Mutalau


Mutalau is one of the fourteen villages of Niue. Its population at the 2017 census was 100, up from 97 in 2011.

History

Overview

It was previously known as Ululauta and Matahefonua. Ululauta and Matahefonua both mean "head of the land". The name "Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua" is adopted by the Mutalau people in Auckland, New Zealand as the name for their trust called the Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust MUMT. Mutalau has a community hall called Salim Hall, named after the head of the UN Decolonisation Committee that came to Niue in the early 1970s to meet with Niueans and discuss the road map toward self-government.

Timeline

Mutalau is the northernmost village on Niue. Its territory borders with Alofi, Hikutavake, Lakepa, Makefu, Toi and Tuapa.

Economy

Agriculture

The village has 12,331 vanilla vines in July 2008 which is about 33 percent of Niue's total.

Tourism

The Mutalau Village Fiafia Night was designed and ready for service on 25 July 2009, a special evening/night of tours, culture and cuisine for tourists.

Culture

Mutalau have two major events held each year, one is the Mutalau Marine Day held every Queen's Birthday where fishing competition and selling food held at the Uluvehi park. The Mutalau Show Day is held in the final Saturday of October to commemorate and celebrate and landing of the gospel in Niue, which happen in Uluvehi on 26 October 1846 brought in Peniamina with the help of Toimata Fakafitifonua.

Administration

Mutalau Land Committee

The Mutalau Village Council is very active in promoting and implementing community development projects. In 1996 a workshop was hosted by the Mutalau Village Council focusing on Designing and Developing Community Projects, consultants for the workshop was funded by NZAID. The outcome of this workshop where various projects was formulated, the projects includes:
At the moment MVC is implementing two projects with funding support from the European Union. The Eco-tourism project focuses developing a reacreation building, walking tracks and access to caves and reefs around the Uluvehi coastal areas. The Mutalau Coconut Oil focuses on producing coconut oil for skincare and later on for bio-fuel.

Personalities

Mutalau has produced some prominent Niueans, who have also become prominent New Zealand citizens. Pauly Fuemana the man behind the How bizarre song, the first hit from New Zealand to top the music charts in many countries. His father full blooded Niuean is from Mutalau. Che Fu is also another New Zealand popular artist of Niuean descent, his father Tigilau Ness is full blooded Niuean from Mutalau.

International relations

Mutalau has an online virtual group, "Cyber Muta", used for sharing and exchanging information to Mutalau people living in different places in the World, Niue, New Zealand, Australia, USA and so forth. There is a Mutalau group in Auckland called Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust MUMT and Sons and Daughters of Mutalau in Australia SADOMIA based in Sydney, and another group in Brisbane. These groups are actively involved in raising funds, contributing items and offering sponsorships, especially for the Cyclone Heta recovery, Marine Days and Show Days.
The countries and international agencies that have assisted Mutalau with development projects are listed below. The people of Mutalau acknowledges their kind assistance and further seek their assistance for more development projects and contribute towards our social and economic development: