National broadcaster, BCN officially opens new studios and office after 2020 fire

Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi this morning thanked the Government of Australia for the support to rebuild and refurbish the BCN studios and new offices after the devastating fire in May 2020. This morning the AU$2 million project was officially opened.

Today is the culmination of five years of dreams finally realized for the small team at the Broadcasting corporation of Niue (BCN). The president of the Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue, Reverend Navy Salatielu blessed the day and the newly refurbished building in front of government dignitaries, diplomats, contractors, and invited guests.

The host for the opening ceremony, Australias High Commissioner to Niue Olivia Phongkam welcomed the guests and acknowledged the enduring friendship between Australia and Niue and thanked the contractors for completing the project within budget and on time.

Ms Jo Elson Manager of ABC International Development said that in addition to the work of the media and the national broadcaster, BCN plays a critical during times of natural disasters in disseminating and informing the public and this project recognizes that role.

The Chairperson of the BCN Board, Reverend Scanland Mitiepo in his address, thanked the two governments for the support to rebuild the station and called on the government to improve internet connectivity so that BCN can fully utilize the new and improved equipment in the studios.

For the General Manager of BCN, today is the culmination of five years of sacrifice and resilience for him and his staff. In his speech he thanked the staff for enduring the sub normal working conditions “We were cramped into a 7m x 8m office space for over four and a half years. Humid and at times hot, yet we still maintained the level of service we have been delivering to the community with the available resources that we had”. Trevor Tiakia commended his team that despite the fire, BCN was able to rebuild the radio and tv networks up and running with the week of the fire and were able to televise live the 2020 general election at the end of May 2020.

Tiakia thanked his staff for their resilience and ingenuity to ensure that the role of the media would still function, despite the many challenges. He thanked the manager of NDMO Robin Hekau and Mrs Rossy Mitiepo of Niue Met Services for housing the BCN team, months after the fire and the several months during the refurbishment.

In his address, Prime Minister Tagelagi acknowledged the sub normal conditions that the BCN team had to work under for five years and thanked the team for their hard work. Prime Minister Tagelagi acknowledged the work of BCN during the COVID 19 pandemic, a role they performed under challenging conditions. He thanked the government of Australia for the support and assistance saying that his government would like to see this support continue.

The event was broadcast live on TV Niue and via social media allowing the viewers to join in and throughout the morning the MC shared the story of resilience, sacrifice, improvised techniques and the make do attitude of the BCN team. She thanked Trevor Tiakia for his leadership despite his personal tragedy, losing his wife Ata to cancer in February 2023.

Prime Minister Tagelagi recognized the Speaker of the Assembly, Hima Douglas former broadcaster General Manager of BCN and gave him the honour to cut the kapihi.  Douglas with Australia’s High Commissioner to Niue Olivia Phongkam together cut through the thick garland of kapihi using two katoua before Prime Minister Tagelagi unveiled the plaque.

The BCN studios will be open to the public this week on Friday 26 September from 9am to 3pm. Members of the public can come to see the upgraded and refurbished BCN studios at Fonuakula.