'Come home’

Niue

'Come home’ offer to Niueans

The new leader ofNiue, Frank Lui, hopes to double the island’s population by offering “come home” incentives to Niueans living in New Zealand. Lui, who became premier in March, addressed meetings of Niueans in Auckland in early May to appeal to them to return to the isolated island. Niue has a population of 2000 but there are over 12,000 Niueans living in New Zealand.

The premier said Niue’s infrastructure could sustain a population of 5000 people with little change, but that was a 10-year target. He says he intends to increase the population by 500 in his three year term. Lui has aimed his plea to older Niueans living in New Zealand because he believes pending improvements in the superannuation payments they can receive on return to Niue will ease the transition.

Since 1974 Niue has been self-governing but in “free association” with New Zealand. New Zealand looks after security and foreign affairs.