Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ _______________________________________________ > > [newsban.gif] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Pacific Island Report > Top News > Radio New Zealand > Niue Island Updates > > Niue Weather Conditions > > [bewsline.gif] > > [ad_left.gif] [ad_right.gif] > www. ______________ Go! > > [bewsline.gif] > > Weekly Niue News > > [bewsline.gif] > > June 11, 2004 > Price Hike: Motorists on Niue have been dealt a severe blow > this week. Petrol and diesel now both retail at $NZ2.00 a > litre - one of the highest consumer fuel prices in the > South Pacific.The increase was announced by the Minister of > Finance Toke Talagi. The 50 cent increase has been > attributed to shipping costs following the damage caused to > the island's government bulk fuel tanks at the Alofi Sir > Robert's Wharf. Fuel is now shipped into Niue on the cargo > vessel which calls every four weeks. Small tanktainers are > emptied into the island's only petrol station underground > tanks at Pao, Alofi. Diesel is used to fuel the generators > at the Niue Power Corporation and the public works > department is a big purchaser for use of the fuel in its > heavy plant and trucks. A new depot is being constructed at > Tuila to store petrol and diesel in three large tanks. > Recent shortages have led to rationing and pleas to > conserve power. The Niue government subsidizes power by > around 35 cents a unit but there has been no indication > that increased generation costs will be passed on to > consumers. Opposition MP Terry Coe said the fuel price > hikes were inevitable because of freight costs. Previously > a Shell Company inter-island tanker from Fiji unloaded at > Niue but the smaller tanktainers used currently are > expensive to lease. He said nearly every household on the > island has two or three imported Japanese vehicles and the > increase will have a detrimental effect on family budgets. > Mr Coe said it could be time for people to think about > greater use of small economic motorcycles. Overall the cost > of food, vegetables freezer goods and building materials > have risen since the cyclone and the consumer price index > is expected to rise markedly in the next quarter. > > Relaunching Niue: A small group of travel agents from > Australia and New Zealand visited Niue last weekend to > check out facilities before a proposed product launch in > both countries. The island was devastated last January with > the 32 room Hotel Niue and the adjacent Waimanu Guesthouse > being demolished. Namukulu Motel lost two of its three > units, the restaurant and bar at Coral Gardens Motel was > damaged and the Niue Dive shop at Tufukia was destroyed. > The island's flagship resort Matavai was spared any damage > and is fully operational. According to the Niue Tourism > Office there are 33 rooms available for visitors. Some > sea-tracks to Niue's scenic spots, caves and reef pools > were also badly damaged and are still under repair. Niue > Tourism Office Australian marketing representative Richard > Skewes claimed this week that tourist services were now > back to normal and wholesalers were offering excellent > recovery packages for the adventurous travelers. Niue has a > population of just 1300 and Mr Skews told TravelBiz that > last year about 500 Australian visitors holidayed on the > island adding that the future is looking bright, with > Polynesian Airlines now allowing stand-alone or combined > holidays with Samoa. Polynesian diverts its Samoa flights > through Niue each Saturday out of Auckland and from Apia to > Auckland every Monday. > > Monopolies Criticized: A senior academic says Pacific > island governments - including Niue - are locking their > countries away from the benefits available from low cost > telecommunications. Professor Ron Duncan of the University > of the South Pacific said they do this by monopolization of > telecommunications services. Writing in the Fiji Times > newspaper, Professor Duncan says Pacific island countries > blame geographical isolation from major markets for their > poor economic growth and poverty reduction performance. > But, he said, the very low cost telecommunications now > available throughout the rest of the world offers Pacific > countries the chance to overcome this and increase their > peoples' welfare much faster. Professor Duncan says by > agreeing to high cost, monopoly telecommunications > services, Pacific governments are marginalising themselves > and their countries will lose job opportunities and income > growth. He says low-cost telecommunications in rural areas > offers people the chance to generate incomes, educate their > children, develop new skills and stop urban drift. But he > said Pacific governments are depriving their people of > those benefits. > > Keeping Track: Niue is likely to require foreign fishing > vessels working in its EEZ to fit automatic locator > beacons. A greater number of fishing boats will be around > Niue when the Niue Fish Processing factory opens in August. > All long line vessels operating out of the Cook Islands are > being told to fit ALC's which relay the boats positions to > the Forum Fisheries Agency. Head of the Cook Islands > Ministry of Marine Resources