Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 5 guests online > RETURNING TO RETAIN NIUES GOVERNING STATUS > Niue's High Commissioner in New Zealand is returning home to > stand for parliament in the March elections. Hima Takelesi > says he wants to help ensure the island doesn't end up being > incorporated into New Zealand, which some Niuean politicians > say could happen if the population continues to decline. > > Mr Douglas says it's vital that the 20,000 Niueans in New > Zealand form a stronger partnership with the fewer than 1,700 > on the island, if Niue is to have any chance of surviving as a > country. > > In the past six months Mr Takelesi in his role as High > Commissioner has been warning Niueans of the options the > country faces if the population continues to drop one of those > is integration with New Zealand. > > Takelesi is likely to seek an Assembly seat as a common roll > member replacing former Premier Sani Lakatani who lost his > seat due to non-attendance at Assembly meetings. Takelesi is a > former MP who resigned to take up the High Commissioner's job > in Wellington. A senior public servant on Niue is expected > replace Mr Takelesi but an announcement for the position has > yet to be officially announced by the Niue Government. > [date.gif] Friday, 26 November 2004 > ASBESTOS LANDFILL ON NIUE SAFE, SAY EXPERTS > Govt contemplates disposal options as residents query local > burial plan > The Niue Government is being urged to make urgent decisions on > options for the disposal of 2000 cubic metres of asbestos from > roofs and walls of 650 houses on the island. > > But sources say the end result is likely to be disposal on > land in Niue despite concern among the community of 1300 at > the dangers of the material and governments preferred option > of taking the asbestos to New Zealand for landfill. > > Two other options disposal at sea or in another country face a > legal minefield involving international conventions and > treaties. > > Local disposal is recommended by occupational safety experts, > who in a report to government, say its the most economic and > environmentally sound decision and is estimated to cost around > $ 200,000. They also recommend an education program consisting > of explanatory brochures that assure residents there is no > hazard in burying the product. > > It has been recommended that the government make an urgent > decision on the disposal of the asbestos concrete in trenches > 2 metres deep and 60 metres long by 10 metres wide. One area > under consideration is at the eastern end of the airport. > > Many residents are reported to have voiced concern at the > number of piles of asbestos lying at the side of the road, > despite being wrapped in plastic and strapped. > > A specialist team which visited the island recently claim > Niueans have been misinformed about the dangers of asbestos > concrete which is not a high risk product because its bound > into a stable matrix of sand and cement. > > Asbestos fibres can only be released into the air when the > material is ground or sawn. > > The experts also say that if the material is buried on Niue it > will not affect the underground water supply. > > If the asbestos is left undisturbed the risk to the health of > people in the vicinity is extremely low, say the experts, and > in scientific terms is considered immeasurable. > > The asbestos roofing and cladding was used in hurricane homes > built by New Zealand in the 1960s after two devastating > cyclones. The last cyclone in January 2004 caused extensive > damage to roofs and asbestos from 200 homes have already been > removed and stored for safe disposal. > > That involves 660 cubic metres weighing 250 tonnes ready for > disposal. > > There are about 400 other homes to have roofs replaced183 of > those are derelict and unoccupied and face demolition. > > The shortage of labour is hindering the re-roofing program and > the collection of asbestos. The use of New Zealand defence > force personnel could be considered, said the report. > > Meanwhile pallets of asbestos roofing is being stockpiled at a > site next to the airport runway at Huihui. > > NIUE FISH LICENCES GO TO KIWI BOATS > > The Niue government has issued only two licences for long > -liners to fish inside its territorial waters, said Reef Group > general manager Kim Gordon. > > She told the Niue News that the island government has received > applications for a further three licences to fish in Niue > waters. > > "These are all for New Zealand owned and operated fishing > boats," said Ms Gordon. > > "The exact start dates for these boats is yet to be > determined, but