Niue govt looks to bring home skills of students studying in Aotearoa

Niue wants to create more opportunities for its people studying in New Zealand to return home and put their skills to work, as the island looks to strengthen its health services and prepare for future workforce needs.

Niue’s Minister Kahealani Sariah Sinahemana Hekau says building links with Niuean students in New Zealand is a key focus of her first ministerial visit, alongside renewing health agreements that support people travelling overseas for medical care.

“On our end, we want to be ready to provide opportunities where they can come and work at home, whether it's short term or long term,” Hekau told PMN Niue.

The former Miss South Pacific said she had met with the Auckland Students Association to discuss pathways for students from Niue and Niuean students raised in Aotearoa to explore employment or further study back home.

She hopes to build similar connections with Niuean students at other New Zealand universities and help them see how the knowledge and qualifications they gain could benefit their home country.

“Having that pathway, having that relationship where the future of Niue can see that they can make a positive contribution with the knowledge that they gain from university,” she said.

Sinahemana Hekau, second from left, and Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, centre, with other government officers at Pre-COP31 discussions in Fiji last week. Photo/Facebook/Office of the Secretary of Government NIUE

Renewing health support

Her key responsibilities include Health, Education, Taoga Niue and Tourism. Health is another major focus of Hekau's visit. Niue is looking to renew agreements with Penina Trust, which supports its medical referral scheme, and New Zealand Health for specialist services.

The arrangements support Niueans who need medical assistance in New Zealand and patients who require specialist care.

Hekau said renewing the agreements would help maintain services while giving both sides an opportunity to identify improvements. “I think first and foremost is to have that continuity because these agreements are up for renewal,” she said.

Niue is working to grow its tourism sector while protecting the island’s culture, heritage and natural environment. Photo/Niue Pocket Guide

“So having them renewed would be useful in terms of continuing the services and also seeing where we might need to make improvements or where we might need to make adjustments.”

The minister also met with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ humanitarian services team to explore possible support for Niue, particularly in health and education.

She acknowledged the church’s work in Niue and across the Pacific, saying the discussions were part of efforts to build new partnerships around the island’s needs.

Tourism is another area of responsibility for Hekau. Niue is looking to attract visitors while protecting its culture and environment.

Niue Tourism’s Hayden Porter said efforts to promote the island to new markets were already generating interest, including in conferences and events.

“Seeing is believing as they say, and we had group bookings start to roll in before we even finished the trip which was fantastic to see,” Porter told Travel Today in June.

Niueans living in Aotearoa and overseas play an important role in keeping their language, culture and heritage alive while maintaining strong connections with their homeland. Photo/Niue Tourism

Keeping the diaspora connected

Hekau has also begun meeting community organisations like the Whangahau Niue Trust, ahead of Niue Language Week, which will be celebrated in Aotearoa next week.

She said Niuean communities overseas played an important role in keeping language and cultural connections alive while also creating opportunities for people to contribute to the island’s future.

A similar connection between returning home and contributing to Niue is reflected in the experience of Jordyn Vilipaama-Mokolei, a New Zealand-born Niuean university student who returned to the island in 2025 to help with a research project on cool roofs.

A Television Niue report said the project gave her an opportunity to contribute locally and learn from village communities and elders.

Niue is marking the 52nd anniversary of its Constitution this month and Hekau said the government had also put Niue Language Week on its calendar to show its support for the diaspora.

Watch Sinahemana Hekau's full interview below.

“Having the link with the Niuean communities in New Zealand and abroad is in our interest, because I think it brings many opportunities, many opportunities to share language or retain language,” she said.

Hekau said her visit was about building relationships with existing partners, making new connections and setting up a programme of work to follow up after she returns home.

She hopes annual visits to New Zealand could become part of that ongoing engagement, helping Niue maintain close ties with its constitutional partner and the many Niueans living abroad.