Calls for a stronger CSO voice; sentiments shared at first civil society summit
More than twenty NGO and civil society organizations were represented at the inaugural civil society summit held last Friday, organized by the Niue Island united association of NGOs commonly known as NIUANGO.
For many of the representatives this was an opportunity to learn more about NIUANGO because despite being the representative organization of the NGOs established more than twenty years ago, not much is known about NIUANGO.
Carol Edwards representing the Niue Island Netball Association (NINA) said that NINA is interested in joining NIUANGO but wanted to know more.
Nitaligi Pihigia from the Tuapa Uhomotu Youth said she wanted to know how they can benefit from joining NIUANGO. Tuapa Uhomotu Youth was the only youth organisation at the summit.
Lisa Viliamu, representing the organic farmers association NIOFA is new to the island. The climate activist from Brisbane, Australia recently relocated to the island with her family. Lisa is keen to bring some of her experience working in the civil society space overseas to help revive the civil society space on the island.
Concerns were also raised around the room about the lack of representation from the faith-based groups on the island. Lay preacher from the Alofi Ekalesia FCW, Birtha Lisimoni-Togahai said that the summit clashed with an event that the Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue was hosting for a regional meeting held on the island last week.
New Zealand High Commissioner Mark Gibb spoke briefly recognising the efforts of NIUANGO in hosting the summit and the significance of bringing together the different groups around the island.
The acting minister for social services Maureen Melekitama represented the government and spoke briefly about the important work of NIUANGO.
NIUANGO executive committee are; Sefeti Fatiaki Adriana as president, vice president Avi Rubin, Jamal Talagi-Veidryaki as secretary, Poi Kapaga as treasurer and executive members Laga Lavini, Dempster Tomailuga, JinNam Hopotoa and Sione Leolahi.