we anticipate sometime in the first > quarter of next year," she said. > Ms Gordon said the terms of the license clearly state that the > vessel shall not be used for fishing within 12 nautical miles > from the baselines of the territorial sea, or inside, or > within 3 nautical miles of the outer edges of Beveridge Reef. > > Local fishermen have been concerned that long liners will > permitted to take catches from waters close to their coastal > fishing grounds and questions about the licences will be > raised at the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly in mid > December. > > Airforce Orions will patrol Niue waters to ensure only > licensed vessels are fishing within the islands EEZ. > > NEW WORK STRAINS LOCAL RESOURCES > > Millions of dollars worth of new buildings are scheduled to > begin on Niue in the next few months. The boom follows the > construction of 10 government residences and 10 rent to buy > homes erected by New Zealand carpenters. Repairs are underway > on the government VIP lounge at the airport and a new $500,000 > industrial park at Fonuakula is waiting to get underway. Many > homes have to be re-roofed with corrugated iron after asbestos > material has been stripped and stored. > > Local skilled labour will be stretched to meet the demands two > outside companies have already been hired to build two major > projects and theyll be using mainly expatriate tradespersons. > Heres whats happening: > > New Homes Donated by France > > France has announced it is donating 10 additional kitset homes > for Niue. They will be allocated to those left homeless after > Cyclone Heta delivered a fatal blow to the island 11 months > ago. > > But the French government is unable to build the homes and > that will be the responsibility of the Niue Government. > > A rapid response team that constructed 20 homes and cleaned up > most the the Aliluki area have left the island after a stay of > 10 months. > > Premier Young Vivian has welcomed the French gift saying it > could not have come at a better time and is a great Christmas > present for those waiting for improved accommodation. > > Hospital start in sight after long wait > > It has been frustrating year for Niues leaders trying to > co-ordinate planning for the construction of a new hospital to > replace the Lord Liverpool Hospital demolished by Januarys > hurricane force winds. The latest hopes of having work begin > before the end of the year appear to be dashed but Health > Minister Fisa Pihigia is confident things will begin the move > around February 2005. He has put the delays down to "red > tape." The hospital will be built at Kaimiti, near the > Telecoms earth satellite centre, by an Auckland firm, BC > Construction Ltd. > > New Zealand has offered to fund the $6million project and > additional funding is being sought from the World Health > Organization and the European Union for essential equipment in > the cottage-type medical centre. > > Doctors and nurses are working with basic facilities at the > Niue Youth Centre formerly occupied by US Navy Seebees who > spent months clearing up debris in the Alofi channel after a > wharf extension collapsed several years ago. > > Health Department staff favoured a site at Paliati for the new > hospital but there were problems acquiring the land. The > Kaimiti site is on government land and is immediately > available for use. > > Politically, many legislators are keen to see work start early > in the New Year theres an election in March. > > There has been speculation that the new hospital will be named > the Helen Clark Hospital, acknowledging the New Zealand Prime > Ministers continuing personal support for Niue. > > Church Hall Waiting for Materials > > A Samoa based firm, MS Construction, has been hired to erect > the Ekalesia Millennium Mutipurpose facility in Alofi. The > building will consist of offices and a hall area. The Niue > Government has contributed $150,000 to the project. Building > materials are being ordered from New Zealand and the job is > expected to get underway early next year. > > Meanwhile, two additional donations totaling $32,000.00 have > been presented to the Ekalesia Niue Church for the project. > The Rev Liva Tukutama of the Uniting Church Canberra, > Australia, presented $NZ20,000.00 to the president of the > Ekalesia Niue, the Rev Falkland Liuvae. > > The Fono Motu comprising of Niuean congregations of the > Pacific Islanders Church donated $12,000.00 that was presented > on behalf of Rev. Tom Etuata during the Taoga Motu conference. > > The Niue church lost its John Williams Bookshop and offices on > the Alofi village