The Country Niue is affectionately known as 'the rock' and is reputedly the largest upraised coral atoll in the world. A single land mass in the center of a triangle of Polynesian islands, made up of Tonga, Western Samoa and the Cook Islands, Niue is located 2400 km north-east of New Zealand, on the eastern side of the International dateline and is 11 hours behind Greenwich meantime. The island isolation and coral makeup create an exciting rugged coastline and reef which provides intimate swimming coves as opposed to the typical long stretches of sandy beaches so predominant elsewhere in Polynesia. The landmass of Niue is 259 sq. km, and 13 villages are found along Niue's 67-km circle island road. The whole island is two tiered but is dotted with a myriad of caves that have yet to be discovered. Shaped like a saucer and rising only 65 meters above sea level, Niue is without streams or rivers, and therefore after rain the water filters through the porous coral out into the ocean completely devoid of any silt run-off. This allows the surrounding sea to be crystal clear with dive visibility often up to 70 meters. The flora and fauna are spectacular with butterflies everywhere, and an abundance of bougainvillea, frangipani, hibiscus and orchids. A variety of ferns and profusion of "crows nest" grow amongst wild rhododendron and poinsettia. There is a rich bird life with weka, swamp kens, parakeets and white tailed...more
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to about 2,100 in 2002) with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest. It is self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974, with Niue fully responsible for domestic affairs, and New Zealand asked to retain responsibility for foreign affairs and defense. The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry. The word "Niue" is not used in the local language to refer to this island, meaning in fact "Look! There's a coconut". Captain Cook called it "Savage Island", thinking (incorrectly) that the natives who came to greet them were painted in blood.
