In 2004 Cyclone Heta hit Niue, damaging much of the capital, Alofi. Damage included the destruction of the Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum building, and the loss of between 90–95% of the collection.[1][2][3] Restoration of the museum and cultural preservation was recognised as an important aspect of the Government of Niue's strategic plan 2009–13.[4] Construction for the new museum began in 2018, funded with a US$2.7 million grant from the New Zealand government.[5][6] The new museum opened in October 2018.[7] The opening coincided with Niue's celebrations of its constitution, which, for the first time, were held at a location away from parliament at the new museum.[8]
The museum includes an auditorium, cafe, storage facility and stage, as well as a display space.[5] In 2019 the museum hosted an exhibition as part of the Taoga Niue Festival.[9]
Collections
Following Cyclone Heta, between 5–10% of the museum collection was salvaged.[10][3] Salvaged objects included those relating to Niue and the First World War, including photographs and a uniform,[11] as well as examples of weaving from Niue.[10] Objects that were lost included two fragments of Niuean throwing stones.[12] Director of Taoga Niue, the governmental department overseeing cultural activities, Moira Enetama, described the situation as "not only a loss of material culture but a loss of belongingness, the ownership, the head and the intangible heritage of Niue".[6]
In 2005 the museum also began to rebuild its collection, which now includes award-winning woven hats that were displayed in New Zealand.[10] Museum staff also scavenged rubbish dumps across the island for objects that would help to rebuild the collection.[6] One example were hand woven fishnets, the craft of which is no longer practiced in Niue.[6] The museum also travelled to all areas of the islands buying objects from traditional artists.[6] MP Va'aiga Tukuitonga recognised the urgency in updating the collection, as well as preserving cultural knowledge held in Niue, which has an aging population.[6]
Overseas collections
A significant amount of Niue's cultural and scientific heritage is held in collections overseas. One of the most common items in overseas collections are hiapo – traditional woven barkcloths specific to Niue.[3]
Te Papa holds 291 objects from Niue: the earliest object in their collection is a Niuean maka (throwing stone), which was presented in 1869 by Rev. John Inglis.[13] The British Museum's Niuean collection includes clubs, barkcloth, money, and other items.[14]Perth Museum in Scotland holds two wooden spears from Niue.[15]Glasgow Museums holds a fishing line made from human hair, as well as model canoes and other objects.[16] The Horniman Museum holds barkcloth, a noseflute, spears and other objects.[17] The Australian Museum holds the type specimens for Niue's only endemic butterfly Nacaduba niueensis (Niue Blue).[18]
Repatriation
From 2016, the museum expressed its intention to request the repatriation of objects that are held in overseas collections.[5] In 2007 Auckland War Memorial Museum returned the skull of an islander that was in its collection to community representatives in Auckland.[19] The remains were taken to a Niuean church, then subsequently re-buried in Niue.[20][21][19]