Mutalau | |
|---|---|
 Mutalau council within Niue | |
 Administrative map of Niue showing all the villages | |
| Coordinates: 18°56′S169°50′W / 18.933°S 169.833°W | |
| Country |  Niue |
| Tribal Area | Motu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 26.31 km2 (10.16 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) [1] | |
| • Total | 77 |
| • Density | 2.93/km2 (7.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-11 (UTC-11) |
| Area code | +683 |
Mutalau is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. [2] Its population at the 2022 census was 77, down from 98 in 2017. [1]
It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. Ululauta and Matahefonua both mean "head of the land". The name "Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua" is adopted by the Mutalau people in Auckland, New Zealand as the name for their trust called the Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust (MUMT). Mutalau has a community hall called Salim Hall, named after the head of the UN Decolonisation Committee that came to Niue in the early 1970s to meet with Niueans and discuss the road map toward self-government.
In 1864 Mutalau was listed as one of the five principal villages of Niue, and hosting a missionary station and Samoan teacher. [3] In 1863 or 1864 the village was raided by a Peruvian slave-ship, and many men were kidnapped and taken to Callao. [4]
In 1915 a tropical cyclone blew the roof off the church. [5] Another cyclone in 1941 destroyed the government and mission schools, as well as twenty houses. [6]
Mutalau is the northernmost village on Niue. Its territory borders with Alofi, Hikutavake, Lakepa, Makefu, Toi and Tuapa. [2]
The village has 12,331 vanilla vines in July 2008 which is about 33 percent of Niue's total.
The Mutalau Village Fiafia Night was designed and ready for service on 25 July 2009, a special evening/night of tours, culture and cuisine for tourists.
Mutalau have two major events held each year, one is the Mutalau Marine Day held every Queen's Birthday where fishing competition and selling food held at the Uluvehi park. The Mutalau Show Day is held in the final Saturday of October to commemorate and celebrate and landing of the gospel in Niue, which happen in Uluvehi on 26 October 1846 brought in Peniamina with the help of Toimata Fakafitifonua.
The Mutalau Village Council (MVC) is very active in promoting and implementing community development projects. In 1996 a workshop was hosted by the Mutalau Village Council focusing on Designing and Developing Community Projects, consultants for the workshop was funded by NZAID. The outcome of this workshop where various projects was formulated, the projects includes:
At the moment MVC is implementing two projects with funding support from the European Union. The Eco-tourism project focuses developing a recreation building, walking tracks and access to caves and reefs around the Uluvehi coastal areas. The Mutalau Coconut Oil focuses on producing coconut oil for skincare and later on for bio-fuel.
Mutalau has produced some prominent Niueans, who have also become prominent New Zealand citizens. Pauly Fuemana the man behind the How bizarre song, the first hit from New Zealand to top the music charts in many countries. His father full blooded Niuean is from Mutalau. Che Fu is also another New Zealand popular artist of Niuean descent, his father Tigilau Ness is full blooded Niuean from Mutalau.
Mutalau has an online virtual group, "Cyber Muta", [7] used for sharing and exchanging information (news, views, reports, images, family notices) to Mutalau people living in different places in the World, Niue, New Zealand, Australia, USA and so forth. There is a Mutalau group in Auckland called Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust MUMT and Sons and Daughters of Mutalau in Australia SADOMIA based in Sydney, and another group in Brisbane. These groups are actively involved in raising funds, contributing items and offering sponsorships, especially for the Cyclone Heta recovery, Marine Days and Show Days.
The countries and international agencies that have assisted Mutalau with development projects are listed below. The people of Mutalau acknowledges their kind assistance and further seek their assistance for more development projects and contribute towards our social and economic development:
Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand. It is situated in the South Pacific Ocean and is part of Polynesia, and predominantly inhabited by Polynesians. The island is commonly referred to as "The Rock", which comes from the traditional name "Rock of Polynesia".
The economy of Niue is heavily dependent upon aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and grants from New Zealand make up the shortfall and are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half.
