Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 4 guests online > Your Bumper Christmas Issue > SANTAS SLEIGH ENCOUNTERS BUMPY RIDE > It has been touch and go for Christmas goodies destined for > Niue. Latest on the sea freight -the MV Thor Marie from Samoa > is due at Alofi, December 26/27 with trans-shipped cargo from > New Zealand, according to the schedule released today. And > most Christmas mail and airfreight parcels are unlikely to > make it to Niue until New Year due to booked-out flights > filled with passengers excess baggage. > > AND > > Niue fishermen are concerned that large New Zealand > long-liners will be moving onto their inshore fishing areas > around the island and wiping out resident fish stocks.and we > reveal $3.2m worth of private sector Niue tourism projects > seeking European investors all this and more in next weeks on > line issue of Niue News. > > Today you can read about Polynesian Airlines choice of a new > partner in a bid to boost tourism for Samoa and hopefully > Niue. > > [date.gif] Friday, 24 December 2004 > NEW LOOK TV UNLIKELY TO INCLUDE DECODERS > > The installation of decoders on Niue viewers tv sets is still > up in the air, the general manager of the Broadcasting > Corporation of Niue Patrick Lino told Niue News today. He said > decisions on decoder project had originally been delayed > because of the poor reception around the island but this had > now been rectified by the completion of a 76 metre > transmission tower at Namoui Hill, Makefu. The free-standing > tower has a 15 metre square base and was constructed by the > Beijing Urban Construction Group on behalf of the Peoples > Republic of China. Mr Lino said a one kw transmitter will be > used on the tower in tandem with a microwave link from the BCN > studios at Fonuakula. > > The decoders were supplied by the PRC several years ago so > that the corporation could enforce licence fees. But its > understood the decoders are now obsolete. Mr Lino said he was > waiting for decision on whether or not they will be installed. > > The tv licence fee is $NZ65 a quarter but only a handful of > viewers were paying it before Cyclone Heta in January. > > Meanwhile tv reception generally has improved after BCN > erected a new 40 metre replacement tower at its studios. A new > satellite dish has also been installed for receiving > Australian Broadcasting Asia Pacific programs and the TV One > Network News. The mast and dish were financed by a $160,000 > donation from the people of the Cook Islands. > > FISHING INVOLVEMENT DEAL PUT TO VILLAGERS > > The Niue government is encouraging local fishermen to supply > fish to the new $3 million Reef Group processing plant in > Alofi. The current offer to back-up licensed New Zealand long > liners is a $750,000 purchase of 16 plastic six metre boats > with an open deck and protected steering position. Capable of > holding 500kg of fish each has a long line capability of 300 > hooks. The boats will be powered by 40 hop outboard capable of > reaching speeds of 20 knots and would carry a crew of two. > > Fourteen craft would be allocated to the island villages and > two to the Canoe and Fishing Associations. > > Three trailers would be provided and the boats would be stored > on skids near the wharf area. > > The government is offering interest free loans to finance the > boats with a no interest repayment period of five years. > > Villagers and their councils are at present discussing the > proposal. Meanwhile the factory, opened in October, has yet to > process any fish and is waiting supplies from New Zealand > long-liners expected to start working in Niue waters early New > Year. Most fishing vessels have left the South-east Pacific > due to the cyclone season which extends from November to May. > > POLYNESIAN OPTS FOR VIRGIN BLUE > > The Samoan government has picked the Australian airline, > Virgin Blue, as a joint venture partner for the national > carrier, Polynesian Airlines. > > This was announced by the Samoa Finance Minister, Misa > Telefoni, following six months of discussions with Virgin > Blue, Air New Zealand and Qantas. > > Misa says if negotiations are succcessful, the new airline > will start operations in the first half of next year, with > Polynesian retaining ground handling and regional turbo-prop > services. The venture is aimed at boosting tourism and curbing > the drain on government funds to keep the airline afloat. It's > understood the partnership will benefit Niue with additional > flights. > > MEDICATION SHORTAGE CAUSED BY FREIGHT DELAYS > > Full passenger loadings and excess baggage on scheduled > flights to Niue have resulted in a huge backlog of commercial > freight to the island. There has been no air mail for two > weeks and parcels of urgently needed