Neu: 2002-03-08 Contents of this issue:
1. Assistance Parcel 2. Sorry About That 3. Musical Chairs 4. It's OK 5. No Favourites 6. Backlog Cleared? 7. New Director 8. Personal Standards 9. Fading Image 10. Internet Growing 11. Doggone Problem 12. Too Big For Niue 13. Rugby Special ======================================================================== March 8th, 2002 1. Assistance Parcel: Niue's Premier Sani Lakatani heads off to Cape Town, South Africa next week to formalise a $EU5 million assistance package over the next five years. An initial payout of $EU2.6m in January 2003 will be spent on renewable energy projects such as wind power generation with 10% of the total set aside for developing the private sector. Now representing Niue at the European Union headquarters in Brussels is Todd McClay a NZ businessman who becomes the island's special envoy. Mr McClay, who is the son of NZ Commissioner for Children Roger McClay is accompanying the Premier to South Africa. Mr McClay has been visiting Niue this week meeting government officials, non- governmental agencies and Chamber of Commerce representatives. Niue is signing up with the EU for a 20 year assistance deal which will provide regular on going developmental aid. 2. Sorry About That: The Premier of Niue, Sani Lakatani failed to introduce promised legislation on March 7 to prevent further offshore banking within the Niue jurisdiction. He had advised the OECD that offshore banking laws would be repealed in a bid to get Niue off an international blacklist of moneylaundering countries. Sources in government say a bill to repeal offshore banking had not been written and the matter will now have to go before a new government following the general election in April. The introduction of the bill was on the Legislative Assembly order paper on March 7 with three readings under urgency. Two government officials are understood to be in Singapore discussing the island's removal from the OECD blacklist. 3. Musical Chairs: Niue's powerful public service commission that hires and fires government employees is heading for a shake-up. The current three commissioners' warrants of appointments cease on March 28 and there's speculation there'll be some major changes in personnel. The outgoing government faces the resignation of fulltime Commissioner Maiu Tiva Togatule who has been appointed director of education and the chairman of the commission Maru Talagi has confirmed to Niue News he'll be a seeking a common roll seat in the forthcoming election.Mr Talagi is director of the University of the South Pacific Niue centre and is a former president of the Niue Public Service Association. Remaining are long time commissioner Uhotau Pasisi (58) a member since 1993 and inspector Terry Chapman former secretary to the government and a former political advisor to the Premier. Cabinet is expected to announce a new Commission before March 31. the island's general election will be held on April 19 or 20. Meanwhile he director of tourism post remains vacant.Sources say no appointment will be made until an NZODA review of the national tourism office is released. The former director of tourism Rosaalofa Rex did not renew her contract and one of the office staff is acting director. 4. It's OK: Niue's Education Minister Young Vivian denies there are any problems with attendance or uniforms at the island's high school. His comments follow a public statement by the principal Takili Talagi last week that the academic year had got off to a bad start due to the lack of text books, uniforms, and a poor attendance of students. The Minister told the Legislative Assembly today that the principal's statement was incorrect. He said students were conforming to the school dress code but some students on odd occasions did not wear uniforms. "It happens all over the place, even in New Zealand," he said. 5. No Favourites: Claims of selective favouritism of tarsealing driveways to private residencies on Niue have been denied by the island's public works minister Dion Taufitu. He told the Legislative Assembly that heavy rain falling on driveways sloping toward the road in Alofi North was damaging the edges of roadsealing and government took action to prevent major costly damage. The Alofi North constituency voted out former Premier Frank Lui in 1999 and voted in Mrs Va'ainga Tukuitoga a former high school teacher. Mr Taufitu said there was no favouritism in which driveways were sealed and overall, the government was planning this year to upgrade the main road from Tamakautoga and Avatele then seal the stretch from Hakupu to Liku next year. He added that residents wanting their driveways sealed had to pay public works. 6. Backlog Cleared?: Long delays in mail delivery to Niue have been downplayed by the Minister for Telecommunications and Premier Sani Lakatani. The long term saga of backlogged air mail has led to many complaints to Niue Post by residents and businesses. Several months ago businesses on Niue complained independently to Royal Tongan Airlines and NZ Post about increasing delays of air mail, freight and courier packages to Niue. The cause was reported to be insufficient freight space on the RTA Short 360 aircraft serving Niue from Tonga twice weekly. But the Minister says the backlog has now been cleared following discussions with NZ Post and the airline. He said Niue Post had done its utmost to keep residents informed of delays. Some residents have complained of having to wait up to three or four weeks for delivery of an air mail letter from New Zealand. 