Cyclone Suspends Tourism to Niue Island, the Rock of Polynesia

We are very sad to announce that all tourism to Niue Island, the Rock of Polynesia, is suspended until further notice. The smallest self-governing island nation, known for spectacular diving and game fishing, was hit directly by a cyclone the first week of January. The level of destruction and disruption brought by the impact of Cyclone Heta is such that the island simply can only sustain minimal demands of it while vital infrastructure is repaired. We do not expect this to be a permanent state of affairs but the immediate future is, tragically, bleak.

Please note all media and advertising and promotion bookings and
plans are immediately cancelled. The most comprehensive assessment now follows:

Current status:
Niue Hotel – Completely demolished
Waimanu Guesthouse – completely demolished
Kololi’s Guesthouse – O.K, a bit water logged
Anaiki Motel – OK, a bit water logged
Matavai Resort – completely O.K
Namukulu Motel – 2 units, 1 house , 1 pool completely destroyed.
GONE. No sceptic tank.
Coral Gardens – Bar & Restaurant destroyed. x5 units water damaged.
Peleni’s Guesthouse – Water logged however O.K
Niue Dive – Completed destroyed. Annie & Ian out checking all around
The island as to the marine/coral situation.
Alofi Rentals & Niue Rentals : – Severely damaged (a few cars
available) however minimal
Niue Adventures: Completely destroyed
Huanaki Snack Bar : Completely destroyed
Fishing Charters Boats 80-90% destroyed.

The Niue Tourism Office in Alofi has been cleaned out and set up for
The Private Sector Businesses to use. Situation on Tourism for Niue – 30% only of Tourism facilities are operational but the big problem is
Essential services such as health, water, communications, fuel.
We were allowed one international phone call for maximum 5 minutes
yesterday. The electricity is near all up & running however Niue is only operating on one engine and if we don’t limit our electricity usage it will overheat and then we will have NONE.

Water is O.K at the moment however is a big concern to everyone in
the event of contamination. Telecoms – voice and fax – are unreliable. Phone links were restored Sunday PM, 18 Jan, but seemed to break down again later that day and at the point of writing this Monday 19 Jan AM, they are still not working. Email communication cannot be guaranteed either.

Alofi South is nearly completely destroyed however, aid is arriving
And everyone is being rationed for food etc. Petrol has run out on the island, diesel is limited. A boat is supposed to come in this week bringing new supplies.

The terrifying prospect is another strike – in December NIWA predicted about nine cyclones to form this season in the South Pacific and this monster Heta was only the first of them.

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January 19, 2004   Posted in: South Pacific