18 Aug 2003

Niue Premier pleased his nation will host next year's Forum

10:55 am on 18 August 2003

The Premier of Niue says he is absolutely delighted that the country is to host the Pacific Islands Forum meeting next year.

The Forum leaders announced at the summit in Auckland on Saturday that Niue would host the event next year.

Young Vivian says he has no plans in place yet about how the tiny island, with a population of less that 1500, will cope, but he says he expects it to be on a far smaller scale than the Auckland event, which attracted several hundred delegates and media.

"Niue is small and I don't think a lot of people would like to come there because it's small and it's quite some distance away. But there will be a fair number of people coming and I think we'll have to have a look also at the scale and the number of people coming to Niue."

Young Vivian says the planned Forum review is likely to consider the nature of, and requirements for, future Forum summits.

He also says he is confident that New Zealand will assist in funding the event.