The construction of the new Cook Islands Niue Community and Friends (CINCF) Fale Niue two-storey multi-purpose building project in Tupapa has entered its second stage.

However, the ambitious project is facing a financial hurdle, requiring additional funds to reach its total estimated completed cost of $2 million.

Therefore members of the committee and entertainers are departing Rarotonga tomorrow on a concert fundraising tour across Australia and New Zealand through a series of concerts.

Ten of the travelling fundraising group of 12, are each forking out for their own airfares and accommodation on the tour. The Fale Niue group are covering the airfare costs for only two of the touring team.

The first fundraising concert will be held this week on May 1 at the Belmore Bowling Club, 1A Leylands Parade, Belmore, NSW.

The Fale Niue plans for a 3-Star accommodations in the building upper floors, aims not only to enhance tourism but also to celebrate and share the heritage of Niue and the Cook Islands.

“We are transparent so people can see the progress and see this is for real, we are showing that we are real,” says the Fale Niue building constructor and committee member, Mann Short.

He said the bottom floor will be a community hall which could also be hired as a conference room, and upstairs will be short term upmarket hotel like rooms.

“This is the best way to sell these rooms, so we need to complete it and furnish it, so its operational,” said Short.

According to Short, the Fale Niue will also have the capacity to host larger groups in the community hall that can be easily converted into a dormitory to cater for tere parties.

“This is not like a hostel. Each individual room will have their own bathroom facilities and a balcony – at the high end market.”

Most people are not wanting shared bathrooms and there are enough hostels who provide that, this one will have a point of difference, Short added.

Stage one of the building has been completed - the concrete foundation, the bottom floor brick walls as well as  the electrical conduits and the steel work.

Work has already begun on the second stage which includes the concrete underground 100,000 litres water storage tank. Today, the block layers will be back to continue the brick walls going up and once completed the partitioning walls inside will then start.

At the fundraising concerts, Short who is also a popular singer and Cook Islands performing artist will be performing on stage at several venues alongside local entertainers – composer and singer Kutia Tuteru, and Paul Lynch – Elvis impersonator.

Lynch says Cook Islands and Niuean community leaders will be hosting their touring group.

“We are trying to think of different alternatives for fundraising.

“We only would like people to give if they want and what they can,” said Lynch.

Last year in June, the Cook Islands Niue Community and Friends monster raffle fundraiser raised $325,000.

According to Short, donations and monetary sponsorship boosted the amount to $400,000 which they are using up to the second stage of the project.

Shorts said, “this project is for the people funded by the people for the benefit of the community,  the Niuean community as well as our own people.”

Following their Sydney concert, the group will appear in Melbourne on May 4, Perth on May 5, and Brisbane on May 6.

They will arrive in Christchurch, New Zealand for their first concert on May 8, followed by more spread across  Aotearoa.

On May 20, they will host a concert in Rarotonga.

Follow the Cook Islands Niuean Community and Friends Facebook page for more information.

Next year in March/April another big bonanza raffle is also in the pipeline.