Niue is a self-governing territory of New Zealand and does not follow New Zealand laws. There are no armed forces in Niue, as New Zealand is responsible for Niue’s defense.(2-4)

Since 1988, no treaty signed, ratified, accepted, approved, or acceded to by New Zealand extends to Niue, unless it was done expressly on behalf of Niue.(1)

Niue has ratified one key international convention concerning child labor (Table 1).

Table 1. Ratification of International Conventions on Child Labor

The Government has established laws and regulations related to child labor, including its worst forms (Table 2).

Table 2. Laws and Regulations Related to Child Labor

* No conscription (8)
† No standing military (1)

Although Niue’s Public Service Regulations prohibit the permanent employment of any person under age 18 in public service, minimum age protections do not apply to children working in the private sector.(9) In addition, Niue has not determined by national law or regulation the types of hazardous work prohibited for children.(1, 10)

Laws related to forced labor are not sufficient as only trafficking in persons, and not debt bondage or slavery, is prohibited. Laws prohibiting child trafficking are also insufficient because they include a force, abduction, fraud, or coercion element. (6) Commercial sexual exploitation of children, including the use or offering of a child for prostitution or pornography, is not criminally prohibited. In addition, the possession, distribution, or sale of child pornography is not criminally prohibited. Research also has not identified laws regarding the use of children for illicit activities, including for the production and trafficking of drugs.