Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ _______________________________________________ > August 20, 2004 > Bold Suggestions: The Niue Government has been presented > with nine options of bold suggestions for the redevelopment > of Aliluki, the area of Alofi south flattened during > January's hurricane force winds and mountainous seas that > swept up and over the 30 metre high coastal cliffs killing > a young mother and eventually her baby.With advice from a > group of town planners based at the Manuaku City Council in > South Auckland diverse alternative plans for construction > of a new Niue including the re-location of Alofi south and > Alofi north have been tabled. In a package which explores > the pros and cons of each option are suggestions for > landscaping Aliluki and turning it into a park with walks > and bicycle tracks, constructing a nine-hole golf course > between the road and the cliff and rebuilding the one time > government settlement, affectionately known as the Golden > Mile, on the eastern landward side of the main road.In a > far reaching development option there have been suggestions > of a master plan based around relocating government > facilities to both Paliati and Fonuakula or combining > residential and government activities on the upper terrace > at Fonuakula safe from future carnage caused by the > ocean.The Paliati/Fonuakula options for the main village > effectively start in train discussions on establishing a > new township with clusters of properties linking commercial > and private properties with government facilities. The > principle behind the re-location is to preserve the > identities of Alofi North and Alofi South and move > residents and businesses out of the danger zone where > future cyclones could repeat the havoc caused by Heta. The > report outlines the concept of a village at Paliati using > the Niue High School as a focal point and establishing a > new Fale Fono incorporating shared government facilities > such as the judicary, legislative and executive; a museum/ > cultural centre, a library, a community hall, a village > green, sports fields, churches, shops and other commercial > operations.The report said it would be an opportunity to > introduce elements of the Niuean culture into new buildings > and community facilities. It would be necessary to have new > roads to link airport activities, a proposed residential > development and the planned industrial park, said the > report. It would be relatively cheap because the > infrastructure - power, water and telephone cables -are > already in place. It has been announced that the new 12 bed > cottage hospital will be constructed at Kaimiti within easy > distance of the Paliati / Fonuakula option for > development.The importance of a master plan for > re-development appeals to the advisory group, it stated > that donor aid would be more sympathetic to assisting with > a master plan that includes the development of zones around > the island and a basic set of rules governing what > activities should happen in certain locations. Highlighted > in the report is the need for access to land for > development. The advisory group recommended that any > decisions on village re-location should be determined > following the completion of a SOPAC report on the > restrictions of rebuilding in danger zones which could face > destruction in future cyclones. > > Dismissal Inevitable?: The future political career of > former Premier Sani Lakatani is in the spotlight. The > Speaker of the House Atapana Siakimotu said in response to > a question from MP Terry Coe about the absentee assemblyman > that he will be writing to Mr Lakatani to advise him of his > status in the Assembly. The rules for MP's attendances are > outlined in the Standing Orders. Mr Lakatani has not > attended an Assembly meeting in 19 months and is resident > in New Zealand. Initially leave of absence on full pay was > granted to Mr Lakatani to care for his sick wife who is in > Auckland. But the Speaker said the former Premier had not > communicated with his office for a long time. It is > unlikely the government will call a by-election if the > member is dismissed from the Assembly because of the costs > involved. The 10th general election is scheduled for March > 2005. Mr Lakatani a former Minister of Finance was founder > of the island's first organised political group, the Niue > Peoples Party, and is one of six common roll members. > * If serving uga was banned on Niue would it effect the > tourist industry? In Vanuatu, hotel operators say an > imposed ban on the killing of coconut crabs will have > little effect on the visitor industry. "The demand for > coconut crabs to Hotel Santo is not that high; therefore it > should not affect the tourism," said Hotel Santo owner Mary > Jane.Jane confirmed that it has been almost a year since it > stopped serving coconut crabs and it has not been a major > issue to tourists or customers to the hotel as most are > very understanding.She further supported the ban saying it > is a