Tofia Niue and the Government celebrate 5 years of partnership with the Niue Ocean Wide program.

The Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) project, a public-private partnership between the Niue Government and NGO Tofia Niue has completed its initial five-year project which started in 2015 and last week launched a new two-year project.

Niue Ocean Wide project is managed by local fisheries expert and former Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Brendon Pasisi (pictured with Minister Mona Ainuu)

Tofia Niue’s president Coral Pasisi thanked everyone who has contributed to the Niue Ocean Wide project over the past five years.

She said that through this public private partnership they have achieved a great deal including the production of Niue’s Exclusive Economic Zone in marine spatial management plan, the dedication of 40 % of Niue’s EEZ as a large scale marine protected area and the setting of a compliance strategy and the development of a sustainable financing strategy.

The Director General of the Ministry of Natural Resources Dr Josie Tamate says that this partnership is essential for conservation and also Niue’s economic development aspirations.

“We’re doing what we’re doing because we are passionate about making sure that we are protecting our marine environment and also to provide for our development aspirations.”

Dr. Tamate says that the efforts for marine conservation is also extended to the private sector who will be able to offer high value business opportunities in future.

Held at the Matavai Resort the leaders from both government and Tofia Niue were joined by stakeholders from the local communities including some science students from Niue High school.

The group witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding by the Minister of Natural Resource Hon. Mona Ainuu on behalf of government and the President of Tofia Niue Coral Pasisi for the next two- year phase of the Niue Ocean Wide project.