Critics of Niue’s Premier hard to find

Press, 1 November 1984, Page 21

Critics of Niue’s Premier hard to find

NZPA staff reporter Alofi, Niue The popularity of the Niuean Premier, Sir Robert Rex, would make most political leaders green with envy. This month the quietly spoken 74-year-old is celebrating his nation’s tenth anniversary of self-Govern-ment as well as 10 years as its Premier.

Critics among the tiny island’s population of 2700 are very hard to find, but those who sing his praises abound. Sir Robert, a conservative like most of his fellow islanders, cites his main achievement as leader as maintaining stability. He said that stability was important in such a small population, hundreds of whom leave every year to live in New Zealand.

In 1974 Niue became selfgoverning, but Niueans chose to retain New Zealand citizenship and the country has maintained close ties with New Zealand. At least 15,000 Niueans live in New Zealand—the island’s population has declined 25 per cent in the last decade.

Any unrest or dissension would almost certainly swell the outflow to New Zealand.

Niueans receive more aid per head of population than any other Pacific Island. Most comes from New Zealand—about ?6 million last year—although Denmark, the Netherlands, the United States, Australia and the United Nations all contribute.

Sir Robert puts his popularity down to his humble approach, his cautious and conservative nature.

This year when a member of the 20-strong Legislative Assembly stood against Sir Robert for the top job, he was unable to find a seconder.

That man, Mr Young Vivian, has great personal respect for Sir Robert, but wants to see a younger, more assertive leader for his country. Sir Robert says Mr Vivian’s trouble is that he is in too much of a hurry to change the system and too Left-wing for most Islanders. Mr Vivian accuses New Zealanders of retaining a colonial approach to Niue. He said he objected to speakers at the tenth anniversary celebrations recently repeatedly speaking of New Zealand’s assistance to Niue, without mentioning the assistance Niueans gave to New Zealand. Niueans were honest, hard workers and largely kept out of trouble in New Zealand, he said. That was how Niue repaid the monetary aid given by New Zealand.

Sir Robert thinks differently. He feels Niueans make a “little contribution” to New I ■ .<

Zealand by working there, but that needed to be put into context. “We must remember that New Zealand never said, ‘look, we need Niueans to come down and be workers’.” At the anniversary celebrations Sir Robert outlined the progress Niue had made in the last decade such as bettering living standards by the introduction of electricity to all homes and the establishment of first-class health and education services. Mr Vivian says that is not real progress for Niue, however, because it has all been done on aid money. Niueans feel humiliated by having to live off aid money, says Mr Vivian.

That humiliation showed at the anniversary celebrations when it came to singing “God Save The Queen,” he said. Only a few quiet voices could be heard. When it came to traditional Niuean singing the voices were loud, the faces alive and smiling. Sir Robert says it has taken 10 years to give Niueans a decent standard of living, although it is still low by New Zealand standards.

Most Niueans live in spartan three-room concrete “hurricane houses,” built in the 1950 s to replace the traditional housing which was destroyed in a hurricane.

Education and health services, including dental care are free, however, and Niueans are well fed.

Sir Robert acknowledges that the pull to New Zealand will always be strong with young Niueans in search of an exciting and interesting life.

Niue does not have television, movie theatres Space Invader machines, or other attractions of modernday life. Outsiders are always struck by the unusual makeup of the Niuean population— lots of children and older people, but very few in their 20s and 30s. Sir Robert’s service to Niue was acknowledged in the latest New Year’s Honours List when he received the knighthood which was formally bestowed upon him by the Governor-General, Sir David Beattie, recently. Sir Robert said at the celebrations that he hoped to be around for the twentieth anniversary of self-govern-ment in 1994.

However, he does not plan on still being Premier then.

Sir Robert has already announced his intention to step down at the next'election in 1987, but has also indicated that he will be prepared to change his mind if he is pushed to stay on. Asked if he would like to see his son, Robert Rex, jun., take over, he replied, “I do not work that way.” I don’t believe in favouring any of my own family.”