Alofi

Alofi is the capital of the island nation of Niue. With a population of 597 in 2017,[6] Alofi has the distinction of being the second-smallest capital city of a sovereign state by population (after Ngerulmud, capital of Palau). It consists of two villages: Alofi North and Alofi South. They collectively serve as the capital, but of the two, Alofi South hosts more government buildings, as many were moved to the southern part after Cyclone Heta.

This article is about the capital villages of Niue. For the island, part of Wallis and Futuna, see Alofi Island.

Alofi
City
Alofi locals walking along a street
A street in Alofi
Alofi council within Niue
Alofi council within Niue
Administrative map of Niue showing all the villages. Alofi is on the western side of the island
Administrative map of Niue showing all the villages. Alofi is on the western side of the island
Coordinates: 19°03′15″S 169°55′10″W
CountryNew Zealand
Constituent countryNiue
Tribal AreaTafiti
VillageAlofi North and Alofi South
Government
 • Assemblyman of Alofi NorthVaiga Tukuitoga[1]
 • Assemblyman of Alofi SouthDalton Tagelagi[2]
Area
 • Area of both Alofi North and Alofi South46.48 km2 (17.95 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
21 m (69 ft)
Population
 (2017)[4]
 • Total597
 • Density12.5/km2 (32.46/sq mi)
 • Alofi North
147
 • Alofi South
434
Resident Population
[5]
 • Visitors (Alofi North)6,214
 • Visitor (Alofi South)6,214
Time zoneUTC-11 (UTC-11)
Area code+683

History

In January 2004, Niue was hit by the fierce tropical storm Cyclone Heta, 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 3 km (≈ 2 mi) inland from the west coast,[7] named Fonuakula, after the storm.[8] This site is within the village boundaries of Alofi South.

Geography

Overview

It is located at the centre of Alofi Bay on the west coast of the island, close to the only break in the coral reef that surrounds Niue. The bay stretches for 30% of the island's length (about seven kilometres) from Halagigie Point in the south to Makapu Point in the north.

The council's territory borders with Avatele, Hakupu, Lakepa, Liku, Makefu, Mutalau, Tamakautoga and Tuapa.[9]

Climate
Alofi
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
260
 
 
28
23
 
 
250
 
 
29
24
 
 
300
 
 
28
24
 
 
200
 
 
27
23
 
 
130
 
 
26
22
 
 
80
 
 
26
21
 
 
90
 
 
25
20
 
 
100
 
 
25
20
 
 
100
 
 
26
21
 
 
120
 
 
26
21
 
 
140
 
 
27
22
 
 
190
 
 
28
23
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Weatherbase[3]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
10
 
 
82
73
 
 
9.8
 
 
84
75
 
 
12
 
 
82
75
 
 
7.9
 
 
81
73
 
 
5.1
 
 
79
72
 
 
3.1
 
 
79
70
 
 
3.5
 
 
77
68
 
 
3.9
 
 
77
68
 
 
3.9
 
 
79
70
 
 
4.7
 
 
79
70
 
 
5.5
 
 
81
72
 
 
7.5
 
 
82
73
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Alofi features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification, with no discernible dry season. The city has a noticeably drier stretch from June through September. However, all of these months average more than 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, the limit for a dry season month. Average temperatures vary slightly throughout the course of the year in Alofi hovering at around 27 °C (81 °F), during the warmest month (February) and at around 23 °C (73 °F) during the coolest months (July and August).

Climate data for Alofi
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 38
(100)		 38
(100)		 32
(90)		 36
(97)		 30
(86)		 32
(90)		 35
(95)		 37
(99)		 36
(97)		 31
(88)		 37
(99)		 36
(97)		 38
(100)
Average high °C (°F) 28
(82)		 29
(84)		 28
(82)		 27
(81)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 28
(82)		 27
(81)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26
(79)		 27
(81)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(79)		 25
(77)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)
Record low °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 14
(57)		 15
(59)		 13
(55)		 11
(52)		 11
(52)		 15
(59)		 15
(59)		 11
(52)		 17
(63)		 11
(52)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 261.6
(10.30)		 253.6
(9.98)		 305.6
(12.03)		 202.6
(7.98)		 138.2
(5.44)		 88.9
(3.50)		 96.4
(3.80)		 105.8
(4.17)		 102.4
(4.03)		 123.8
(4.87)		 145.5
(5.73)		 196.2
(7.72)		 2,018.4
(79.46)
Source: Weatherbase[10]

Transport

The town is serviced by Niue International Airport, and there are numerous roads, both paved and dirt, that crisscross the town.[11]

The island's main seaport is Sir Roberts Wharf. It is located at 19°03′10″S 169°55′15″W, 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.[12]

Personalities

See also

References

Notes
  1. New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  2. Government of Niue
  3. Weatherbase
  4. "Niue Household and Population Census 2017" (PDF). niue.prism.spc.int. Niue Statistics Office. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. SPC 2008, p.5.
  6. "Niue Household and Population Census 2017" (PDF). niue.prism.spc.int. Niue Statistics Office. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  7. "Alofi | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  8. East-West Center
  9. 1558549 Alofi on OpenStreetMap
  10. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Alofi, Niue". Weatherbase. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  11. "Niue International Airport". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  12. Pavihi, Esther. "A much stronger and bigger Sir Robert's Wharf officially commissioned". Television Niue. Retrieved 20 April 2022.

Sources
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