good thing that coconut crabs are being protected from > extinction.She stressed that it is a good thing for the > environment as well as the community at large.Bokissa > Island Resort, which is also a main tourist destination in > Santo, has thrown out the speculation that the ban will > affect the Tourism Industry.According to Bokissa Island > Resort Manager, Jane Court, the resort saw the importance > of coconut crabs and has been looking after them before the > ban was enforced. > > * Repairs to the damaged steel derrick on Sir Robert's > Wharf at Alofi is estimated to cost $NZ40,000. Part of the > costs will be met by the Cyclone Heta fund while a donation > from Germany will meet the balance.The derrick is used to > launch local fishermens aluminium boats. > > * Tourism is facing a long haul back into the marketplace > with a lot of captial required to repair seatracks and > scenic sites. Assistance is being provided for Niue Dive > and Namukulu Motels to get back into business with new > premises. Government officials say there are plans to > support the construction of 10 new units on the island. The > industry lost 32 rooms when the privately leased Hotel Niue > was destroyed during Cyclone Heta. > > * Considering a holiday on Niue or visiting friends and > relatives? Current temperature on island is 26C with lowest > at 18C sunrise is at 06.30 with sunset 1815. Whales > spouting several metres offshore and there's fresh bread in > the shops and organic veges at the market. > > * Its often touch and go with LPG supplies on Niue which > are dependent on shipping schedules. But the island's not > alone with that problem. Cook Islands residents have been > told to go easy on the cooking gas, with the tanker > bringing in fuel not scheduled to arrive in Rarotonga until > this week.Tamatoa Tinirau of Origin Energy, the country's > distributor, says the boat was originally expected last > Thursday, but will now arrive late from Tahiti. Tinirau > adds he is unsure why the 'Hervey' has been delayed. > Because of the delay, the refilling of cooking gas bottles > at Avatiu wharf is presently being rationed. Upon returning > empty bottles, customers have been restricted to up to $20 > (US$13) worth of gas. > > *Discussion are underway to bring a top team of biologists > and enviromental regional specialists to make a survey of > birds and bats on the island. This follows a call for help > from Niue government officials at a recent enviroment > meeting in Fiji when cyclone damage and its effects on > flora and fauna was raised. > > *Meanwhile several veterinary surgeons are planning to > visit Niue to perform de-sexing operations on cats and > dogs. > > * A committee reviewing the future of the University of the > South Pacific has been asked to give small island countries > as Niue and the Cook Islands fair recognition and > consideration.Professor Ron Crocombe told visiting > committee members that it seemed theUSP was not really a > regional university since only a few countries were > benefiting.He urged visiting committee members, Samoa's > education minster, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and USP registrar > Walter Fraser at a meeting last week, to take into account > and not ignore concerns of smaller island states.The review > team had visited Niue before going to the Cook Islands. > > *The Auckland based company Cedar Homes plans to start > constructing new homes on Niue for those who have opted to > rent to buy.The former residents in government-owned > Aliluki flats are paying up to $120,000 for a new home - > seven of them are being built at Huihui on government land. > > Match Date: Niue's international rugby XV plays the Cook > Islands in Rarotonga August 28.Coach Ricky Tagelagi said he > has been to Niue to discuss the team's selection and it > seems about 13 locals will be joined by several New Zealand > based senior Niuean rugby players in their bid to win the > first of the eastern zone IRB Oceania tests. The players > from Niue will travel to New Zealand next week for practice > runs in Auckland before heading off to Rarotonga. > > Chasing Mayoralty: A former manager of the Niue Development > Board's food factory at Fonuakula Dick Hubbard (57) is > running for Mayor of Auckland City. The Auckland based > cereal king wants to bring to the mayoralty the strong > sense of values and culture on which he had built his > multimillion-dollar cereal company.The food technologist, > who founded the Business for Social Responsibility group to > promote ethical practices, worked on Niue in the 1970's and > has holidayed on the island several times in the past few > years.He is among the inner circle of Prime Minister Helen > Clark's business confidantes and has given $1 million to > Outward Bound over the past 10 years. > > The Latest: In a nutshell catch the independent Niue News. > Formatted to be easily read by people on the go.All the > news you need to know to keep you in touch with the new > Niue. Enjoy.
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