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Niue Ocean Wide Trust Awards First Resource Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) Village Grants

The Niue Ocean Wide Trust (NOW Trust) proudly announces the first round of Resource Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) village grants, a milestone in Niue’s journey toward community-led ocean conservation and sustainable development.
Seven villages Alofi South, Mutalau, Liku, Toi, Hakupu, Avatele, and Tuapa  have been completed and awarded NZD $20,000 annually to implement locally designed conservation and blue economy projects over a three-year period. The remaining Seven villages have their proposals well underway for future support in due course.

Left – Right ( Etaena Poihega (NOW Trustee) Coral Pasisi (NOW Trust -Vice Chair) Avi Rubin (NOW Trustee) Gayleen Tasmania (NOW Trustee) Hon. Dalton Tagelagi (NOW Trust – Chair) Hon Mona Ainu’u (NOW Trustee)

This initiative strengthens the co-management framework at the heart of the Niue Ocean Wide Initiative Public – Private Partnership, empowering communities to lead with cultural integrity and environmental stewardship. As the program enters its second year, the NOW Trust remains committed to supporting inclusive participation and village-driven action within the co-management arrangement with central government. The initiative supports RMACs as they turn local knowledge into lasting impact from sustainable tourism ventures to the revitalization and maintenance of culture and traditional practices.

(The Video below reflects the excitement of the NOW Trust in approving the first tranche of funds and the 7 Village RMACs highlighting 2 out of many key objectives in the use of their respective funds)

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Teaching Future Ocean Leaders to Dive

As part of building Niue’s responsible future ocean custodians, NOW partnered with a local dive company, Niue Blue, to support six Niue High School Students to undertake Padi Dive Courses. The investment focused on supporting students who had interests in the ocean. The course provided the students the opportunity to see what NOW is protecting and the opportunity to engage them in the idea of possible career paths in the marine space. (Featured in the video are 3 of the 6 students who were available to dive at the time)

Making Traditional Fishing Hooks – Maintaining traditional knowledge

NOW supports the maintenance of traditional knowledge in the school by providing tools to assist in the process of the making of traditional fishing hooks and sinkers and the practice and processes involved and so much more to come. We speak to Jackson Hekesi about his passion as a school teacher and the how passing on this traditional knowledge to his students really inspires him. This is just the beginning of more awesome stories and videos to come. watch this space!

The Maintenance of traditional knowledge – NOW Supports Niue delegation at 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC)

The Ocean and the Land is part of our livelihoods as Niuean’s, its our identity. At the Festival of Pacific Arts and Cultural Festival (FestPAC) We were fortunate to capture a few of Niue’s prominent cultural Traditional knowledge holders – explaining why it is important to maintain traditional practices. These practices are valuable knowledge that carry stories through Performing arts Vagahau Niue (Niuean Language) Weaving, Education. Supporting the maintenance of traditional knowledge is one of the key value drivers embedded in the metrics of the NOW Trust and Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs). Traditional knowledge have been passed down from generations carrying stories of the Niue people, their survival and adaptation to change. We strive to maintain these local Taoaga- our national treasures and cultural verified science.

Maintenance of Traditional Knowledge through Performing arts (Dances & Songs) Lavea Puheke – Niue Traditional Knowledge Holder – Performing Arts, Music Composition & Choreography

Maintenance of Traditional Knowledge through Performing arts (Dances & Songs) Tom Misikea – Niue Traditional Knowledge Holder – Performing Arts, Music Composition & Choreography

Maintenance of Traditional Knowledge through Performing arts (Dances & Songs) Tom junior Misikea – Young Niue Traditional Knowledge Holder – Performing Arts

Maintenance of Traditional Knowledge through Weaving (Arts & Crafts) Inangaro Vakaafi – Young Niue Traditional Knowledge Holder – Weaver

Maintenance of Traditional Knowledge through Performing Arts (Songs & Dances) Ben Tanaki – Niue Traditional Knowledge Holder Composer/Tutor