Alofi Travel Guide, Niue

Alofi Travel Guide – Administration and Geography

This Alofi travel guide will give you the main points of interest concerning the island of Niue and its capital city. Alofi is the capital city of the state of Niue, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. The population of the state is mostly Polynesian and the locals call the island “The Rock”. Politically, Niue is associated with New Zeeland and is under the direct rule of Queen Elizabeth II. The island has a total surface of 269 sq kilometers and it is surrounded by coral reefs, the island itself being one of the world’s largest coral islands. Its soil therefore has many special characteristics, like a high radioactivity level, although there is no uranium, and plenty of iron, mercury and aluminum oxides. Still, it has been proven that the radioactive elements do not influence the health of the people on the island. Another interesting fact is that Niue and main land New Zeeland have a 24 hours’ delay between them, so clocks in Alofi and Auckland show the same time, although Alofi is one day behind.

Alofi Travel Guide – Economy and Development

The state of Niue has a very small GDP ($17 million in 2003) and it uses the New Zeeland dollar. Plans for economically develop the country fell through in 2004, when it was struck by Cyclone Heta and it has not fully recovered to this day. The cyclone killed two people and did severe damage to Alofi, destroying the hospital and many other buildings. Safety measures were taken and government buildings were moved to a more secure location in case of another cyclone strike. Currently the country is struggling to attract foreign investors in the tourism sector, offering tax privileges for anyone investing in better accommodation opportunities. As far as information and media is concerned, Niue was the first state in the world to offer free wireless internet to all its citizens, and every single one of the country’s primary and high school students has his specifically designed green laptop.

Alofi Travel Guide – Brief Alofi Information

As most Alofi Travel Guides will tell you, this city has been estimated to have a population of 614 according to the 2001 census, which still makes it the largest human agglomeration on the island. The only way to leave the island is by plane to New Zeeland, so it is virtually impossible to reach Avarua in the Cook Islands. Alofi is divided into two villages, Alofi North and Alofi South, which is where the government buildings were moved after the cyclone, in an area called Founakula. Alofi Bay, which is where Alofi is located, occupies almost 30 percent of the island’s coastal territory.