Communications in Niue

The Ugaphone ® (photo above) is one of the best telephone sets in the world. It has it's own antennas, doesn't need batteries, makes you speak very loud, especially when it bites your inferior lib, and is mobile. Ok, jokes apart, let's talk seriously about communications in Niue...

In Niue people speak English and also a local dialect. Young kids learn English at school which follows New Zealand standards. The school is as good as any New Zealand school, but for vocational or university studies the person will have to search education in another country. Only primary and secondary schools are there. 

Most Niueans love to talk with tourists, and the first question they're going to ask you is..." Where are you from?"  followed by "How did you heard about Niue?". This starts at the Immigration at the airport and continues for the entire stay as soon as you meet someone you haven't meet yet.  Anyway, if you are the type that doesn't like talking too much, don't worry, because it happens only in Alofi. Most of the other areas in Niue you won't find too many people around to talk with, if you find any at all. On most tracks and attractions of the Island the chances of staying completely alone is the norm. 

The International phone code for Niue is 683 and telephone numbers have 4 digits only, so is very easy to memorize someone's phone number on the Island. The government makes some part of its revenue by leasing phone lines. In Alofi and in others few places on the Island you will be able to find public phones. The Telecom at Commercial centre in Alofi is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. There are some mobile phone in Niue, but to tell the truth I didn't see anyone using a mobile phone there.

The Internet is present in Niue including wireless connection. In most accommodations of the island you will be able to connect for free. In Alofi, at the commercial centre, the Internet cafe was charging in November 2007 a fee of NZ$ 25 for the wireless access code. After that, you have free connection  as many times as you wish without extra charges. We took our lap top to Niue but found out the connection was a bit slow but good enough to check emails etc...

Radio's and televisions in Niue are very important to the population. It is basically the only way of contact Niuean have with the rest of the world. The TV shows Australia's Channel 10. 

The main places of interest on the island such as tracks, Chasms and lookouts, are very well signed with identification names. Roads also have good signs just like any place in New Zealand or Australia. Some trails such as to Vaikona and Talava Arches have pointing arrows indicating the best way to get lost, I mean, to get there safely.

The roads are very well equiped with signs in Niue. This sign is telling me to stop the car and wait for diner.	The house where the Government of Niue is, has one of the biggest and best signs on the Island.