Work has officially begun on the new Niue Fale in Tupapa, opposite the Ministry of Health administration building.

The project started on Saturday with members of the Niue community carefully stripping the old home occupying the land to make way for the laying of the foundation for the new Fale Niue hostel.

Workers are salvaging any materials that can be reused for a storage shed at the back of the property.

Sisi Short, a board member of the Cook Islands Niue Community and Friends (CINCF), said: “This is an exciting development for us and we are eager to see our project progress.”

Short says they are currently pulling down the old home and will recycle the materials they can.

“Another working bee will be held this Saturday at 8am and we are encouraging Niueans to pop in and help out.”

Once the old property has been demolished and the site has been cleared by T&M Heather, the next step will be to lay the foundation for the new hostel.

The Niue community has been fundraising hard for their fale.

In June, the Cook Islands Niue Community and Friends held the drawing for their monster raffle, raising $325,000. The goal of the raffle was to raise $500,000. However, tickets sent overseas, particularly to Australia and New Zealand, were returned due to concerns about it being a scam.

On Saturday next week, August 31, the Niuean will be hosting auditions for the Cook Islands Got Talent fundraising event at Staircase.

Short says the talent competition is for “residents only” and “non-professional artists” and registrations are still open until early next week.

“If you are a singer, dancer, comedian, magician, storyteller or have a talent we encourage you to join this event,” said Short.

“There is a total cash prize of $10,000 spread across categories to be won. And all funds will go towards the fale.”

The Cook Islands Got Talent show will run over five weeks with the grand finals set for September 28, 2024.

Participant registrations are $20 for solo act, or $30 for three or more persons. Call Sisi Short on phone 52881 for more information.

Over 200 Niueans live on Rarotonga, and funds raised from this event will be steered towards their proposed new two storey 400 square metre Fale Niue project.

The fale is being built on land gifted by Meleaone Tumi’i, president of the CINCF, and her late brother John Tangi. They gifted a piece of land for the proposed hostel in 2018.