National museum and cultural centre in Alofi, Niue
Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum
Formation
1987
Dissolved
2004
Purpose
Culture and heritage preservation
Headquarters
Alofi, Niue
Huanaki Cultural Centre & Museum was a national museum and cultural centre in Alofi in Niue, which was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.
Background
In 1983 the government of Niue established the Niue Arts & History Project, which aimed to revive and foster pride in traditional customs and craft.[1] The project hoped to enable the establishment of a cultural centre and museum and in 1985 the National Cultural Centre Project was set up.[1]
The museum opened, as the first national museum for Niue, in 1987.[2] It was opened by Sir Paul Reeves, who was the New Zealand Governor-General.[2] It was part of the Department of Community Affairs & Culture.[3] Its official opening was held on 19 October 1989.[1] The centre included a museum, library and reading room, as well as an outdoor amphitheatre for performances, workshops for craftspeople, shops leased to private enterprises and a botanic garden.[1] The museum was administered by the Cultural Affairs Officer, who was supported by a gardener, cleaner and two workers with expertise in Niuean culture.[1] The programme ran a changing display programme, as well as cultural craft workshops for young people.[1]
In the mid-1990s, the centre and museum were partners in the Niue Archaeological Project, led by Richard Walter from the University of Otago, and Atholl Anderson from the Australian National University.[4] In 2003 the organisation received a grant of $20,000 from the World Heritage Fund in order to create a tentative World Heritage list for the country.[5]
Cyclone Heta
The museum building was destroyed in 2004 by Cyclone Heta.[6] Between 90 and 95% of the museum's collection was also destroyed.[7][6][8][9] The area surrounding the museum was still ruined in 2018.[10] Other damage by the cyclone included deforestation, in particular of Dysoxylum forsteri, a tree used in the building of Niuean outrigger canoes.[7]