7. New Director: The Education Department on Niue has a new head. She is Maiu Tiva Tongatule (52) the former full time Commissioner with the Niue Public Service Commission. The appointment was confirmed today by the NPSC chairman Maru Talagi. Mrs Tongatule is holds a Diploma in Education and Administration is a former intermediate school teacher and senior cirriculum officer. She was deputy director of education on Niue from 1989-1994 when she went into private business. Mrs Tongatule is also a former chairperson of the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue. Mrs Tongatule replaces Mr Halenekupa Magatogia who has been director since since 1997 Mr Magatogia a NZ trained teacher is reported to be on long service leave. The deputy director of education is Mrs Loseligi Siakimotu, wife of the former consul general in Auckland Atapana Siakimotu. She was appointed two months ago. 8. Personal Standards: Individuals who take up a public office should understand what the Pacific Islands Forum expects of how they will act while holding that office, says the Forum secretary-general Noel Levi. "The public generally expects leaders at any level to be fair and to use their influence impartially," he said in a leadup to a regional workshop on leadership codes to be held in Fiji March 11-12 "When we talk about leaders, we mean all levels of decision-making, including provincial civil servants, heads of ministries and government leaders. If we can give our leaders a clear understanding of our expectations, we can enhance their effectiveness," said Mr Levi. "Leadership codes can add another level of accountability and build on related efforts to encourage good governance," Mr Levi said. Mr Levi said that the Pacific Islands Forum leaders themselves had recognised that responsible leadership and good governance was essential to development in the region. Niue, which has a general election coming up in April does not have any local leadership code. 9. Fading Image: The image and stability of the Pacific zone is becoming a thing of the past, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Noel Levi said. Mr Levi, a former Papua New Guinea senior public servant and state minister, was addressing a one-day leaders' seminar in Port Moresby. The New Irelander, now based in Fiji, said: "Unless a real effort is made by regional governments to improve good governance, the image of the Pacific as a zone of peace and stability is fast becoming something of the past." He said there are rapid changes taking place. This is resulting in thousands of islanders struggling to make ends meet with increased poverty and disparities, while corruption and instability had become obvious. ( Papua New Guinea Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online). 10. Internet Growing: Niue's internet service provider Savage Island Technologies says there are over 300 users linked to e mail and the internet and 50% of those are located in government departments. The island's email and internet services come under the scrutiny of NZ District Court Judge David Ongley who heads of Commission of Inquiry which sits on Niue next week. More than a third of New Zealand households have access to the internet, according fresh census figures from Statistics New Zealand. Thirty-seven per cent of New Zealand homes had some sort of link to the net in 2001. But access was heavily dependent on income, location and ethnicity. Over half the households with a couple and children, and six out of 10 people who lived in Asian households, could lay their hands on the internet. But only one in four people in Maori families and one in five people in Pacific households had the internet at home or access to it. The gap also widened in lower-income households ($10,000-15,000) where only one in nine households had access to the web. There was also a gap between urban and rural users -- 40 per cent of households in urban areas were hooked up, but only 26 per cent of rural homes were. Auckland and Wellington had the highest rates of internet access with nearly nine out of 20 households, while Gisborne and West Coast households had the lowest rate of one in four. The telecommunications survey also showed just over one in four homes had access to a fax, and more than 96 per cent had a telephone, compared with 82 per cent in 1966. Only one in 25 households had no access to either the fax, phone or internet. That dropped to one in nine Maori households and one in eight Pacific homes. One in seven homes with an income of $10,000 or less did not have any telecommunications listed in the survey. (NZPA). 11. Doggone Problem: Dogs continue to be the curse of Niue. That's the opinion of Mutalau MP Bill Motufoou who says roaming dogs continue to annoy residents and visitors.Despite a police campaign to cull stray dogs roaming the 14 villages Mr Motufoou says people who are attacked by the animals should be able to shoot them and has suggested the police place a bounty on wild and stray dogs whether they are registered or not. Minister of Police Matua Rex admits dogs are a major problem but the onus is on their owners to keep them under control. He said Niue did not have an animal pound or dog kennels. Dog registration costs are $25 female $20 male with payment due by March 31. 