More than a lump

lump of coral

NIUE may be a tiny island but it lays claim to several world ti tles.

Niue is the world’s least populated small island. It’s the largest lump of cor al in the world. And it also receives the most foreign aid per head of population of any country. Niue gets aid from almost everywhere France, Australia, the United States, Norway but its life line is New Zealand which at present is giving ten million dollars a year for a period of three years.

This Niue Concerted Action Plan was hatched out of the Niue-New Zealand Review Committee which spent a year looking back at relations between the two countries and where things had gone wrong. They decided that as an irrev ersible consequence of New Zealand’s administration since 1901, Niueans set their sights on a standard of living they’d find in New Zealand but which Niue’s

own resources cannot sustain. The review suggested New Zealand aid be directed to revitalising and maintaining

Niue as a “living community” rathe?

‘ han P gnomic self-reliance. ew ' ea and aid should be deployed to give those Niueans who choose to stay on the island a standard of living comparab , e of tbeir re , atives B in N P ew Zealand And population drai Review J some P )t er gestions . SUg * promote economic development in

“gagncrikure, tourism and light

manufacturing,

* an “urgent” review of Niue’s sole carrier air link; * New Zealand guarantee a direct shl i service for B Ni 1, 8 „ , „ * the Niue Government urgently ™"'P^ e 3 'and title review and consult wlth New Zealand-resident Niueans and u P hold their land rights; • Niue adopt a “wider system of social welfare benefits” which give a more equitable distribution to low-income

groups; ' XT . , „ . ■ The Ne « Zealand Royal Commis -7" ° n S “' al PollC >' look a ‘ Po«ab>lity . a Niuean Cabinet minister be appointed to maintain good relations with Niueans living in New Zealand.

So far inertia is batting a full score, Since December last year, Niue has been without a direct air ink with New Zea . ■ whether Niueans should g!Tthdr full national superannuation entitlement if they retire to the island. The Niue Government announced only in the last few 3 two-pronged land title sur vey. The shipping service has been ex tremely sporadic. Tourism - which was earning $600,000 a year export aeri cukure and manufacturing have died a nalura death wjth the tr ° rt b . lems. The oniy bri b( tis P bat ,si ue ' s population has been stable for the longest period since 1966, because few can get out to New Zealand. □