ALOFI, Niue (April 29, 1999 Â PACNEWS)---Reverend Lagi Sepeli, a senior member of the Niuean community in New Zealand, says the small Pacific nation must exploit its own resources or accept reverting back to New Zealand.
Wellington wants to cut the aid program by $5NZD million ($US 2.7 million) by 2003.
Of the 20,000 Niueans, 18,000 currently reside in New Zealand.
In Wellington, Niuean community leader, Reverend Lagi Sepeli said Niue should seriously consider exploiting its own resources.
"I think the answer lies with the government. It should really come up with a program to utilize the natural resources of Niue and be able to sell it outside. I think if Niue comes to the worst situation, the only option is to integrate with New Zealand," Rev. Sepeli said.
New Zealand has been reducing its aid by a quarter of a million dollars every year for the last five years.
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