Neu: 2002-03-25
Contents of this issue:
1. Paper Folds
2. New Medical School
3. Stunted Growth
4. PSA Support
5. Performers Return
6. Annual Races
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March 25th, 2002
1. Paper Folds:
Increased printing and distribution costs have caused the Pasifika Times
newspaper to cease publishing. The Pasifika Times was circulated in
Niue, Tonga and Auckland. The newspaper editor Peter Moala says the
Auckland-based publishing group will continue to publish the Taimi'O
Tonga the Cook Island Star and the Samoa Independent newspapers. Niue
will continue to be served by the locally printed Niue Star which is
circulated fortnightly. Its owner is Michael Jackson a former associate
minister in the Niue Peoples Party government. Over the years, the Niue
Star has received financial support from UNESCO and the NZ High
Commission. Publishers of the Niue Economic Review who joined forces
with Pasifika Times two years ago say the NER will not be revived but
will continue to support the popular daily Niue News On Line.
2. New Medical School:
About 200 people turned up to mark the opening of the Oceania University
of Medicine (Samoa),including the principal investor and chairperson,
American businesswoman Taffy Gould. Mrs Gould pledged to the Samoan
government the investors' commitment to providing an "institution of
high standard and integrity."
Mrs Gould also announced that the school would set up a foundation to
reward doctors or health personnel with innovative ideas that would
improve health care in Samoa.
The launch of the school, which targets international students, follows
the failure of a similar but unconnected medical school venture in
neighbouring Niue. The Lord Liverpool school of medicine which was
housed in the Niue Hotel was backed by US investors but was shutdown by
the Niue Government who transferred the management to university staff
members.The government stoped the investors from visiting Niue to audit
the accounts and discuss the problems with government officials.
The university was closed down in 2001 when the project became
insolvent. Samoa's Minister of Health Mulitalo Siafausa Vui called the
Samoa school a "milestone not only in medical training but in tertiary
education in the country". Oceania University of Medicine says it will
make extensive use of the Internet in delivering programmes.
The Dean is Dr Ian Williams with local practitioner Leali'ifano Dr Iopu
Tanielu as a Professor of Medicine. Seven overseas students have already
enrolled, with the basic annual student fee $A27,000, the school said.
(Various/PINA Nius Online).
3. Stunted Growth:
The Cook Islands tourist industry is losing business to Fiji because of
a lack of airline service, according to Rarotonga Beach Resort General
Manager Tata Crocombe. A heavy fall in visitor numbers last month can be
attributed directly to a reduction in flights to Rarotonga following the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, he said.
Visitor numbers to the Cook Islands this year have been falling
steadily. The government announced a massive drop of 23.5 percent in
February compared to the same month last year. Mr. Crocombe said visitor
numbers to the Cook Islands are falling in direct proportion to the
increase in visitors to Fiji, where several international airlines
service Nadi International Airport. Meanwhile Niue's tourist industry
languishes with properties reporting slow bookings for the upcoming May-
September season. The country has excess beds and several smaller
accommodation units lie
idle. Royal Tongan Airlines continues to run two services from
Nuku'alofa to Niue return weekly with a maximum of 25 passengers.
But tourism industry officials say that only copes with residents
and local government business.The national tourism office remains
without a permanent director until an NZODA review of the office
has been completed. (Various/ Radio Australia).
1. PSA Support:
The Cabinet has expressed support for the Niue Public Service
Association which represents about 450 government employees on the
island.The association was dormant for several years but was revived
after a teachers strike in 2000 when 10 Niue High School staff protested
over a pay claim which was rejected by the government.The teachers had
no association representation and were unable to pay for qualified legal
advice. Cabinet has called for closer ties with the psa membership which
is necessary for revitalisation of the association in a democracy. The
Cabinet, which is now the caretaker administration until the April 20
general election, has pledged its support for on going dialogue between
the government, the public service commission and the association.
2. Performers Return:
Niue High School cultural performers in NZ for the Auckland Pasifika
secondary schools festival are back home. The cultural team took part in
the opening and closing festival ceremonies.Staff and students said they
enjoyed participating in the festival and visited several secondary
schools and performed at two concerts in the city.
3. Annual Races:
Budding athletes at the Niue High School will demonstrate their talents
at the annual sports day next week. The main events will be track and
field with a decathlon and heptathalon.
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