Niue’s villages are the focus of Internet Niue’s current sponsorship programme. The IUSN Foundation that funds Internet Niue presents a $500 grant to each village council at the village’s annual show day. Foundation chief executive Per Darnell says the wifi service is free to villagers, but transmitters are normally hosted on land or buildings under … Read more …
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Speaking up for the Pacific
20 April 2013Internet Niue and its service provider RockET Systems have been speaking up in international forums on behalf of internet users in Niue and the wider Pacific. RockET director Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui says it’s important that the global internet community is constantly reminded of the internet access issues faced by small Pacific Islands. “Satellite connections such as … Read more …
Linking with our Pacific friends
22 November 2012Emani Fakaotimanava-Lui, director of Internet Niue’s service provider RockET Systems Limited, has been elected to the board of the Pacific Islands Chapter of the world-wide Internet Society (PICISOC). He will also serve as PICISOC secretary for two years. The chapter, which represents the interests of Oceania-Pacific internet users, seeks to provide impartial and relevant advice … Read more …
Fascinating Niue
Perched on top of a volcano
Photo: Richard Sinaman
Niue Island is a coral limestone plateau perched on top of a submerged ancient volcano near the head of the Tonga Trench. It is not part of an island chain, but it does not stand alone – there are three underwater mountains nearby.
Endeavour and Lachlan seamounts are about 30 km to the east and a third, much smaller unnamed seamount lies about 25 km to the southwest.
At one stage in the distant past, Niue was probably a coral atoll with a central lagoon. This was then exposed by falling sea levels and geological uplifts. The reef of the former coral atoll now forms the top of the rim of the island at up to 69 metres above sea level. The former lagoon is now the central plateau, which is slightly dished in shape, dropping to about 30 metres above sea level.
The coastline is rugged, with steep cliffs dropping straight into the sea, except for the west coast where there is a wave-cut rock platform 20 metres to 80 metres wide and then a very steep drop-off. The distinct shelving suggests that the island was lifted up in at least two steps.
Sources: New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics Dec 1967, National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Niue, Government of Niue 2001
