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Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum

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

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

Background

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Richmond-Rex, P. E. (1991). "Huanaki Cultural Center, Niue". Pacific Arts (3): 64–66. ISSN 1018-4252. JSTOR 23409130.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Barnett, Jon; Ellemor, Heidi (2007). "Niue after Cyclone Heta". Australian Journal of Emergency Management.
  7. ^ a b 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.