Rebuilding Progress On Niue Island

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 17

Rebuilding Progress On Niue Island

“After four years of misfortunes, New Zealand's little island dependency of Niue is now finding its feet again,” said Mr A. Mcßean, of Christchurch. For the last four years he has been headmaster of Niue High School.

Mr Mcßean left Christchurch yesterday to join the staff of the South Pacific Commission as social development and education assistant. “However, I am almost afraid to say this, because two years ago when I was here on furlough, I outlined to ‘The Press’ Niue’s recovery from the first hurricane of February, 1959—and the next day the island was struck by an even more disastrous hurricane, in January, 1960! Nevertheless, to date Niue has been given two years’ respite and in that time the islanders have toiled very hard to stand on their own feet with the guidance and assistance of the New Zealand Government. Rebuilding Programme “Three-quarters of the houses on the island were destroyed or damaged beyond hope of repair, but today a large proportion of the people are already housed in attractive and soundly constructed homes which compare favourably with houses anywhere else in the tropical Pacific Islands. They are built to designs prepared by the Government Architect and it is confidently expected that they will stand up to any future severe blows “By New Zeeland standards they are small but because the rooms are not encumbered with a great deal of furniture, they are in effect commodious. Floors are of concrete, roofs of corrugated fibrolite and walls either of concrete, corrugated fibrolite or local timber. "Local materials are used wherever possible and all the labour is provided free by the villagers, working in groups of families, which, under a European supervisor, complete one house before moving on to another house to belong to a member of the same working gang. The cost of bought material is met by-a loan of £250 upwards, repayable in small annual instalments to the administration." After a break of nearly four years caused by destruction of nuts by droughts and hurricanes, the export of copra should begin again in a month or two, said Mr Mcßean Copra was by far the major export up to four years ago, and the loss of this source of income was a serious blow to the island’s economy. However, kumaras exported to New Zealand at certain seasons proved a valuable standby, and banana exports were resumed a few months ago. ‘The home industry on plaited and woven baskets, mats and similar objects, which had been dying for some years, has been revived, partly through the efforts of the Niue Women Weavers’ Association, which I established immediately after the second hurricane. As the first co-operative venture on Niue Islands, it has already distributed more than £6OOO among its members from the sale of their wares in New Zealand and elsewhere.” he said. ■This venture was carried out on a voluntary and private basis but I am glad to be able to report that the administration is now giving some attention to the pos-

sibility of developing the cooperative movement on the island.

“My work in establishing the little high school at Niue, the first post-primary school on the island, was most rewarding. The children earn the respect and affection of all the European staff for their keenness to learn and their patience in overcoming obstacles in their way. The 180 children at the school are chosen from perhaps four times that number. Many walk from 10 to 15 miles a day and many bike up to 25 miles a day over rough roads and in all weathers, usually with only an evening meal a day. They are cheerful and uncomplaining, proud and happy to be able to advance their education.

“It was very hard indeed to leave them and to leave the friendly and hospitable island. But a new man brings new ideas, and in any case I am convinced that education can serve a useful purpose only if social development keeps pace. That is why I am hoping that in my new job I shall be able to be of some help to Niue as well as to other islands in the Pacific,” said Mr Mcßean.