green during Cyclone Heta. > > The following contributed to the major donation - Canberra > City Uniting Church : J B Bairstow, Gwen Balfour, Fay > Maxfield, Dorothy French, Dorothy Hines, Narelle & Robyn > Triglone, L M Miller, Marian Cooke, Phil & Keiova Dick, Dr > John Brown, Graeme & Barbara Lowe, Anne Butler, GR & WG > Bailey, Alf Greenwood, Alan Harper, Canberra City > Congregation: Mary Matters, Susan Chen, Robin Chapple, Paul > Chen. Tongan Congregation > Griffith Uniting Church: Griffith Congregation, Dare to Dream > team, Trina Chan, Brian & Kath Johns, > Sione Likalika, Nosa & Akoaga Puleheloto & family. > Rev.Liva & Rachel Tukutama & family, Pauai Tukutama (snr),Semy > & Ona Siakimotu & family, > Alan & Rachel Makani & family. Cecil & Kala Viviani, Colin > Makani & Lilly Pavihi and Star Tauasi. > Uniting Church in Australia Assembly- Uniting International > Mission - Rev. Bill Fischer and the Board of Mission, New > South Wales Synod, Uniting Church > > POLYNESIAN TO SELL OFF BIG CHUNK OF SHARES > > Polynesian Airlines planned partnership with an overseas > airline could be in place by March 31 next year. > > The Apia based airline that is 100 percent owned by the > government is prepared to sell 49 percent of its shareholding. > > Misa Telefoni, the minister responsible for the state-owned > national airline, said the Samoan government and Polynesian > have held talks with Virgin Blue of Australia, Air New Zealand > and Qantas. > > A third round of talks will take place and on December 22, > Misa said, a report will be presented to Cabinet along with > recommendations. By March 31 next year, a joint venture > operation will be "up and running." > > "Negotiations are still ongoing with all parties and I cannot > tell you which carrier we will recommend or who Cabinet will > approve." > > He said a new partner would help overcome one of the major > problems Polynesian now has on its international jet routes > the use of only one Boeing 737-800 aircraft. > A partnership deal could result in Niue getting cheaper > airfares and additional scheduled flights. > Mention: Niue now gets its daily temperature listed on the TV > One Network News weather map. It joins Solomon Islands, > Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa and Rarotonga. The > mention increases the islands expose to a potential tourist > market. > > Diabetes: Niue with a population of 1300 has 118 people being > treated for diabetes. And from a survey of 724 people over the > age of 18 30 were found to be grossly overweight. Those > figures released during World Diabetes Day on Niue. > > Shortage: The Niue Development Bank is reported to be short of > lending funds mainly because borrowers are not repaying their > loans. The Government is to ask the new Bank South Pacific to > provide personal loans to customers. The previous bank, > Westpac, was cautious with its lending policy because of > defaulters. > > Derrick: Delays in making a final $18,000 payment for the > derrick at Sir Roberts Wharf has caused a delay in shipping > the steel crane to Niue after being repaired in New Zealand. > The government Kato crane is at present being used to lift > local fishing boats in and out of the channel at Alofi. The > derrick was badly damaged by Cyclone Heta. > > Moving: Families are still moving off Niue to New Zealand and > the population count could drop even more after the Christmas > holidays when many Niueans holiday in Auckland. New Zealands > buoyant economy and employment opportunities are the latest > lure for young islanders. > > Networking: Australia plans to establish a health network with > seven Pacific Island nations but Niues name is not on the > list. The network will involve senior officials from Papua New > Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Nauru and > Vanuatu. Twelve executives from each country's health > departments have arrived in Australia to establish what will > be called the Pacific Senior Health Officials Network. > > The aim is collaboration and a pooling of expertise and > skills. And with a budget of US$156,000, will contribute to > better health policies across the Pacific. > > Tragedy: Shock in neighbouring Samoa following a > murder-suicide that left a family of four dead in the Aleisa > area on the main island of Upolu. The bodies of the school > teacher husband, his wife and their three-and-five-year-old > sons were found outside the family home at Aleisa on Saturday > evening. According to the Samoa Observer, the woman and > children had cuts to their heads and bodies and are believed > to have been attacked with a bush knife. > > It is thought that after killing his wife and sons, the man > electrocuted himself with a live wire pulled from the house. > > Poll: Results of this week's poll indicate that foreign aid is > now being regarded as a Taoga. 