pharmacuticals for the > Niue hospital were left in Auckland. The situation became so > critical last week that Samoa health officials were asked to > supply prescription tablets. They were delivered on a > scheduled weekly flight from Samoa to Auckland via Niue. > > Airline officials say they hope to have backlogs cleared in > several weeks when passenger loadings between Auckland and > Samoa ease. > > SUNSEEKERS HEAD NORTH > > Kiwis and tourists fed up with the rain and cold in New > Zealand are booking escapes to warmer climes, a leading travel > agency says. Flight Centre managing director Graeme Moore said > the agency had been inundated with people complaining about > the weather. Bookings to Fiji and other Pacific islands had > increased. > > Consultants had also taken bookings from overseas visitors > dis- > > gruntled about the weather. "One American couple booked a > holiday in Rarotonga the day they flew into New Zealand > because they were so disappointed that it was cold and pouring > with rain." > > Several Kiwis had also cancelled domestic travel and booked > last-minute trips overseas, despite the extra costs involved > in booking flights and accommodation at short notice. > > One family who had planned to sail around New Zealand over > summer had sold their boat in favour of a holiday in > Rarotonga. > > "We only hope the weather improves before there's a real > impact on the New Zealand tourism industry," Mr Moore said. > > CHURCH WANTS FINAL SAY IN SUNDAY WORK DECISIONS > > Niues mainstream Ekalesia Church has told the government it > has to consult with church leaders before decisions are made > to work cargo vessels on Sunday. Thats despite a Niue Public > Service Commission statement which supported working vessels > on Sundays and public holidays to help reduce the costs of > delays which are irking the Reef Shipping Company. > > Reef Shipping of Auckland is concerned that government > employed stevedores will not work on Sundays and has asked the > government to try and change the work culture. > > Reef has recently invested millions in a fish processing > factory and a nonu processing venture. They will be using > their ships to export products from Niue to the New Zealand > markets. > > When ships have previously been unloaded on Sundays stevedores > stopped work when the local church near the wharf was > conducting services. > > But a pay dispute has resulted in the stevedores refusing to > work on Sundays and public holidays. The last unloading was > delayed for several hours while workers discussed their > grievances with government officials. > > IN A NUTSHELL > > Salutations: Niu FM radio station in New Zealand linked with > Radio Sunshine on Niue for listeners to pass on Christmas > greetings to relatives and friends. Its the fourth time such a > link has been arranged and BCN general manager Patrick Lino > called it an outstanding success. "We had so many requests the > session ran from 9.30 pm to 12.30am. A similar link will be > made between 531 PI in Auckland between 1pm and 2 pm on > Christmas Day (NZ time). > > Closed: Government departments have closed and will re-open > January 10. > > Merger: Two yacht charter companies in neighbouring Vava'u, > Sunsail and The Moorings are to merge and form the largest > yacht charter fleet in Tonga, to be called "The Moorings > Tonga." > > The Sunsail charters will cease operating in Tonga and > officially join forces with The Moorings Tonga on 1 March > 2005. The Moorings has been operating in Vavau for about 20 > years. > > On Niue, despite the onset of the cyclone season one yacht > moored in the roadstead for 24 hours this week. Most yachts > are harboured in Vavau or heading for New Zealand and > Australia to escape the November May cyclone season. > > Business: New cafes and bars are opening in Alofi as efforts > to promote private sector involvement has an impact on Niue > (pop 1300). There are now four rental car businesses > operating. But economic commentators say unless there is a > dramatic increase in population and tourism the new businesses > will be competing in an over supplied market. And European > investors for local tourism proposals totaling $3.2m are being > touted at Februarys EU/ACP Profit Pacific event in Nadi. > Meanwhile several established business owners are moving into > the more buoyant and lucrative markets in New Zealand and > Australia. > > Poll: All Niue News pollsters this week disagreed with > governments decision to allow students over the age of 18 to > receive a child allowance. > > Thirsty: As the climate changes and it gets hotter on Niue the > Government Bond Stores profits soar. The Bond store is the > islands importer and retailer of alcohol. > > Audited accounts reveal it made a surplus of $221,000 