The Niue Athletics Association (NAA) has thanked Internet Niue for its past sponsorship support. Former NAA president TaniRose Fakaotimanava-Lui says Internet Niue made an invaluable contribution to the Niue Athletics Association during her term as president from 2007-2011. The current president is Roz Tafatu-Hipa. “Without Internet Niue’s help, NAA wouldn’t have been able to attend … Read more …
What's Hot?
Niue artist explores the Pacific and the personal
15 January 2012Niue artist John Pule is exhibiting his works at Auckland Art Gallery until 21 January. The show covers 20 years of his work — since he began exhibiting in the 1990’s. One of the few major New Zealand artists who has had no formal training and little education, he developed his art as a way … Read more …
Yachties attracted to Niue
29 November 2011Niue’s Yacht Club has been named the 2011 Cruising Station of the Year by the Seven Seas Cruising Association. The Association, which has over 100 member stations with more than 10,000 members worldwide, deemed Niue a safe and enjoyable stop for cruises. While anchored at Alofi port, most yachties catch up on their email by … Read more …
Fascinating Niue
Supernatural world
Alofi Hospital. Photo: Pacific Insights
Although most Niueans are active Christians, many still believe – to varying degrees – in a supernatural world inhabited by aitu, spirits of dead ancestors or ghosts.
Any location at which an unexpected or violent death occurs will have a fono or prohibition placed on it, distancing the living from the revenge of ancestral spirits. Until the appropriate time for a pastor to lift this tapu, people will not visit or will behave there in a very circumspect fashion.
Although there is a hospital in Alofi (pictured) and everyone has access to free western medicine, herbalists and taulaatua (traditional healers) are also patronised by locals. Taulaatua use specially prepared herbal preparations to treat the sick.
