Niue
Ko e Iki he Lagi
1963
1974
Unknown
Unknown; prepared by Sioeli Fusikata
✝ God / Faith 🏛 Identity ❤ Love of homeland |
Key Facts
- 1. The author of the words and the composer of the music are both unknown; it is only recorded that Sioeli Fusikata prepared, or set down, the music.
- 2. The song was already well loved enough that Niue used it as its identifying tune at the 1963 South Pacific Games in place of "God Defend New Zealand".
- 3. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1974, the year the Niue Constitution Act granted Niue free association with New Zealand.
- 4. The entire anthem is built around a single repeated refrain, "ki Niue nei" ("over Niue"), affirming God's rule over the island.
Lyrics
Ko e Iki he Lagi
Kua fakaalofa mai
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Kua pule totonu
E Patuiki toatu
Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei
Kua pule ki Niue nei
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
Editorial"Ko e Iki he Lagi" ("The Lord in Heaven") became the national anthem of Niue in 1974, when the Niue Constitution Act made the island a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, superseding "God Defend New Zealand". The hymn had already been popular on Niue for years and served as the island's identifying tune at the 1963 South Pacific Games. Its author and composer are unknown, though it is recorded that Sioeli Fusikata set the music down on paper. The short anthem is a prayer to God, who is asked to rule justly and completely over Niue.
Learn More
Sources & References
- Ko e Iki he Lagi . Wikipedia (2026)
- Niue . nationalanthems.info (2013)
- The Government of Niue . Government of Niue (2026)
Source & Review
- Source status
- Reliable secondary source
- Translation
- Nationalia working translation
- Rights status
- Third-party rights may apply
- Last reviewed
- Editorial review
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Editorial owner
- Nationalia
- Report a correction
- rights@nationalia.org