Niue Religious History

The self-governing island nation of Niue, nicknamed the "Rock of Polynesia," is located in the South Pacific. Due to the work of missionaries in the mid-19th century, Niue is primarily a Christian island.

Aitu

The people of Niue originally believed in a "supernatural world inhabited by 'aitu,' or spirits of dead ancestors," according to Everyculture.com. These "aitu" monitored behavior and doled out punishment on those who transgressed the social and cultural norms.

Death and Afterlife

The ancient Niue believed that death was simply a movement from this world to a different world that was populated by the aitu.

Christian Missionaries

Christian missionaries first came to Niue in 1861, in the form of representatives of the London Missionary Society.

Christianity on Niue

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, 97 percent of the Niuean population is now Christian, with 75 percent associated with the Protestant Church of Niue.

Pastors

Pastors in the Protestant Church of Niue are usually trained at seminaries on the nearby island of Samoa. These pastors function as both spiritual and civic leaders on Niue.

References

• Every Culture
• The Commonwealth
• The Association of Religion Data Archives