NIUE LAWS  

LEGISLATION AS AT DECEMBER 2006 

 

NATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF FUND ACT 1980 

 

1980/61 – 10 November 1980 

 
1 Short title 
2 Interpretation 
3 National Disaster Relief Fund established 
4 General objects of the Fund 
5 National Disaster Relief Fund Account 
6 Investment of moneys of the Fund 
7 Expenditure of moneys of the Fund 
8 Annual accounts and audit 
9 Annual report 
10 Delegated authority 
 

__________________ 

 

To establish and control a fund to be used to repair damage suffered by public 

property during national disasters and to provide assistance to victims of such 

national disasters 

 
1 Short title  
 
This is the National Disaster Relief Fund Act 1980.  
 
2 Interpretation  
 
In this Act – 
 

"Fund" means the National Disaster Relief Fund; 

 

"national disaster" means any storm, tempest, cyclone, flood, earth tremor, 
drought, fire, disease or act of God from any cause whatsoever as declared a 
national disaster by Cabinet and includes any public emergency proclaimed 
under the Public Emergency Act 1979.  

 
3 National Disaster Relief Fund established  
 
(1) There is hereby established a fund to be called the National Disaster Relief Fund.  
 
(2) The resources of the Fund shall consist of the following –  
 

(a) Contributions by the Government of Niue and other governments;  

 

(b) Contributions by private organisations whether domestic or international 
with contributions by private individuals;  

 

(c) Returns from investments made from the Fund.  

 
4 General objects of the Fund  
 
The general objects for which moneys in the Fund may be applied are –  
 

(a) The repair of damage suffered to public property during a national disaster;  

 

(b) The immediate provision of financial and other assistance to victims of 
national disasters.  

 
5 National Disaster Relief Fund Account  
 
There is hereby established a Fund account with the Treasury Department of Niue to 
be called the National Disaster Relief Fund Account and all of the Fund’s moneys 
shall be paid into the Fund Account.  
 
6 Investment of moneys of the Fund  
 
The Financial Secretary may invest any moneys of the Fund in accordance with laws, 
rules and regulations for the time being in force in Niue regarding investments of 
public funds.  
 
7 Expenditure of moneys of the Fund  
 
Subject to section 6, no moneys shall be paid out of the Fund Account except with the 
approval of the Financial Secretary acting within the objects specified in section 4 for 
the specific purposes and in the manner approved by Cabinet.  
 
8 Annual accounts and audit  
 
(1) At the close of each financial year the Financial Secretary shall cause to be 
prepared in respect of the Fund a revenue and expenditure account for that year 
together with a balance sheet showing the assets and liabilities of the Fund.  
 
(2) That account and balance sheet shall be audited as prescribed by article 60 of the 
Constitution.  
 
9 Annual report  
 
The Financial Secretary shall in each financial year cause to be prepared a report of 
the Fund’s operations during the preceding year and such report together with the 
audited statements and balance sheet mentioned in section 8 shall be laid before the 
Assembly at its first session after the audited statements and balance sheet are 
available and shall receive such publicity as the Assembly directs.  
 
10 Delegated authority  
 
(1) Where Cabinet has delegated all or any of its authority in times of public 
emergency or national disaster to persons other than Cabinet under section 3 of the 

Public Emergency Act 1979 those persons shall have full authority under section 7 of 
this Act to approve the expenditure of moneys from the Fund, as if such expenditure 
was approved by Cabinet itself.  
 
(2) Any such expenditure from the Fund and circumstances of that approval shall be 
brought to the notice of the Cabinet by the Premier at the earliest possible 
opportunity.