Neu: 2001-09-19
Contents of this issue:
1. New Service
2. Gangplank For Refugees
3. Price Explosion
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September 19th, 2001
1. New Service:
A Vanuatu registered shipping company BB Shipping has commenced an
Auckland-Tonga-Niue-Auckland service. It will compete with the well
established New Zealand based Reef Shipping Company which operates the
MV Southern Express from Auckland to Niue via Rarotonga and Aitutaki
every three weeks.
BB Shipping has purchased the MV Ngamaru111 formerly owned by the now
defunct Cook Island National Shipping Line.The vessel has been renamed
MV Black Bart.
It is expected to unload at Niue on September 24.
2. Gangplank For Refugees:
An Australian navy ship will offload hundreds of asylum seekers onto
Nauru even though some are refusing to disembark, Australian Immigration
Minister Philip Ruddock said.
"We will be in a position to stage disembarkation in a safe and orderly
movement," Ruddock told parliament in Canberra.
He said: "The government's position is firm on this: the only option is
for people to disembark the Manoora if they're going to have claims
considered, and we will ensure that that happens. We will be counselling
them that that is the only option."
The moving of the boat people from HMAS Manoora would end a three-week
standoff between Australia and hundreds of asylum seekers.
Canberra has refused to allow the mostly Afghan refugees to set foot in
Australia. It instead opted to provide 21-square-kilometre Nauru $A20
million aid in return for allowing Nauru to be used as a centre for
processing claims for refugee status.
For a week, Australian soldiers have struggled to build a makeshift camp
for the asylum seekers, on a barren sports field in Nauru's interior,
which has been mined for phosphate.
Australia's tough stance has drawn international outrage but is widely
supported by Australian voters.(PINA Nius On Line)
3. Price Explosion:
Niue motorists face another hefty fuel price hike.This follows the
additional costs of refining fuel in August and has lead to the cost of
a litre shooting up in New Zealand by 9 cents to $1.129 for regular
petrol and $1.179 for premium. Diesel is up 3 cents to 80 cents. Caltex
marketing manager Mike McMenamin said in Auckland the price increase was
due to the rapid rise in the cost of the refined product during the
second half of August.
He also signalled further possible "short-term" price rises, however,
saying today's increase did not cover the rise in costs and devaluation
of the New Zealand dollar during September.
Earlier this week Caltex and BP tipped possible fuel price rises as
crude oil prices soared in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in
the United States.
BP executives are meeting to discuss possible action.
A Mobil spokesman told NZPA that company executives were reviewing
petrol and diesel prices.
He said customers were advised to "watch the price boards". Niue's fuel
prices are based on spot international prices of fuel out of Singapore.
The fuel is delivered on Shell tankers out of Fiji.
Last December the cost of a litre of petrol soared to $1.60 but has
since eased to $1.50. However, economists predict it could rise again to
a record $1.70 a litre. Other South Seas countries can also expect hefty
price increases, say Pacific economists.
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