in 2003 > with liquor sales up $90,000 on the previous year to $726,420. > The Niue sports surtax on each carton of beer netted $9000 and > the can collection surtax $23,000. > > Residents on Niue spend $533 a year per capita on local > purchases of alcohol. > > Defence: The Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says > his nation doesnt have any information on the presence of > terrorists in the South Pacific. > > But he says Australia must, nevertheless, develop what he > called some means of defence. > > Mr Downers comments have come during a regional tour including > Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. > > He was responding to questions whether Canberra was concerned > about the possible emergence of havens for criminals and > terrorist groups in the region. > > Rentals: The Niue government loses money on its rental homes > and flats. Official documents released last month indicate the > income from rentals totaled $128,855 for the year ended June > 30 2003 a loss of $21,387. $60,000 was spent on maintenance, > $308 on material supplies and services. The loss was a third > compared with 2002. > > Wiped: Preliminary assessments by the auditor-general of New > Zealand following Cyclone Heta has resulted in the following > assets totaling $6.2 million being wiped from financial > statements: > > The health department including the Lord Liverpool Hospital > that was demolished cost price $3.6 million (book value $2.8 > million); > > Justice Department including the Courtroom which was > demolished by the high seas $346,000 (bv $103,000); > > Government residences 50% destroyed $1.1 million (bv $855,000) > Niue Hotel $1 million (bv $957,000) BCN $98,000 (bv $66,000). > > Checking: The weekly flights into Niue are fully booked by > Niueans returning home mostly to survey their properties after > Cyclone Heta. But those non-residents stand little chance of > receiving any assistance with rebuilding damaged vacant homes. > The governments policy is to house and repair homes of those > permanent residents who suffered damage to their buildings. So > far several million dollars of NZ aid has gone into housing > projects. Twenty new government residences are scheduled to be > built in 2005. The kit-set homes have been donated by France > and will be constructed by NZ firms. > > Debts: Creditors are claiming over US$8.5 million from > liquidators of Royal Tongan Airlines. > > Howeverits understood they have only recovered US$1.13 million > from the sale of the companys assets and other funds, > according to the liquidators second report. > > Price WaterhouseCoopers of Auckland, New Zealand, were > appointed liquidators of the airline this year. > > The liquidators say they are still processing creditors > claims. > > DISASTER IMPACT HELPS POLICYMAKERS > > Niue is one of four Pacific nations targeted in a research > program looking at the broader aspects of disaster impacts. > Cyclone Heta is being used as an example to assist in > establishing policies for disaster risk management and to > underscore the serious economic consequences of natural > hazards. > > There has been relatively little research on broader disaster > impacts in Pacific generally, so the true costs of disasters > continue to be vastly underestimated. This creates problems in > presenting to policy makers and institutional donors the > serious economic consequences of natural hazards and the > imperative for integrating Comprehensive Hazard and Risk > Management (CHARM) into national development planning. > > While disaster risk management is recognized as critical for > reducing vulnerability, building resilience and lessening the > impact of natural hazards on communities, decisions to invest > adequately in CHARM hinges on providing reliable data and cost > benefit analyses of the impact of disasters and risk reduction > measures. Funding patterns continue to show that disaster > relief absorbs far more funding than proactive disaster > reduction activities. In the absence of good quality data and > analysis, anecdotal evidence, speculation and reaction > prevail. > > In response, the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the > South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) are > jointly conducting research into the economic impact of > natural disasters on development in the Pacific. SPOAC > disaster assessment teams have already visited Niue to gather > information for the research project. > > AusAID's Development Research Program and Humanitarian > Emergencies Section have jointly funded the research project, > which focuses on three other case study countries: Fiji, > Vanuatu, and Tuvalu. > > The objectives of the project are to develop a framework for > assessing the economic impact of future disasters in Pacific > Island Countries and the relative effectiveness and > cost-benefit ratio of various disaster risk management > measures. Research findings should be completed in mid 2005. > > Quotable Quotes of 2004: > * "$300,000 has been set aside for a new industrial park > that will be ready by May."