Pacific

NZ-funded Niue hotel extension throws open doors to Niue people

13:05 pm on 26 June 2012

People in Niue will get the chance this weekend to look over a New Zealand government-funded tourism development.

The more than six million US dollar extension to the island's largest hotel, the Matavai Resort, will almost double its capacity and is part of efforts to boost tourism after Cyclone Heta destroyed the country's other major hotel in 2004.

But the New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, Mark Blumsky, says even with two other developments underway, the island is still short of rooms.

"So the New Zealand government and the government of Niue are working very hard to build and facilitate the building of new accommodation. The Matavai's twenty rooms is part of it and the aim is to have by this time next year another forty rooms on the market which then means we have the confidence for a second flight mid-week."

Mark Blumsky says the open day is a chance for Niue's people to take a look at the trust-run hotel which will be handed back to the Niue people in five years.