Mititaiagimene Young Vivian is a Niuean politician and diplomat, who served as Premier of Niue twice, the first time from December 1992 to March 1993 following the death of Sir Robert Rex, and the second from 2002 to 2008. He also served as a Cabinet Minister multiple times, first as Minister of Education, Economic Development and Agriculture and later as Minister of Finance under Robert Rex, and in the Cabinet of Sani Lakatani. From 1979 to 1982 he served as Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission.
Niuean is a Polynesian language, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian languages. It is most closely related to Tongan and slightly more distantly to other Polynesian languages such as Māori, Samoan, and Hawaiian. Together, Tongan and Niuean form the Tongic subgroup of the Polynesian languages. Niuean also has a number of influences from Samoan and Eastern Polynesian languages.
The music of Niue has a long history. Niue is a Polynesian island in the South Pacific. Though independent, it is in free association with New Zealand.
Alofi is the capital of the island nation of Niue. With a population of 610 in 2022, Alofi has the distinction of being the second-smallest capital city of a sovereign state by population. It consists of two villages: Alofi North and Alofi South. They collectively serve as the capital, but of the two, Alofi South hosts more government buildings, as many were moved to the southern part after Cyclone Heta.
Niue International Airport, also known as Hanan International Airport, is an international airport serving the island nation of Niue. It is located near the town of Alofi, and is only used by Air New Zealand, flying to and from Auckland twice a week, departing Auckland on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and departing Niue on Mondays and Fridays.
Avatele, formerly known as Oneonepata Matavaihala, is one of the fourteen villages of Niue, located on the southwest coast, with a population of 128 residents as of 2022.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Niue:
Sir Toke Tufukia Talagi was a Niuean politician, diplomat, and statesman. He served as Premier of Niue from 2008 to 2020.
Terry Magaoa Chapman was a Niuean administrator known for his work in advocating the self-governance of Niue.
Niuean mythology relates to some of the myths prevalent on the island of Niue, an Oceanic island country in free association with New Zealand. Although Niuean mythology reports a colonization before 500 AD, the island was settled by Polynesians from Samoa around 900 AD. The five principal gods of Niue are known as the tupua, and include Fao, Huanaki, Fakahoko, Laga-iki, and Lagi-atea, who by various accounts, arrived from Fonuagalo, Tulia, Toga-liulu, or perhaps other islands. In Avatele myths, the gods are said to have come from within the earth instead of Fonuagalo. There are also many other gods in Niuean mythology from fish gods to flying rats.
In 2013, the island country Niue produced 3,200 tonnes of coconuts valued at INT$385,830. Coconut is a cash crop on the island, which is converted to derivatives such as copra and coconut cream in tinned form, and also exported. Originally, the island had a profusion of coconut trees reflected in the country's name, Niue, in the local language. The Niue Development Board is responsible for planning and execution of schemes of agricultural produce, including coconut and related products.
India–Niue relations are the bilateral relations between India and Niue.
General elections were held in Niue on 30 May 2020 for the 20 members of the Niue Assembly. The election resulted in the defeat of Premier Toke Talagi, who lost his seat. Fifteen incumbents were re-elected, including three who were unopposed. In Mutalu, a tie between two candidates resulted in one being elected by a coin toss.
Stan Kalauni is a Niuean politician and businessman, and former member of the Niuean Assembly.
Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum was a national museum and cultural centre in Alofi in Niue, which was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.
Capital punishment is not a legal penalty in Niue. While the death penalty was legal under New Zealand colonial rule, and death sentences were imposed by the courts, no executions were ever carried out. Capital punishment has been illegal in Niue since 1966, when the death penalty was effectively abolished by New Zealand colonial authorities.
Molima Molly Pihigia is a Niuean weaver, arts advocate and healthcare worker based in New Zealand. She founded Falepipi he Mafola, a Niuean handcraft group, in 1993.
Falepipi he Mafola is a Niuean handicrafts group based in New Zealand.