Ian Bertram said the beacons > were an inexpensive way to monitor who is fishing in the > country's huge EEZ. > > Briefly: > > *It seems the massive pile of car bodies, fridges, buses, > trucks and corrugated iron will remain an eyesore at > Aliluki for some time. The cyclone debris was to be shipped > to India on a vessel destined for the scrapheap but the > deal fell through. Health officials are concerned the pile > will become a breeding ground for vermin. > > * Planting at Niue's nonu orchard at the 130 hectre Vaiea > farm is underway. The Reef Shipping Company venture is > programmed to be completed in July and harvesting to take > place within the next two years. The former international > quarantine station for alpacas has a large house and barn > on the property and an additional house has been > constructed for staff at the orchard. > > * A New Zealand operator has started domestic air services > in neighbouring Tonga, filling the void left by the demise > of the Kingdom's flag carrier Royal Airlines.. The > Secretary of Civil Aviation in Tonga, Ahovaleamoemapa > Faletau, says Pion Air has joined forces with a Tongan > agent to form an operation called Air Waves of Vava'u. Mr > Faletau says the operator started servicesthis week with > flights to the Ha'apai island group. > > * Case studies on institutional reform presented to Pacific > Forum economic ministers show there is merit in the change. > Auckland University development studies professor Alan > Jackson and Tongan graduate student Ofa Ketu'u presented > the case studies in a briefing paper to the ministers in > Rotorua New Zealand this week. Professor Jackson says the > call for competition and tight budgets is to be encouraged > but the reforms cannot become an end in themselves. He says > there's a need to balance the modern with the traditional > and to get the widest buy-in. Professor Jackson says the > call for land reform, so that it can be used to obtain > loans through the banking system, is the wrong solution to > that problem. > > *Niue's genealogical history records are now being stored > in the Auckland City Council library. The records, > originally compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of the > Latter Day Saints, consist of 24 rolls of 35mm microfilm > which span 94 years of the island's history. The records > can be used for land titling hearings. The films were > handed over by Spencer J.Condie of the LDS church and > acknowledged by the Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs CEO > Fuimaono Les McCarthy, on behalf of the Niue and New > Zealand Governments. They will be available to the Niuean > community and the public. The records are an integral part > of Niue's history and the gift is "another example of the > positive way in which people from around the world are > helping Niue people following the devastation caused by > Cyclone Heta," said Mr McCarthy. > > * With new legislation setting up a Niue Trust Fund in > place the government has pledged a $50,000 contribution > this year along with $NZ5million from New Zealand. > > *Greenpeace representatives have signed an MOU with the > Niue Island Organic Farming Association. The memorandum of > understanding calls for closer dialogue between the two > non-government organisation and a commitment to > facilitating a sustainable and renewable energy development > for the island. > > * The Samoa Cabinet has approved the allocation of funds > amounting to $ST $730,000 for Government's preparations to > host this year's Pacific Islands Forum, to be held in Apia, > from August 3-10. The Forum was to be held in Niue but > Cyclone Heta put paid to that. Sixteen member countries > will be participating in this Forum, including Australia > and New Zealand and Niue as well as two countries with > observer status. A total of 200-250 participants are > expected to attend. > > *The final round of mass treatment for micro-filarisis or > elephantitis gots underway this week. All residents are > given an average of 14 pills to take in a bid to wipe out > the virus spread by mosquito. Niue is one of the first > states in the South Pacific to complete the mass treatment. > It has been a relatively simple operation because of the > island's small population (1300) which lives in 14 > villages. > > Poly Backing: The Samoan government has announced it will > bail out Polynesian Airlines to the tune of $ST9 million ( > $AUD4.5 million) during 2004. The airline has a five year > contract to service Niue under a deal brokered by New > Zealand. The announcement was included in the Samoa > government budget when the Minister of Finance Misa > Telefoni acknowledged Polynesian had been making losses for > three years but he added, in the past 12 months significant > cost savings had been achieved and core revenues are > showing healthy increases. Mr Telefoni was confident the > airline would return to profitability within the next two > years. > > [bewsline.gif] > > [EMBED] > [EMBED] > > [EMBED] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with questions or comments about > this web site. > Copyright © 2002 Company Administrative Services > > [newsban.gif] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Pacific Island Report > Top News > Radio New Zealand > Niue Island Updates > > Niue Weather Conditions > > [bewsline.gif] > > [ad_left.gif] [ad_right.gif] > www. ______________ Go! > > [bewsline.gif] > > Weekly Niue News > > [bewsline.gif] > > June 11, 2004 > Price Hike: Motorists on Niue have been dealt a severe blow > this week. Petrol and diesel now both retail at $NZ2.00 a > litre - one of the highest consumer fuel prices in the > South Pacific.The increase was announced by the Minister of > Finance Toke Talagi. The 50 cent increase has been > attributed to shipping costs following the damage caused to > the island's government bulk fuel tanks at the Alofi Sir > Robert's Wharf. Fuel is now shipped into Niue on the cargo > vessel which calls every four weeks. Small tanktainers are > emptied into the island's only petrol station underground > tanks at Pao, Alofi. Diesel is used to fuel the generators > at the Niue Power Corporation and the public works > department is a big purchaser for use of the fuel in its > heavy plant and trucks. A new depot is being constructed at > Tuila to store petrol and diesel in three large tanks. > Recent shortages have led to rationing and pleas to > conserve power. The Niue government subsidizes power by > around 35 cents a unit but there has been no indication > that increased generation costs will be passed on to > consumers. Opposition MP Terry Coe said the fuel price > hikes were inevitable because of freight costs. Previously > a Shell Company inter-island tanker from Fiji unloaded at > Niue but the smaller tanktainers used currently are > expensive to lease. He said nearly every household on the > island has two or three imported Japanese vehicles and the > increase will have a detrimental effect on family budgets. > Mr Coe said it could be time for people to think about > greater use of small economic motorcycles. Overall the cost > of food, vegetables freezer goods and building materials > have risen since the cyclone and the consumer price index > is expected to rise markedly in the next quarter. > > Relaunching Niue: A small group of travel agents from > Australia and New Zealand visited Niue last weekend to > check out facilities before a proposed product launch in > both countries. The island was devastated last January with > the 32 room Hotel Niue and the adjacent Waimanu Guesthouse > being demolished. Namukulu Motel lost two of its three > units, the restaurant and bar at Coral Gardens Motel was > damaged and the Niue Dive shop at Tufukia was destroyed. > The island's flagship resort Matavai was spared any damage > and is fully operational. According to the Niue Tourism > Office there are 33 rooms available for visitors. Some > sea-tracks to Niue's scenic spots, caves and reef pools > were also badly damaged and are still under repair. Niue > Tourism Office Australian marketing representative Richard > Skewes claimed this week that tourist services were now > back to normal and wholesalers were offering excellent > recovery packages for the adventurous travelers. Niue has a > population of just 1300 and Mr Skews told TravelBiz that > last year about 500 Australian visitors holidayed on the > island adding that the future is looking bright, with > Polynesian Airlines now allowing stand-alone or combined > holidays with Samoa. Polynesian diverts its Samoa flights > through Niue each Saturday out of Auckland and from Apia to > Auckland every Monday. > > Monopolies Criticized: A senior academic says Pacific > island governments - including Niue - are locking their > countries away from the benefits available from low cost > telecommunications. Professor Ron Duncan of the University > of the South Pacific said they do this by monopolization of > telecommunications services. Writing in the Fiji Times > newspaper, Professor Duncan says Pacific island countries > blame geographical isolation from major markets for their > poor economic growth and poverty reduction performance. > But, he said, the very low cost telecommunications now > available throughout the rest of the world offers Pacific > countries the chance to overcome this and increase their > peoples' welfare much faster. Professor Duncan says by > agreeing to high cost, monopoly telecommunications > services, Pacific governments are marginalising themselves > and their countries will lose job opportunities and income > growth. He says low-cost telecommunications in rural areas > offers people the chance to generate incomes, educate their > children, develop new skills and stop urban drift. But he > said Pacific governments are depriving their people of > those benefits. > > Keeping Track: Niue is likely to require foreign fishing > vessels working in its EEZ to fit automatic locator > beacons. A greater number of fishing boats will be around > Niue when the Niue Fish Processing factory opens in August. > All long line vessels operating out of the Cook Islands are > being told to fit ALC's which relay the boats positions to > the Forum Fisheries Agency. Head of the Cook Islands > Ministry of Marine Resources Ian Bertram said the beacons > were an inexpensive way to monitor who is fishing in the > country's huge EEZ. > > Briefly: > > *It seems the massive pile of car bodies, fridges, buses, > trucks and