POLITICAL REVIEW • 2°3

has a constitutional commitment to provide financial support for the The major event of1989-90 for Niue island. was Cyclone Ofa, which caused severe The Niue Concerted Action Plan damage during 3-4 February 1990. 1988-90, which was designed to stabi­ Despite protection from its reef and lize population numbers, is being reas­ hundred-foot-high cliffs, enormous sessed in the wake of Cyclone Ofa. waves crashed boulders and tons of Damage to infrastructure disrupted water onto the island, wrecking build­ fishing activities in several villages, but ings and equipment. For Niue's fragile the storm's effects on agriculture were economy, already disturbed by the loss more serious. Breadfruit, banana, in 1988 of its international air service, papaya, and taro crops were devasta­ this cyclone may prove to be one storm ted, leaving a relatively small quantity too many. of local food on an island once entirely Hardest hit was the capital, Alofi, self-sufficient in this respect. Royal where most government offices, public New Zealand Air Force flights brought services, and expatriate housing are sit­ in emergency medical supplies, genera­ uated. Structures on the seaward side tors, water and fuel pumps, and food. of the main road suffered the most. A New Zealand navy vessel, Endeav­ The desirable clifftop home of then our, delivered additional foodstuffs, as cabinet minister , Jr-the well as building and plumbing materi­ son ofPremier Sir Robert Rex-was als, two weeks after the storm. swept into the sea in a matter of min­ Cyclone Ofa also had an impact on utes. The residence of the Speaker of the political environment. The general the , Sam Tagelagi, was election was held as scheduled on 7 virtually destroyed. The government­ April, only two months after the owned Niue Hotel, the principal such cyclone. Sir Robert Rex, aged 81 and amenity on the island, was devastated, premier since self-government in 1974, while the island's hospital was exten­ had begun to face increasing opposi­ sively damaged and initially had to be tion during 1989, surviving a no-confi­ evacuated. Total storm damage was dence motion moved by opposition assessed at more than U5$2.5 million, leader (and former South Pacific Com­ but further costs must include the mission secretary-general) Young impact of the cyclone on the island's Vivian in June. The vote arose after a diminishing attractiveness to its own New Zealand Audit Department state­ people. ment expressed concern about Niue's Niue's population has declined in spending of NZ$10 million in aid mon­ twenty years by more than half, to ies from New Zealand. Despite specu­ approximately 2200 in 1990. With lation about his possible retirement, more than 12,000 people of Niuean the premier linked his decision to run descent now living in New Zealand, for office to the cyclone: "I'll have to this dramatic population decline has stand again now, despite pressure from become a source of concern not only my family to stand down. It would be on Niue but to New Zealand, which like a captain deserting a sinking ship" =nm

