, the island's wester ...

on the west coast of the island, close to the only break in the

coral reef A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. Co ...

that surrounds Niue. The bay stretches for 30% of the island's length (about seven kilometres) from

Halagigie Point Halagigie Point is the westernmost point on the island of Niue in Polynesia. It lies to the southwest of the capital, Alofi, between the two large bays of Alofi Bay Alofi Bay is the northern of the two large bays which make up most of the west coa ...

in the south to Makapu Point in the north. The council's territory borders with

Avatele Avatele, formerly known as Oneonepata Matavaihala, is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, located on the southwest coast, with a population of 143 residents as of 2017. Geography Avatele Beach, the village's main sea track, stretches along the ...

Hakupu Hakupu is one of the fourteen villages of the island of Niue. According to the 2017 census, it has a population of 220, making it the second-largest village in Niue. Geography It is located in the southeast of the island, close to Matatamane Poin ...

Lakepa Lakepa is one of the fourteen villages of Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2 ...

, Liku,

Makefu Makefu is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Its population at the 2017 census was 70, up from 64 in 2011. The village was established by villagers from Tuapa Tuapa is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Its population at the 2017 census was ...

Mutalau Mutalau is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Its population at the 2017 census was 100, up from 97 in 2011. History Overview It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. ''Ululauta'' and ''Matahefonua'' both mean "head of the land". ...

Tamakautoga Tamakautoga is one of the fourteen villages within the Pacific Ocean island nation of Niue. Tamakautoga is located in the southwestern portion of the island and borders the villages of Avatele, Hakupu, and Niue's capital, Alofi, meeting all three ...

and

Tuapa Tuapa is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Its population at the 2017 census was 112, up from 97 in 2011. Villagers from Tuapa established the villages of Makefu, Hikutavake, and Namukulu Namukulu is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Wi ...

Climate

Alofi features a

tropical rainforest climate A tropical rainforest climate, humid tropical climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southea ...

under the

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

, with no discernible

dry season The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The te ...

. The city has a noticeably drier stretch from June through September. However, all of these months average more than of rain, the limit for a dry season month. Average temperatures vary slightly throughout the course of the year in Alofi hovering at around , during the warmest month (February) and at around during the coolest months (July and August) .

Transport

The town is serviced by

Niue International Airport Niue International Airport , also known as Hanan International Airport, is an international airport serving the island nation of Niue. It is located near the town of Alofi, and is only used by Air New Zealand, flying to and from Auckland twice a ...

, and there are numerous roads, both paved and dirt, that crisscross the town. The island's main seaport is

Sir Roberts Wharf Alofi is the capital of the Pacific Ocean island nation of Niue. With a population of 597 in 2017, Alofi has the distinction of being the second smallest national capital city in terms of population (after Ngerulmud, capital of Palau). It consi ...

. It is located at , close to the centre of Alofi, within 200 metres of the capital's post office and just to the north of the Chamber of Commerce building. It is a small wharf, capable – due to the island's topography — of only handling smaller flat-bottomed boats. Larger cargo vessels and fishing boats moor near the reef, and barges are used to offload cargo. Major strengthening, extension work, and renovations to the wharf were commissioned in 2020, after cyclone damage earlier in the year.

Personalities

Dalton Tagelagi Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi (born 5 June 1968) is a Niuean politician and Premier of Niue since June 2020. He was elected premier by the Niue Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2020, defeating O'Love Jacobsen by 13 votes to 7. Tagelagi is the s ...

(b. 1968), politician * Sam Pata Emani Tagelagi (1935–2011), politician

References

Notes

Sources

* * * *

External links

History of Niue

Cyclone aftermath pictures
{{Authority control Capitals in Oceania Populated places in Niue