corrugated iron will remain an eyesore at > Aliluki for some time. The cyclone debris was to be shipped > to India on a vessel destined for the scrapheap but the > deal fell through. Health officials are concerned the pile > will become a breeding ground for vermin. > > * Planting at Niue's nonu orchard at the 130 hectre Vaiea > farm is underway. The Reef Shipping Company venture is > programmed to be completed in July and harvesting to take > place within the next two years. The former international > quarantine station for alpacas has a large house and barn > on the property and an additional house has been > constructed for staff at the orchard. > > * A New Zealand operator has started domestic air services > in neighbouring Tonga, filling the void left by the demise > of the Kingdom's flag carrier Royal Airlines.. The > Secretary of Civil Aviation in Tonga, Ahovaleamoemapa > Faletau, says Pion Air has joined forces with a Tongan > agent to form an operation called Air Waves of Vava'u. Mr > Faletau says the operator started servicesthis week with > flights to the Ha'apai island group. > > * Case studies on institutional reform presented to Pacific > Forum economic ministers show there is merit in the change. > Auckland University development studies professor Alan > Jackson and Tongan graduate student Ofa Ketu'u presented > the case studies in a briefing paper to the ministers in > Rotorua New Zealand this week. Professor Jackson says the > call for competition and tight budgets is to be encouraged > but the reforms cannot become an end in themselves. He says > there's a need to balance the modern with the traditional > and to get the widest buy-in. Professor Jackson says the > call for land reform, so that it can be used to obtain > loans through the banking system, is the wrong solution to > that problem. > > *Niue's genealogical history records are now being stored > in the Auckland City Council library. The records, > originally compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of the > Latter Day Saints, consist of 24 rolls of 35mm microfilm > which span 94 years of the island's history. The records > can be used for land titling hearings. The films were > handed over by Spencer J.Condie of the LDS church and > acknowledged by the Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs CEO > Fuimaono Les McCarthy, on behalf of the Niue and New > Zealand Governments. They will be available to the Niuean > community and the public. The records are an integral part > of Niue's history and the gift is "another example of the > positive way in which people from around the world are > helping Niue people following the devastation caused by > Cyclone Heta," said Mr McCarthy. > > * With new legislation setting up a Niue Trust Fund in > place the government has pledged a $50,000 contribution > this year along with $NZ5million from New Zealand. > > *Greenpeace representatives have signed an MOU with the > Niue Island Organic Farming Association. The memorandum of > understanding calls for closer dialogue between the two > non-government organisation and a commitment to > facilitating a sustainable and renewable energy development > for the island. > > * The Samoa Cabinet has approved the allocation of funds > amounting to $ST $730,000 for Government's preparations to > host this year's Pacific Islands Forum, to be held in Apia, > from August 3-10. The Forum was to be held in Niue but > Cyclone Heta put paid to that. Sixteen member countries > will be participating in this Forum, including Australia > and New Zealand and Niue as well as two countries with > observer status. A total of 200-250 participants are > expected to attend. > > *The final round of mass treatment for micro-filarisis or > elephantitis gots underway this week. All residents are > given an average of 14 pills to take in a bid to wipe out > the virus spread by mosquito. Niue is one of the first > states in the South Pacific to complete the mass treatment. > It has been a relatively simple operation because of the > island's small population (1300) which lives in 14 > villages. > > Poly Backing: The Samoan government has announced it will > bail out Polynesian Airlines to the tune of $ST9 million ( > $AUD4.5 million) during 2004. The airline has a five year > contract to service Niue under a deal brokered by New > Zealand. The announcement was included in the Samoa > government budget when the Minister of Finance Misa > Telefoni acknowledged Polynesian had been making losses for > three years but he added, in the past 12 months significant > cost savings had been achieved and core revenues are > showing healthy increases. Mr Telefoni was confident the > airline would return to profitability within the next two > years. > > [bewsline.gif] > > [EMBED] > [EMBED] > > [EMBED] > > [bewsline.gif] > > Send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with questions or comments about > this web site. > Copyright © 2002 Company Administrative Services
_______________________________________________ weekly-niue-news mailing list http://greta.electric.gen.nz/mailman/listinfo/weekly-niue-news Powered by BAF Technologies Ltd (http://www.bafonline.net.nz/) Read the Weekly Niue News online at http://www.niuenews.nu/
