Before this, however, the island previously had an indigenous monarchy, established around the beginning of the 18th century.
Around 1700, the concept and practice of kingship appears to have been introduced through contact with Samoa or Tonga.
The monarch was non-hereditary; patu-iki were reportedly elected by the Niuean population, with the candidates being issued from influential families.
Elizabeth II was the first monarch to be explicitly titled Queen of New Zealand, however, in 1952.
Today, Niue is part of the Realm of New Zealand, the successor political entity to the dominion.