Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum

Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum was a national museum and cultural centre in Alofi in Niue, which was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.

Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum
Formation1987
Dissolved2004
PurposeCulture and heritage preservation
HeadquartersAlofi, Niue

Background

In 1983 the government of Niue established the Niue Arts & History Project, which aimed to revive and foster pride in traditional customs and craft.[1] The project hoped to enable the establishment of a cultural centre and museum and in 1985 the National Cultural Centre Project was set up.[1]

The museum opened, as the first national museum for Niue, in 1987.[2] It was opened by Sir Paul Reeves, who was the New Zealand Governor-General.[2] It was part of the Department of Community Affairs & Culture.[3] Its official opening was held on 19 October 1989.[1] The centre included a museum, library and reading room, as well as an outdoor amphitheatre for performances, workshops for craftspeople, shops leased to private enterprises and a botanic garden.[1] The museum was administered by the Cultural Affairs Officer, who was supported by a gardener, cleaner and two workers with expertise in Niuean culture.[1] The programme ran a changing display programme, as well as cultural craft workshops for young people.[1]

In the mid-1990s, the centre and museum were partners in the Niue Archaeological Project, led by Richard Walter from the University of Otago, and Atholl Anderson from the Australian National University.[4] In 2003 the organisation received a grant of $20,000 from the World Heritage Fund in order to create a tentative World Heritage list for the country.[5]

Cyclone Heta

The museum building was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.[6] Between 90 and 95% of the museum's collection was also destroyed.[7][6][8][9] The area surrounding the museum was still ruined in 2018.[10] Other damage by the cyclone included deforestation, in particular of Dysoxylum forsteri, a tree used in the building of Niuean outrigger canoes.[7]

In 2018, its replacement Tāoga Niue Museum opened, and its director is Moira Enetama.[11]

References
  1. Richmond-Rex, P. E. (1991). "Huanaki Cultural Center, Niue". Pacific Arts (3): 64–66. ISSN 1018-4252. JSTOR 23409130.
  2. "Art & Culture". The Official Website Of Niue Tourism. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. Pihigia, Fisa (2001). "FORMAT FOR THE PERIOD REPORT ON THE APPLICATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION FOR PACIFIC ISLAND STATES PARTIES" (PDF). UNESCO.
  4. Walter, Richard; Anderson, Atholl (1995). "Archaeology of Niue Island: Initial Results". The Journal of the Polynesian Society. 104 (4): 471–481. ISSN 0032-4000. JSTOR 20706637.
  5. Application of the World Heritage Convention by the States Parties: Niue (PDF). UNESCO.
  6. Barnett, Jon; Ellemor, Heidi (2007). "Niue after Cyclone Heta". Australian Journal of Emergency Management.
  7. Adger, W. Neil; Barnett, Jon; Brown, Katrina; Marshall, Nadine; O'Brien, Karen (2013). "Cultural dimensions of climate change impacts and adaptation". Nature Climate Change. 3 (2): 112–117. doi:10.1038/nclimate1666. ISSN 1758-6798.
  8. Barnett, Jon (1 June 2008). "The Effect of Aid On Capacity To Adapt To Climate Change: Insights From Niue". Political Science. 60 (1): 31–45. doi:10.1177/003231870806000104. ISSN 0032-3187. S2CID 155080576.
  9. Pasisi, Jessica Lili (2020). Kitiaga mo fakamahani e hikihikiaga matagi he tau fifine Niue: tau pūhala he tau hiapo Niue women's perspectives and experiences of climate change: a hiapo approach (Thesis thesis). The University of Waikato.
  10. Freddie, Anthony Liuvaie (2018). A New Way. Niue (Master of Architecture). Victoria University of Wellington.
  11. Pacific, Loop (17 October 2018). "Niue museum opens this week". Loop Samoa. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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