By JOHN ANDREWS
Retired and want to while away some years on a tropical island? Try Niue.
A Nelson company has won approval to renovate some of the hundreds of unoccupied homes on the tiny South Pacific island and market them as cheap, safe and long-term accommodation for retired New Zealanders.
The
Niuean Government has granted Golden Age Pacific a foreign enterprise licence to lease some of the houses and rent them.
The aim is to persuade New Zealanders aged from 55 to 70 to spend three months to three years in a quiet, sun-drenched environment, boosting the island's cash-strapped economy in the process.
If successful, the venture would be a reversal of the traditional exodus from the island.
It has a population of 1500 but 18,000 Niueans live in New Zealand.
Speaking from Niue, company chairman Ray Caird said yesterday that for $295 a week, New Zealanders could rent a two-bedroom home and have their children and grandchildren join them for holidays.
Tenants would have access to a car and their lawns would be mowed.
They could let their homes in New Zealand, draw their superannuation and spend months in one of the Pacific's safest destinations.
While they required a permit if they wanted to work, there were opportunities for people to give advice or do voluntary work.
Mr Caird said his company looked at other South Pacific islands for its novel scheme but Niue had proved the most attractive.
It was well-run, clean and featured wonderful scenic attractions as well as fishing, golf and tennis.
Golden Age would initially revamp two or three homes in the capital Alofi - ones that required the least work - before extending its project.
He said the company had received more than 50 enquiries from New Zealanders looking two or three years ahead to their retirement.
Welcoming the scheme, acting Premier Sani Lakatani said it would bring income for home-owners now living overseas and would protect houses from deterioration.
Island businesses would benefit from New Zealanders staying for extended periods.
