15 Jun 2017

NZ aids Niue tourism, communications and solar power

7:17 pm on 15 June 2017
Matavai Resort, Niue

Matavai Resort, Niue Photo: RNZI

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English has opened new tourism facilities and unveiled plans to improve services for Niue households during a brief stopover today.

Mr English said new facilities at the island's only hotel, the Matavai Resort, will help establish Niue as an event and conference venue.

He said it is part of a plan to spread tourist visits over the year, to reduce the environmental impact and to extend the benefits for the local economy.

New Zealand will also help fund Niue connecting to the Manatua submarine cable between Samoa and French Polynesia.

There will also be more money for renewable energy generation.

Mr English said funding of $US3.62 million dollars will pay for installing solar panels, which he said will result in a state of the art generation and storage system for Niue and take its renewable generation to 40 percent by next year, up from 13 percent currently.