- Minister of Private Sector > Bill Vakaafi Motufoou, after private sector task force > priorities were released post Cyclone Heta February 2004. > > > * "Unfortunately government employees are scared to speak > out on this issue because Niue is such a small place and > they're worried about being victimized,"-MP Terry Coe > talking about governments refusal to authorise use of free > Wifi for its workers who want to use the better than dial > up service. > > > * NZ High Commissioner Sandra Lee-Vercoe last month: > "Niueans are exhausted. All year they have been fixing > stuff at work and going homer and fixing stuff there, then > going to the bush and replanting their taro.. theyre > pooped, really." > > > * Kiwi motel owners Joe and Robyn Wright after a $120,000 > grant from NZ to rebuild units well away from Namukulu > where Heta released its fury: "We weighed up the odds and > decided to just start again up hereits a pretty good > lifestyle when things are going smoothly." > > > * "When I arrived on the Hercules soon after the cyclone, I > conducted a brief tour of our investments. It took me only > 40 minutes as to decide that Reef Group is not going to > back out of this," Kiwi shipping magnate Phillip McNicholl > at the opening of his latest Pacific investment the $3m > Niue Fish Processing plant at Amanau. > > > * Finance Minister Toke Talagi three months before NZ Prime > Minister Helen Clark put five years aid on the table worth > $40m to Niue: "This government is embarking on a strategy > that will tackle aid dependency with a number of > initiatives which over a period of 5 to 10 years will > provide financial stability and sustainability. Our focus > is already shifting from aid to investment and our > investment and donor partners are already responding > favourably to our approach." > > > * "Weve got a Chathams Air Convair that can freight up to 17 > tonnes of fish, passionfruit and pawpaw from Niue to Fiji > each week," Kim Gordon general manager of Reef Group. > > > * Commented Opposition MP OLove Jacobsen after officials > released on home leave two prisoners convicted of > manslaughter because the jail block on Niue was unsanitary > after Cyclone Heta tore through whats locally called The > Hilton." The prisoners work in a garden and sell produce > to the public; "They keep the money themselves because it > goes towards helping their families. But that's a load of > shit because I mean now it's okay to go walk into > someone's home, shoot them, kill them, and then go to > prison because you'll be treated leniently and get away > with it." > > > * It's called The Rock - but could easily be labelled The > Sponge. Niue is the greatest aid economy in the Pacific, > and the amount of aid taxpayers give each man, woman and > child on the island has gone up to $9615 each year. Ken > Shirley, Act's foreign affairs spokesman, says China's > expansion through the Pacific is enough cause for New > Zealand to have a strong role in Niue. "We need to foster > security and stability throughout the Pacific. But a big > concern is the bad governance and the appalling corruption > that has been associated with so many island nations." > > > * Niue resident Ligi Heka (50) mother of four reported in > the NZ Herald on expatriate Niueans on New Zealand PM > Helen Clarks junket for Taoga Motu: "Some of us feel they > are poking their nose in." > > We'll Be With You During The Holidays > > Niue News extends Yuletide Salutations to all its readers. > During 2004 weve upgraded our website and brought to you news > as it happens from the unique tiny South Seas island. Weve > kept you in touch during the reconstruction of the nation in a > year that recorded the biggest natural disaster ever. The > contributing editors wish to thank all those who have > supported the Niue News throughout the year especially those > government officials and politicians who have readily provided > information and helped us develop the site into the best read > Niue news pages in the world. Well publish throughout the > holiday period and look forward to bringing you the latest > independent news and informed comment in 2005. Niue News > wishes everyone a happy and prosperous New Year. > Last Updated ( Friday, 24 December 2004 ) > Do you think cargo vessels should be unloaded at Niue on > Sundays? > (_) Don't care > 18531 Visitors
_______________________________________________ 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/
