About 100 households in Niue will be without electricity from next week because of  $150,000 New Zealand dollars of overdue power bills.

The General Manager of the Niue Power Corporation, Speedo Hetutu, warned people earlier this week on the radio that the company would start disconnecting them if they were behind on their payments.

He says since then about 30 customers have paid, leaving about 100 who are still in arrears. Mr Hetutu is optimistic that power will not be rationed during Niue's financial crisis.

Source: http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38294 

Source: Radio NZ International 

 

Niue’s government says it is aware of the shortcomings of the new consumption tax bill and will address them.
Niue is moving to introduce a tax on goods and services to be set at 12.5 percent.
In addition it would lower import duties and income taxes, as the country moves to comply with regional trade agreement requirements.
Opponents argue the new system would harm those on a low or no income, and small businesses.

The Finance Minister, Fisa Pihigia, says the government will do all it can to support these people.

    “Certainly there is a way for the government to re-look at some of the areas to cater for the needs of those lower income [people] and also those who have no income at all. It could be to raise the salary of those below the threshold and also increase the benefit for some but not all. Whatever means the government can feel that is sustainable.”