Teilweise neu: 2001-10-22 Contents of this issue:
1. Sorry, I'll Read That Again 2. Exciting Challenge 3. Staff Slashed 4. Reduced Risk 5. Missionary 6. Honoured 7. Solomons Grounded ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Reduced Risk 2. Missionary 3. Honoured 4. Solomons Grounded October 22nd, 2001 1. Sorry, I'll Read That Again: A group of Niueans say they were embarrassed by comments made at a weekend state dinner by Premier Sani Lakatani in front of the Governor-General of NZ and Niue Dame Silvia Cartwright and New Zealand government leaders. The Premier, in a speech to the invited guests who had joined the islanders celebrating 100 years of political association with New Zealand, said Niue will go ahead with or without help from New Zealand. He had the day before expressed frustration at talks over Niue and New Zealand's constitutional future but praised the former territorial administrator for being "kind, tolerant and generous to Niue since annexation in 1901." Last week on Radio Australia the Premier blamed New Zealand for "failing to provide adequate assistance for the island's economic development." Opposition MP O'Love Jacobsen said she was concerned that the Premier would make such comments and was sending out the wrong signals at a state dinner in front of visiting dignitaries. Common roll MP Terry Coe, a former Cabinet Minister said the comments made by the Premier were contrary to what senior government members want for Niue and it was improper for the Premier to push the independence line at a state function with influential NZ dignitaries present. Several other prominent members in the community said they value the association with New Zealand and it was unrealistic to think residents would back total independence which the Premier now seems to be advocating. "People here have already said they want to retain self government in free association with NZ and its up to our elected representatives to express our desires and reach an agreement with NZ over future support. What the Premier said the other night is not .helping the situation, its taking us down a path of political suicide," said an elderly resident. 2. Exciting Challenge: It's official - Robbie Deans is assistant All Black coach. The former All Black fullback joins Waikato's John Mitchell at the helm of New Zealand rugby till to the 2003 World Cup. Mitchell has been actively courting Deans over the past fortnight, and said today he was delighted to finally have Deans alongside him. "I have no doubt he will make a considerable contribution to the success of the All Blacks over the next two years," Mitchell said.Deans would have responsibility for coaching the All Blacks' backline as well as co-ordinating the work of several specialists.Deans said he was excited by the challenge ahead. 3. Staff Slashed: Air New Zealand has consolidated its group structure and executive management team, reducing the number of its functional units and senior vice presidents from 12 to six. The continuing members of the executive have agreed to remuneration reductions averaging 15 per cent per cent. In a statement to the Stock Exchange, the Executive Director of Air New Zealand, Roger France, said it was inevitable that there would be fewer positions in the new structure. Andrew Miller has been appointed Senior Vice President - Strategy & Planning. He was the Air New Zealand - Ansett group's Senior Vice President - Sales & Marketing. Wayne Dodge continues as Vice President - Freedom Air. Norm Thompson has been appointed Senior Vice President - Sales & Distribution. He was the Air New Zealand - Ansett group's Vice President - Australian Sales and Distribution Paul Donovan, formerly Vice President - New Zealand and Southwest Pacific Sales and Distribution, has been appointed Vice President - Australia Sales And Distribution. Peter Elmsly continues as Vice President - Cargo. Brendan Fitzgerald has been appointed Senior Vice President - Customer Services. He was the Air New Zealand - Ansett group's senior vice president - worldwide airport services. Bill Jacobson has been appointed Senior Vice President - Operations & Technical. He was the Air New Zealand - Ansett group's engineering unit ANNZES. Carolyn Tremain has been appointed Senior Vice President - Human Resources and Organisation Change. She held the same position in the Air New Zealand - Ansett group. Adam Moroney continues as Chief Financial Officer until Christmas. Karen Waddell will remain as Vice President Group Finance until Christmas. Andrew David will also continue as Chief Information Officer. The company says it is continuing its search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Roger France will continue in the position until an appointment is made. John Blair continues as Company Secretary and General Counsel. David Beatson will also continue as Vice President - Group Public Affairs. 4. Reduced Risk: The South Pacific official cyclone season starts November 1 and ends April 30 2002. Island disaster committees are increasing awareness programs for residents to prevent major damage and loss of life in the event of a natural disaster. The small island state of Niue has recently had its disaster/ relief plans reviewed by a US group of specialists while in the Cook Islands there's an awareness program underway. The chances of cyclones in the region this season have diminished Dr Jim Salinger of the NZ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says the risk is own because the southern oscillation conditions are neutral and expected to be so until January 2002. An average of four cyclones can occur in the early part of the season - but that has ranged from none last year to 11 in 1997/98. 5. Missionary 6. Honoured: It's a public holiday on Niue today as the nation's churchgoers gather to celebrate Peniamina's Day. Peniamina was the first Niuean trained missionary. He was trained by the LMS in Samoa and returned to Niue in 1846 He is buried at Makefu in 1874. A national commemorative church service was held in Alofi. 7. Solomons Grounded: Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has suspended Solomon Airlines from flying into Australia, hitting services to Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Solomon Airlines flies a leased Boeing 737 from Honiara to Brisbane, Port Vila and Nadi using its own pilots and cabin crew. Radio Australia reports that a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Peter Gibson, said there are a range of safety problems with the airline, including inadequate staff training. Mr Gibson said the airline had also been carrying out flights without its approval. He said that at the moment, Solomon Airlines is suspended until at least the end of this month, at which time the airline's certificate to operate into Australia expires. Another regional airline, Air Nauru, had its Australian certification suspended earlier this year, also over standards. It was cleared to fly again after taking action to sort out the problems. (PINA Nius Online). __END__
