Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 9 guests online > Niue Premier Young Vivian has accepted a surprise $25,000 > cheque for cyclone relief work from the Maori Queen, Dame Te > Atairangikaahu, on behalf of the Tainui people. > > Mr Vivian, accompanied by Hima Takelesi, Niue's high > commissioner to New Zealand, attended a function at Pukekohe's > Tauranganui Marae on Sunday unaware of the pending > presentation. > > The cheque has not the only delightful surprise for the > premier. > > "We had a sumptuous feast," he said. "There was whitebait > galore.and muttonbirds. They'd had a good run that morning. > The gods were with them." > > Mr Vivian said he would to dedicate the Tainui funds to some > special project, possibly associated with Niue's new hospital, > something damaged by the cyclone. > [date.gif] Monday, 13 September 2004 > NIUE'S FUTURE - NEW DEAL WITH NZ? > Prime Minister Helen Clark is expected to visit Niue next > month to help cement relationships between New Zealand and the > struggling island nation. > > She is likely to be accompanied on an Air Force 757 aircraft > by up to 70 New Zealand-based Niueans invited to witness how > their homeland is coping in the aftermath of January's > devastating Cyclone Heta. > > Her mooted Labour Weekend visit, Helen Clark's first as prime > minister to the tiny, isolated island, would coincide with > celebrations marking Niue's 30 years of self government in > free association with New Zealand. > > As well as signing a memorandum of understanding [MOU] with > Niue leaders about the island's future, the Prime Minister is > expected to deliver a keynote address to a 'Taoga Niue', a > gathering of resident Niueans and their New Zealand kinfolk, > reports Pacific Affairs corespondent John Andrews. > > Helen Clark's anticipated venture to the home of about 1300 > people follows her receipt of a letter from Niue Premier Young > Vivian in which he outlined his concerns for Niue's future, > its language and culture. > > When the two leaders met at the Pacific Islands Forum summit > in Samoa last month, Mr Vivian followed up by inviting his New > Zealand counterpart to visit, a move he suggested was a grand > opportunity to rekindle Niue's spirit. > > One well-placed source said there had been some friction > between Niuean families in both countries over issues such as > land, population, development and how the island can progress. > > Representatives of both groups at a 'Taoga Niue' can canvas > ideas for the island's wellbeing. > > Mr Vivian said: "The thing that is new is Taoga Niue. For the > first time we are tackling the problem of who we are and > giving it our heart and soul. > > "This is the big one. I have a passionate feeling for this. > Cyclone Heta has been the inspiration. There must be something > in culture that wakes people up. > > "I think this is the first genuine effort by anybody to get > our people back." > > Speaking in Auckland yesterday, Mr Vivian said he hoped Marian > Hobbs, the Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jim > Anderton, Minister for Economic Development, would visit Niue > in the next few weeks to clarify wording for the proposed MOU. > > There had been some misunderstanding in the past about two > clauses in Niue's Constitution regarding administrative and > financial aspects. > > "I think there has been slowness in the kinds of things we > want to happen for economic development and assistance," said > Mr Vivian. > > He also believes it significant that those people alive in > 1974, some of whom are now employed in government in both > countries, are taking over responsibility for working out > resulting problems. > > "There is a need for them to educate themselves in the > Constitution," he said. "I am interested in the comments at > the time when the Niue Act was presented. How did they > [politicians] perceive the future of Niue?" > > Mr Vivian considers the Constitution was one of the most > enlightened documents for decolonisation. > > "The UN agreed because of those assurances given by New > Zealand that it was a process of decolonisation," he said. > "The Constitution was one of the most noble documents that > ever came out. > > "It has been copied by others like the Marshall Islands, > American colonies up north. > > "I think one of the things you have to understand is that your > Prime Minister and your government is bending over backward to > help Niue" said the Niue premier. > > "We are very fortunate that we have such a government in New > Zealand at this time." > > Hima Takelesi, Niue's high commissioner to New Zealand, said a > cross section from the Niuean population in New Zealand would > be invited to accompany Helen Clark. > > They would be expected to stay with family and friends while > on the island, not in the Matavai, Niue's only resort hotel. > > A spokesman in Helen Clark's office indicated yesterday that > any announcement about the Prime Minister's proposed visit > would be made once finalised plans were in place. > > It is understood Helen Clark told her mainly Niuean audience > at a fund raising dinner in Auckland on Saturday night that > she had accepted Premier Vivian's invitation to visit Niue. > Last Updated ( Monday, 13 September 2004 ) > 530 Visitors
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