A successful marine day for Hakupu and Mutalau over the long weekend
Mutalau Marine Day | Photo credits: Florence Maureen Melekitama
Over the long weekend, the villages of Hakupu and Mutalau held their annual village marine day. Hakupu on Saturday 3 June and Mutalau on Monday 5 June on the King’s Birthday public holiday.
According to village representatives, it was a great day to see the community come together and enjoy a day of fishing.
According to Natasha Toeono-Tohovaka on a Facebook post, the Hakupu Marine Day theme was “Paddling for the Future.”
She said, “even though there was no reef fishing today, we managed to get the kids down to Tuhia to watch all the fish coming back from Boat and Vaka Fishermen.”
Tolana Siataga landed the heaviest fish a Marlin at a whopping 60 kgs.
“Looking forward to the reef event for the kids to help them paddle to the future,” says Natasha.
For the Mutalau Marine Day, according to Florence Maureen Melekitama, Mutalau Village Council Secretary, the Mutalau Marine Day is different from other village marine days who usually host their marine day before the showday.
Mutalau held theirs on Monday to utilise the King’s Birthday public holiday.
Maureen says, that “this year however we pay tribute to late Aki Sietu for his ongoing support to the Mutalau marine day over the years as VC member and continue after he came out of VC.”
Maureen told BCN News they also held their Marine Day on Monday to celebrate the completion of their sea track resealing project and also to
Clayton Viliamu won first prize for Tuna fish, second prize went to Bob Jnr Talagi and third to Tom Jnr Misikea.
It was a great turn out given that only a few fishermen caught fish, says Maureen.
Niue Vaka Association wore their custom made polo uniform in acknowledgement of Aki as one of their vaka team member.
Photo credits to Natasha Toeone-Tohovaka for the Hakupu Marine Day and Florence Maureen Melekitama for the Mutalau Marine Day used in this story.