2°4 THE CONTEMPORARY PACIFIC. SPRING 1991

(PIM, March 1990, 15). Nevertheless, plementing major constitutional the election results suggested a mixed changes intended to upgrade Niue's response amongst Niueans to their pre­ political status. The Niue Constitution mier's sense of commitment and Amendment Bill, which reflected the tenacity. recommendations of a constitutional Sir Robert stood against two chal­ review committee, had been with­ lengers for reelection as the representa­ drawn in November 1989 ostensibly tive for Alofi South. He gained 71, or "for procedural reasons," and the refer­ less than half, ofthe 152 valid votes endum proposed for January 1990 did cast, but this was enough to win reelec­ not eventuate. Vivian's faction tion by 9 votes over the runner-up. He mounted an "It's time to change" cam­ owed his victory to a divided opposi­ paign, and seemed set to capitalize on a tion and was the only candidate re­ variety of favorable circumstances, turned with less than a majority. On 12 including Sir Robert's age and Niue's April, the Niue Assembly reelected Sir economic difficulties. But the election Robert to his sixth successive term as results were disappointing, with oppo­ premier by a vote of 12 to 8. Sam Tage­ sition groups commanding eight votes lagi was reelected speaker by the same in the assembly, just one more than margin, a reflection ofthe party align­ they had managed at the time ofthe ments that have developed recently vote of no-confidence in June 1989. among the diminishing population of Some 94 percent ofthe 1157 people Niue. eligible to vote did so. Each of fourteen Given Sir Robert's longevity in poli­ villages is represented by one member, tics, his "faction" may be described as with a further six elected on an at-large the Niuean political "establishment." basis using an island-wide electoral Also contesting the 1990 elections were roll. However, the different villages 's Action Party, and Sani have been affected unequally by emi­ Lakatani's Niue People's Action Party gration, so that now Alofi South's 156 (NPAP). Shortly before the elections, voters and Toi's 22 each send one mem­ these two opposition groups joined ber to the assembly. In April 1990 it forces with the sole aim of changing the was possible to be one ofthe highest government. polling candidates overall but still lose, The most notable aspect of NPAP'S as did Tukala Makamau Hekau in manifesto was a pledge to reduce Alofi South. On the other hand, one Niue's public service from its present candidate was elected with a mere 14 level (around 600) to "a maximum of votes. In three villages, no elections 100-150 personnel," an ambitious were held; as only one candidate had restructuring favored by New Zealand. been nominated, their three members The program was vague in other re­ (among them Young Vivian) were spects, giving no details ofhow the declared elected prior to the election. proposed "repatriation plan" for By contrast, nineteen candidates Niueans might be effected, for stood for the six common roll seats, example. including Lady Tagaloa Rex (Sir Young Vivian's plans included im- Robert's wife) and Robert Rex, Jr (his POLITICAL REVIEW • POLYNESIA 2°5 son), both ofthem incumbents. Lady that Niueans begin to pay for govern­ Rex gained 483 votes, sufficient to ment services. However, this raises the retain her seat and finish third in the possibility that Niueans removed from balloting, but a decline of IO percent the public service (the island's largest from her top-polling victory of1987. employer) or adversely affected by Robert Rex, Jr received 396 votes to market-led policies might simply emi­ take fourth position, 13 votes more grate. On the other hand, the April than the NPAP'S Sani Lakatani. Leading 1990 decision to pay 50 percent of New the field was O'love Tauveve Jacobsen, Zealand superannuation benefits to a nurse first elected at a November persons living outside New Zealand for 1988 by-election, and regarded as polit­ six months or longer may encourage ically independent of the various fac­ eligible Niueans to return to Niue. tions. Other developments foreshadowed by Initially Sir Robert Rex's survival as the Niue Concerted Action Plan, such premier seemed in doubt, but he as a land-title review, were being expe­ broadened his support by including dited where possible. one ofthe opposition factions in his STEPHEN LEVINE four-member cabinet. Only one cabi­ net member, Frank Lui, was reap­ pointed-Robert Rex, Jr lost his minis­ terial position as well as his house -while NPAP leader and first-time Cyclone Ofa ofFebruary 1990 was the member Sani Lakatani became minister most important event for Tokelau dur­ of finance. Following the political ing the period under review. Following reshuffling, however, the principal (and a tsunami a fort­ challenges to the Niue government night later) in 1987, the vulnerability of remain substantially unchanged. the low-lying atoll environment has Prospects continue to depend on been demonstrated in the strongest constructive collaboration with New possible manner. Without substantial Zealand-whose aid package now rep­ external assistance it may be years resents roughly NZ$5000 per Niuean before the villages can recover to their resident-and mobilizing what remains pre-cyclone state, while outer islets will of the island's economy. Efforts to rein­ probably never return to their former troduce a sophisticated air service have condition. led to plans to upgrade the island's air­ No feature of organized life on the port. Air New Zealand has concluded islands was unaffected. Twenty-two that a Niue stopover would be uneco­ houses were completely destroyed, and nomic, and prospects for renewed air a further ninety-one were severely links appear to rest with one ofthe damaged. Vital seawalls, protecting smaller regional carriers. the fragile Tokelauan land base from In mid-1989 the New Zealand minis­ erosion, were washed away. Fishing ter of external relations and trade sug­ equipment, water tanks, sea latrines, gested not only that the public service and cooking houses were lost, and might be reduced by two-thirds, but food supplies decimated. About 80 per-