Cover Story
Niue
The aftermath of Hurricane Heta
A bad hurricane is a serious setback for any large, prosperous nation. A very small one, Niue at 259 square kilometres the world's largest coral island but with a dwindling population of under 2000 people, had its future existence as a sovereign country brought into question after Hurricane Heta, with wind gusts of up to 300 kph (180 mph), struck it on January 5. It shattered much of Alofi, the seat of government.
One young mother died when her house collapsed on her and her small son, found in the wreckage near her body, died in a New Zealand hospital two weeks later.
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The question now is whether Heta was a death blow for a country that for years beforehand had been plagued by doubts about its ability to remain as a self-governing country when the drift of its population to New Zealand had lowered the size of the remaining community to well under 2000 people.
Before the hurricane, Niue's people were overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a self-governing country in free association with New Zealand, rather than reintegrate with it. It obtained independence from New Zealand in 1974. Since then, Niue's population has dropped from more than 6000, while the number of Niueans in New Zealand has multiplied to 20,000.
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As Niueans emerge from the debris left by Heta, there were reports that up to 500 more of them might give up and head for New Zealand.
That peril was discounted by Premier Young Vivian, whose wife, Leone Tofuola, had died in Auckland a few days before, after a long illness. "We want a new Niue out of this mess, out of this disaster. We want to rebuild Niue." After cleaning the mess up Niue would begin planning for the future, he said.
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In Auckand, Niue's high commissioner, Hima Takelesi Douglas, brushed away speculation that a big part of the remaining population would desert their country. "The message from the premier is that if we only have 500 people on the island, then those 500 will have the somewhat dubious distinction of deciding whether to reintegrate with New Zealand or whether we will just battle on as best as we can," he told one questioner.
New Zealand's foreign minister, Phil Goff, rushed to the stricken island to discover what help was needed. He said Niue's future constitutional status was something Niueans should decide.
One view, he said, was that Heta would create a resurgence of determination and commitment to Niue from Niueans living in New Zealand. Another was that the disaster would further diminish confidence and more people would leave.
"We will work quite closely with Niue to try to ensure that the first scenario is what comes to pass rather than the latter." |
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Heta's damage leaves Niue unable to host the 2004 Pacific Islands Forum meeting due to have been held there about the middle of the year. It will be shifted to an alternative location not decided by the time Islands Business went to press. Samoa is tipped.
Tourism, which had begun to recover after a bad slump lasting years because of difficulties of air access to the island, has been brought to a complete halt. The island's airport is open but much of Niue's hotel accommodation was ruined.
New Zealand will give Niue NZ$5 million to help put it back on its feet, writes Ruci Salato-Farrell from Auckland. Official sources say it could take 15 months and up to NZ$20 million to rebuild the island's broken houses and infrastructure.
Immediately after the hurricane, New Zealand Air Forces cargo planes arrived with a mobile satellite communications unit, generators, transformers, medical supplies and food and toiletries.
A joint statement issued by Goff and Aid Minister Marian Hobbs said a needs assessment carried out by the Niue Government will dictate how the NZ$5 million from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) is used. But the key goal will be the restoration of public institution.
"Around NZ$1 million will help re-start Niue's private sector, which was shattered by the cyclone. With no cyclone cover, some businesses have lost virtually everything. Many are unable to raise loans to rebuild their businesses because they now have no income.
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"The funding will provide a lifeline for many businesses as well as offer the overall private sector with a vote of confidence. But it will be dependent on a transparent and equitable means of distribution being found that is acceptable to New Zealand," the ministers said.
Asbestos in homes built in the 1960s is causing concerns. Special equipment was flown from New Zealand to clean up asbestos roofing fragments
Auckland journalist Elma Maua, who accompanied Goff to Niue, said the island atoll resembled a war zone. "There are no shrubs, no trees, the cyclone literally lifted the rock face of Niue. It will need a new resettlement programme," Maua said.
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Coral beds have been rearranged, huge boulders now litter the coastline and what used to be lush greenery is now tinder dry. Vanilla, lime and coconut crops were destroyed. The hurricane demolished the island's hospital, which had just completed a NZ$2 million refit, totally ruined the national museum and its contents, and badly damaged the government-owned hotel, which local investors recently took over as the management.
The island's fuel depot tanks were ruptured, some other visitor accommodation was damaged and a number of shops and other business premises in Alofi destroyed or damaged. The premier Matavai Resort wasn't damaged. The parliament building was water damaged.
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By January 13, power and water had been restored to 95 percent of the island; local telephones were working again and the television service was back on the air. New Zealand officials said damage to buildings was not as widespread as first thought; at least 12 houses were destroyed and others damaged.
Aid came from French Polynesia, Australia and some other sources while New Zealand's resident Niueans launched a big cash and kind collection. Hurricane Heta inflicted lesser, mainly coastal damage on Samoa, American Samoa and northern Tonga.
"We will carry on, we will improve and there will be a new Niue. At the present moment, things are going on well. We think we have things under control and we'll come out with a plan and we will be driving that plan."
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Q: In the short term:
"We will carry on, we will improve and there will be a new Niue. At the present moment, things are going on well. We think we have things under control and we'll come out with a plan and we will be driving that plan. We will tell the world what our needs are and if people want to come in and help us, yes we will accept the help. But the key thing at the moment is that our own people in New Zealand are coming back to help. They are sending food, money, clothing, tools, and equipment to help us.
"The other thing is that people out there do care for us. This kind of thing strengthens us. It gives us hope and faith that people will help us to go forward. It will help us to carry on with our lives."
Q: On Niue's political future. Will it be absorbed by New Zealand again? The premier doesn't think so:
"In terms of the constitutional arrangement that is cemented in concrete, I don't know where the problem is."
Q: Alofi took the worst of the hurricane. Other districts were not nearly as badly hurt:
"Absolutely correct. Alofi was very badly hit. It was devastated. Alofi people are being moved up the terrace to higher grounds. That's an indication of things to come in the future. Naturally, we have to take time to be able to plan for the town to be moved to a safer location."
Q: How low is Niue's population? As little as 1100/1200?
"That figure is absolutely incorrect. The official figure is 1700 hovering between 1700 and 1900 when the people start coming in at Christmas time."
Q: And Niue will be up and running again by a time not too far ahead?
"Yes, I have every confidence that things will be back to normal say within 18 months in terms of the economy, fisheries, tourism and the growing of vanilla."
