Niuean Architect Presents on a Sustainable Method of building in Niue

Niuean and Wellington based Architect-Anthony Liuvaie is on the island focused on giving  back to the community. 

Liuvaie held a presentation last Friday in Aliluki on his research on a new and sustainable method of building in Niue that includes a master plan to revitalize the Aliluki site, 20 years after Cyclone Heta left it’s devastating wrath. 

People from the community came to listen to his innovative presentation on how to build a more sustainable and unique building design using various alternative methods. 

Some of the proposed solutions were planting trees to avoid king waves, which includes the ovava trees that could become a safe haven during a cyclone. 

One of the other resilient materials he mentioned was the use of bamboo which has a 20 years of resilience and sustainability, showing a model structure during his presentation. 

Survivor of Cyclone Heta and former Aliluki resident, Esther Pavihi also spoke during the event. 

Pavihi mentioned that apart from the havoc caused by Heta, the second devastation was the destruction of buildings in Aliluki and all the memories and stories that went with it.

She said as a nation we are still healing and that it’s also our responsibility to record and document these stories. 

“We have a responsibility to record and document this experience and decision’s made to leave some frame of reference for our future leaders so they can make informed decisions when the next category 5 Cyclone hits because its not a matter of if but a matter of when,” said Pavihi.

Pavihi commended on the work and vision that Liuvaie was doing.

Director of Climate Change for the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme-Tagaloa Halo quoting the Director of Taoga Niue-Moira Enetama said the day Cyclone Heta took down our museum and all the buildings in Aliluki, we lost more than our story but we lost the trust of our people. There was also a question and answer session with the attendees.

The crowd was impressed by Liuvaie presentation and hoped young people like him will contribute to a more resilient Niue in the future that can withstand any future natural disaster with their creative ideas.