Neu: 2001-12-18 Contents of this issue:
1. Pacific On Air 2. Niue On The Bench 3. Cable Faults 4. Commission Sits ======================================================================== December 18th, 2001 1. Pacific On Air: The New Zealand Government says it will inject nearly $NZ8 million into a pilot Pacific radio network. The FM network has been allocated $1.5 million for set-up costs this year and another $6.2 will be spread out over the next four years. The station will reach around 85 per cent of the country with studios in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Broadcasting Minister Marian Hobbs says it will provide a vehicle for local programs to be broadcast nationally and will help communities keep in touch with one another. The Niuean communities in New Zealand are expected to support the station which will compete with Auckland's 51PI FM station formerly headed by Niue politician Hunukitama Hunuki. 2. Niue On The Bench: The Niue Rugby Union president Toke Talagi says the International RugbyBoard has confirmed that a Niue sevens team will be the first replacement if any country withdraws from a World Series to be staged in Wellington in February 2002. Niue played its first international sevens game with distinction in Wellington earlier this year after a team from France withdrew. An international team is already under training and the union is hopeful that they'll get another run in February. 3. Cable Faults: The Niue Power corporation is still experiencing trouble with its ageing underground cables. More work was required on the coastal road cable between Lakepa and Liku leaving most of the northern part of the island without power for five hours. 4. Commission Sits: The Commission of Inquiry into the e mail and internet services on Niue will sit from January 21. A number of people on the island were yesterday served with summons to attend the inquiry. The commission is headed by NZ Judge David Ongley. But NZ is "remaining at arms length" over the commission. It has refused to pay for the inquiry despite a request from the Niue government. NZ's country code top level domain dot nz is managed by the NZ Internet Society of NZ and its marketing arm is Domainz Ltd. The NZ Government supports ISOCNZ and has an official of the Commerce Department working closely with the non profit organisation. __END__