75% of voters said it was, 25% > said it wasn't. > > Language: A new pre-school has opened in New Zealand to help > preserve the culture and language of the local Tokelau > population. > > About 80 percent of Tokelaus total population of 6,000 people > live in New Zealand. > > Only 1,500 have remained on the island. > > New Zealand's Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, > Taito Phillip Field, says the new center, in Mangere, is in > line with the Government's commitment to promoting the > vulnerable languages of the Pacific, in particular those from > Tokelau, Niue and Cook Islands. Niue has a pre-school Vagahau > Niue operating in Mangere and several operating in West > Auckland. > > CHINESE HELP PACIFIC SPEAKERS > > Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, has welcomed new funding > from the People's Republic of China to support the work of > Pacific legislatures including Niue. > "The $US$70,000 donated by China will support the interim > Secretariat of the Forum Presiding Officers Conference (FPOC), > which represents the Speakers of Parliament and Congress in > the Pacific. > "This will help Pacific legislatures to expand their work in > the area of governance, in one of the most important > institutions in the region," Mr Urwin said. > The funding was handed over by China's Ambassador in Suva, H E > Cai Jinbiao. Earlier, China provided $US$30,000 to assist a > FPOC delegation visit to Nauru in July this year. China > pledged last year to contribute $US$100,000 annually to > supplement the membership contributions to the Forum Presiding > Officers Conference. > Forum Speakers now meet annually to discuss a range of > capacity building > activities and will hold their fifth meeting next April in > Apia, Samoa. > > TALKING POINTS > > Our Community Needs A Morgue > > By A Contributing Editor > > Niue needs a morgue, albeit temporary, until the new hospital > is built... presumably it will have a suitable cool storage > facility attached. The recent incident of a body being stored > in the new $3million fish factory is unsatisfactory and > according to comments from many in the community unacceptable. > > A Reef Group spokesperson in Auckland offered no comment on > the decision to house the body in one of the yet to be used > chillers. > > After Cyclone Heta, bodies have been stored in reefers > (containers with chiller equipment) until relatives and > friends arrive from overseas for the funeral or arrangements > are made to return the dead to their families overseas. > > Some people are asking what would happen if there was a major > fatal accident involving a large number of victims. > > A temporary solution is to use a reefer suitably fitted out > and properly maintained. > > The Lord Liverpool Hospital had morgue facilities but how > often was the refrigeration equipment out of order? > > There are reefers available on the island. Fitting one out > would not be expensive. The community is entitled to a morgue > most families on Niue have the majority of their relatives > living overseas nowadays and when a death occurs there is > sometimes a five day delay between flights onto the island. > > Its a facility the Minister of Health could well take action > to approve immediately. > > > Family Pressures In A Changing World > > A Samoan advocate for childrens rights, Toleafoa Afamasaga > Faamatala, says an alleged murder-suicide in Aleisa requires a > review of family living in Samoa and the pressures placed on > families. > > A couple and their two children aged three and five were found > dead outside their family home on Saturday evening. > > Toleafoa is the national advocate of the AusAID-funded Pacific > Childrens Programme, a pilot study that focuses on child > protection and child-raising in the Pacific. > > He said that a fast-changing world with a continued emphasis > on money and the acquisition of wealth creates demands and > challenges that put pressure and tensions in families, > especially when they dont have money. > > He says eventually these tensions spill out into violence. > Toleafoa says he believes that alleviating these pressures > will take a co-ordinated effort among government, church and > village leaders. > Last Updated ( Friday, 26 November 2004 ) > Should asbestos be buried on Niue or shipped overseas? > (_) Buried on Niue > (_) Shipped Overseas > 13722 Visitors
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