Niue

Niue:

               Niue is the smallest nation in the world, and most people who are from here are now living in New Zealand, leaving only 1,500 people residing here.  Though an independent nation, the people of this country have dual citizenship. They are both citizens of Niue and citizens of New Zealand, the last country they were a part of before independence in 1974. The people of Niue are of Polynesian decent.  

The first Westerner to spot this Island was Captain James Cook. However, on all three of his attempts to access the island, the natives refused him. Believing that the red banana based paint that adored the bodies of the natives was blood, he named the island “Salvage Island”. The island itself, located in the Pacific, is the largest coral atoll in the world.

Festival:

Niue just finished their first festival of the year, Prayer and Takai Week.  A week that is festive and solemn at the same time. Everyday, during the first week of the year is a church service. However, people also decorate their cars and go around throwing candy at people.

Video:

The video that I watched about the island explains that Niue government is desperately trying to maintain its population. Many people have been leaving, and they are look for incentives, such as better education and job opportunities to keep their people from wanting to go abroad.

Food:

This is a tropical island, so it is no wonder that these people eat a lot of seafood, and Coconut. They also eat a lot of tropical fruit. One dish I was able to find online was fish cooked in coconut cream. However, this was not a recipe, just a description. For this reason, I have to just guess at what food here is like. My husband does know how to make a good coconut fish curry, so this might be as close as I get to trying their cuisine for right now. More on their food can be found at the following web site: http://www.niuetotal.com/diverse-food-ing.htm

 

Work Cited:

“Food in Niue”. “Niue Total”. http://www.niuetotal.com/diverse-food-ing.htm. Retrieved: January 8, 2014.

“Niue: Facts”. http://www.niueisland.com/content/facts . Retrieved: January 8, 2014.

“Niue, Travel Guide”. http://www.iexplore.com/travel-guides/australia-and-south-pacific/niue/festivals-and-events. Retrieved: January 8, 2014.

“Population in Niue Decreasing”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5dKp4mkMc. Retrieved: January 8, 2014.

“Prayer and Takai Week: http://tickingworld.com/niue/events/review/554/prayer-and-takai-week.php . Retrieved: January 8, 2014.