12. Too Big For Niue: If an ageing heavy duty crane used to lift containers from barges wharfside at Niue breaks down the island will be unable to unload cargo ships. This would create a serious shortage of food and essential goods imported from New Zealand. A used mobile 29 tonne crane donated to Niue by the US government has been sent back to a military base in Pusan, South Korea because it was too large to offload at the isolated island. Its been confirmed by the Niue government that the crane, capable of lifting loads up to 25 tonnes, was sent back to a US military base after first being shipped to Tonga. Niue public works engineers sent to Tonga to dismantle the crane for trans-shipment to Niue were told the equipment could not be broken down because of complex hydraulic systems. Its understood the crane was badly damaged when it was dropped into the hold of a ship returning it to the US. However two Cherokee vehicles also donated by the US government are now being used by the Niue Police Department. Premier Sani Lakatani said he was "sad" that the mobile crane did not reach Niue because he had personally gone to a lot of trouble to get the vehicle donated. Concern has been expressed at the state of equipment being used by stevedores on the wharf during the unloading of ships cargo. The crane, two forklifts and a container carrier are reported to be in a bad state of repair. Replacing the vehicles will be costly and no allowance has been made in the current budget for replacements. 13. Rugby Special: England face a make-or-break 2003 Rugby World Cup encounter against South Africa in Perth, according to reports. England's group will be completed with a qualifier from Europe, Oceania and the Americas. Clive Woodward's squad will open their campaign against a European qualifier - either Italy, Ireland or two other pre-qualifiers - in Perth on 4 October. They will then play an Oceania qualifier - Fiji, Tonga or Samoa - in Sydney on 19 October and an American qualifier - Uruguay, Canada or United States - on 26 October in Brisbane. The South African newspaper, the Cape Argus has published a leaked copy of the World Cup draw. Sixth seeds England are grouped with South Africa, in one of four pools of five. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals. While England face the Springboks, Wales are grouped with New Zealand, Scotland face France and Australia face Argentina. Neither Ireland or Scotland were seeded and must therefore qualify for the tournament. Wales coach Steve Hansen must return to New Zealand It is the Perth clash with South Africa, however, that will go a long way to proving each sides' World Cup credentials. The winners of the match are likely to avoid New Zealand in the quarter-finals. The most likely opponents will, instead, be Wales - presuming New Zealand top Pool D and Wales finish as runners-up and that none of the qualifiers in that group upset all the calculations. The final draw will not be known until the end of the year when the final qualification places have been decided. Leaked RWC 2003 draw 3 October: Australia v Argentina (Sydney - Stadium Australia) Pool A 4 October: Africa 1 v Europe 4 (Gosford) Pool A; New Zealand v Europe 2 (Auckland)pool D; France v Oceania 1 (Wellington) Pool B; England v Europe 3 (Perth) Pool C 5 October: Wales v America 1 (New Plymouth) Pool D; Scotland v Asia 1 (Hamilton) Pool B; South Africa v Oceania 2 (Perth) Pool C 8 October: Oceania 1 v Repechage 1 (Invercargill) Pool B; Europe 2 v. Repechage 2 (Napier) Pool D; Europe 1 v Africa 1 (Gosford) Pool A 10 October: New Zealand v America 1 (Christchurch) Pool D; Oceania 2 v America 2 (Brisbane) Pool C 11 October: France v Asia 1 (Hamilton) Pool B; Australia v Europe 4 (Brisbane) Pool A; South Africa v England (Perth) Pool C 12 October: Scotland v Repechage 1 (New Plymouth) Pool B; Wales v Repechage 2 (Dunedin) Pool D 13 October: Argentina v Africa 1 (Brisbane) Pool A 14 October: Europe 3 v America 2 (Townsville) Pool C 15 October: Europe 2 v America 1 (New Plymouth) Pool D; Europe 1 v Europe 4 (Sydney) Pool A 16 October: Oceania 1 v Asia 1 (Auckland) Pool B 17 October: New Zealand v Repechage 2 (Dunedin) Pool D 18 October: Australia v Africa 1 (Adelaide) Pool A; France v Scotland (Christchurch) Pool B; South Africa v Europe 3 (Sydney) Pool C 19 October: Europe 2 v Wales (Wellington) Pool D; Argentina v Europe 1 (Adelaide) Pool A; England v Oceania 2 (Sydney) Pool C 21 October: Asia 1 v Repechage 1 (Invercargill, New Zealand) Pool B 22 October: America 1 v Repechage 2 (Napier) Pool D; South Africa v America 2 (Canberra) Pool C 24 October: Oceania 2 v Europe 3 (Brisbane) Pool C 25 October: Scotland v Oceania 1 (Hamilton) Pool B; New Zealand v Wales (Wellington) Pool D; Australia v Europe 1 (Melbourne) Pool A 26 October: Argentina v Europe 4 (Melbourne) Pool A; France v Repechage 1 (Dunedin) Pool B; England v America 2 (Brisbane) Pool C 1 November: QF 1 - Winner D v Runner-up C (Wellington); QF 2 - Winner A v Runner-up B (Brisbane) 2 November: QF 3 - Winner B v Runner-up A (Christchurch); QF 4 - Winner C v Runner-up D (Brisbane) 8 November: SF1 - Winner QF1 v Winner QF3 (Auckland); SF2 - Winner QF2 v Winner QF 4 (Sydney) 15 November: Final (Sydney - Stadium Australia) - (BBC World News) __END__
