Talagi declared new Niue premier

Mr Talagi won the leadership by 14 votes, beating outgoing premier Young Vivian's five votes, with one MP abstaining from the vote earlier this month.

Niue's legislative assembly was elected by around 600 voters and is made up of six common role seats and 14 representatives of the villages.

Local analyst Stafford Guest has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program, Mr Talangi's election promises probably got him over the line.

"He was saying that there had been problems with the governance of the country and that he'd be using that and his business management skills to help raise the standard of living and try and get the government out of some of its financial problems," Mr Guest said.