KEY POINTS:
Hazardous asbestos roofing abounds in Niue and there's little chance it will disappear before the tiny island hosts the prestigious annual summit of Pacific leaders in August.
Crumbling tonnes of the potentially lethal stuff lie in a rubbish dump and on the roofs of scores of abandoned houses that dot the island east of Tonga.
Privately, some Niue politicians claim the New Zealand Government has a moral obligation to remove the asbestos because New Zealand introduced it to the island in the first place.
But Niueans shy away from pointing the finger publicly because of fears their comments might be regarded as "biting the hand that feeds you".
On the other hand, New Zealand officials say the Niue Government could easily choose to use allocated aid funds from New Zealand to dispose of the asbestos.
The thorny issue featured in the Weekend Herald in December 2003, just days before Cyclone Heta devastated the island.
A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official confided back then that the asbestos issue had pricked consciences in both countries at a time when the potential threat to islanders' health was deemed relevant and Niue was preparing to host the 2004 Pacific Island leaders' forum.
Officials estimated that an island-wide revamp of offending roofs could cost New Zealand taxpayers up to $10 million.
The cyclone forced Niue to abandon its 2004 forum hosting bid but, as the island of about 1200 people now prepares to take its turn in this year's forum spotlight, the issue of what to do with the asbestos has still not been resolved.
Hima Takelesi, a Niue MP and the island's former High Commissioner to New Zealand, said: "I would like to see the people responsible for bringing it [asbestos] to the island to help resolve this problem.
"No one wants to come out publicly and point the finger at the Beehive in case of offence, but they think it is New Zealand's responsibility.
"It worries me about the [asbestos] bundles spread around the island. At one time it was a great pastime for kids on the island to throw bits of asbestos roofing on the fire and hear it pop, unwittingly endangering their lives in the years to come."
"We should try and tidy up these houses, forum or no forum. I want to sit down with the people responsible for bringing this stuff to the island and see if they can arrive at a solution for both sides," said Mr Takelesi, who is seeking re-election as a common-roll MP in the elections on Saturday.
Opposition MP Terry Coe thinks the asbestos should be dumped at sea, a method that attracted flak from environmentalists when the Cook Islands Government used it a few months ago.
"Our sea is very deep and there's little likelihood of it going back on shore," he said. "When it's in the water it is perfectly safe.
"New Zealand doesn't want to take it back. They've said that to [the Niue] Cabinet. They are baulking at paying for the removal. New Zealand will have to pay anyway because we haven't got any money."
David Payton, director of New Zealand's special relationship unit for Niue and Tokelau, said New Zealand was well aware the presence of asbestos was causing concern as it became clear broken or loose material was potentially harmful.
The two countries had been working to identify the most effective way of addressing the problem. There was agreement to consolidate the asbestos in one place and effectively package it in safe storage until its final destination was decided.
He said the Niue Government had decided to remove asbestos from all buildings, thus compounding the difficulties faced. (The Chinese Government has provided $300,000 to Niue to provide replacement roofing for houses.)
Mr Payton said the issue had been regularly discussed at inter-government meetings for several years. It was up to the Niue Government to set infrastructure priorities on the funds it received from New Zealand.
"What we want to see is a considered view of the opinions provided by experts. We have been encouraging Niue to take action to get the loose asbestos wrapped and safely contained.
"Our clear preference is for it to be buried on Niue. Asbestos is only dangerous when it is loose in the air. It is not the sort of product that leaches out and breaks down."
He doubted any Niue decision on asbestos disposal would be made until after the post-election Government had been formed.
"Then it will come back on the table because we want to ensure there is no ongoing risk for the people of Niue."
Niue Premier Young Vivian believes it most unlikely the asbestos will be gone before the forum summit begins on August 19.
He said: "The hold-up is the money. We have yet to figure out the way we are going to go.
"The easiest way: the Cooks took a boat and dumped it at sea. But it still costs money. It will cost millions whichever way you want to do it."
Mr Vivian, who is certain of his re-election to the Niue Assembly because he was unopposed for his village candidacy, said the storage of asbestos in containers would buy time for authorities to consider the issue.
He hoped the obvious signs of asbestos scattered around the island would not prove an embarrassment for Niueans when hundreds of foreign visitors descend on his homeland for the forum.
