Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 2 guests online > Big Contribution From Tiny Nation > Niues tiny community of 1300 has donated $25,000 to the > tsunami national appeal. The door to door collection ended > yesterday and the money will be presented to tsunami countries > by the Premier Young Vivian during a international disaster > management conference in Japan next week. > > What Shall We Call It? > > You said it. When asked what name they favoured for the new > hospital on Niue of our pollsters voted overwhelmingly in > favour of the Niue National Medical Centre (59.1%) next > popular was the Heta Memorial Hospital (13.6%) with > equal support for the Lord Liverpool Hospital (13.6%) > > Pollsters were cool to Kaimiti Hospital (9.1%) and the > suggested name Helen Clark Hospital only attracted 4.5% of the > voters. > [date.gif] Saturday, 15 January 2005 > HARVESTING VALUABLE LOGS HAMPERED BY EQUIPMENT SHORTAGE > About $36 million worth of storm damaged timber is in the > forest of Niue. Thats a conservative 80,000 cubic metres of > trees toppled and damaged by Cyclone Heta a year ago. > > Despite an SPC/ GTZ German Forestry Report recommending > immediate salvage and processing of the logs recovery has been > slow. Much of the local timber could have been used for > rebuilding cyclone-damaged properties instead of expensive > imported New Zealand pine. > > The donation of two portable sawmills worth about $55,000 has > resulted in only one being delivered to the island and that > was damaged in transit and is still inoperable. The second one > is yet to arrive on the island. > > Sources say the combined capability of the existing sawmill at > Tuila and two portable mills could cope with 15 cubm of logs a > day thats the equivalent of 6.75 cubm sawn or 1620 cubm a year > worth $1.6 million. > > The privately owned Niue Timber Products have been unable to > make any inroads into milling the valuable timber because it > says it is strapped by the lack of access to heavy plant and > transport. > > Forestry sources told Niue News that for the island to benefit > from the multi-million dollar natural resource, foreign-owned > mills would have to be set up or raw logs shipped overseas. > The project would require a strategic marketing plan. > > An initial report on forest damage indicated that if quick > action was not taken to harvest the damaged trees they would > be susceptible to fungi and insect attack and eventually rot > on the ground. > > Most well known and used is the kafika species popular for > local building material when green. A major problem recovering > the logs is negotiating entry to land all timber recovered is > subject to royalties for landowners paid by the millers. > > The Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Brendon > Pasisi said given the constraints on the use of equipment and > manpower every effort was being made to recover fallen trees. > He said a new portable sawmill was under repair and there were > on going discussions with landowners about entry to areas > where logs were on the ground. > > POLYNESIAN TURNS BLUE > > Its official. Polynesian Airlines will be changing its name to > Polynesian Blue after confirming a joint venture with > Australias low cost carrier Virgin Blue. > > Polynesians chief executive Malopaia John Fitzgerald said > Polynesian Blue will take over Polynesian's long haul routes. > "One of the benefits of the new airline is that it reduces > financial risk exposure to government," Malopaia said. "But > with that said, we are looking forward to kick-starting the > new venture," he added. > With the establishment of Polynesian Blue, Polynesian will > then be focussing on domestic flights, the inter-Samoas route > and eventually more turboprop flights to other island > destinations. > > Niue could be getting additional Dash 8 flights out of Apia > when the joint venture gets off the ground. The future of > direct flights from Auckland will be discussed by the Premier > Young Vivian with Samoa government officials during a stopover > in Samoa. > > But a lot of work still needs to be done on Niue to repair > scenic sites and clean up derelict houses and tourism > officials say its necessary to have an up to date national > strategic plan before too much more aid money is allocated for > tourism projects. > > INSHORE FISHING ASSURANCES "INSUFFICIENT" > > Niues former Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries > Terry Coe has repeated a call for the country to adopt a > proper sustainable fisheries management plan with local input. > > "There is some urgency about it now because the government is > handing out licences to foreign long-liners that will be > working for the Reef Group fish processing plant at Alofi. > > A plan to ensure long-term sustainability for a fishing > industry submitted by local fishermen to the Minister of > Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries, Bill Motufoou, had not > been acknowledged by the government nor, it has been claimed, > discussed by Cabinet. > > Last week Finance Minister Toke Talagi said he had viewed the > proposed fisheries plan and it proposed five zones, starting > with five miles, 12 miles, 30 miles and 50 miles maintained > for local fisheries. "It was my view that it was overly > complicated and difficult to police and control. A simpler > plan has been requested," he said. > > Mr Coe said he found it interesting that the Minister of > Finance was responding to an issue which was clearly the > responsibility of the Minister of Fisheries. He added that > local fishermen had not been consulted after contributing to > the first management plan. > > "Mr Talagi and other Cabinet Ministers working closely with > Reef have to be careful they are not manipulated at the > expense of fisheries resources and deprive Niueans of access > to fish for their own consumption or viable participation in > commercial operations," said Mr Coe. He called on the Minister > of Fisheries to put into practice the principles of the > Western and Central Pacific Tuna Commission. The last > conference attended by the Minister called for greater input > into sustainable fisheries management and participation by > local communities. > Mr Coe said while the it was government's intention to assist > with local fisheries development, it has already proposed a > village councils and Niue's two fishing associations. The > proposals especially the costs and use of plastic boats was > not feasible nor sustainable so had not been favorably > received, Mr Coe said. > > Mr Coe said that in 1990 Cabinet approved the licensing of > Taiwan fishing vessels for a number of reasons. > > "We were to start collecting a fee for vessels to use our > fishing zone. It also enabled data to be collected within the > 200 to 12 mile limit by South Pacific Commission. In addition > we asked to have the long-liners report any unlicensed vessels > using the wall of death fishing nets, to introduce crew > observer training and to put local observers on licensed > vessels to ensure accurate data," said Mr Coe. > > "We also knew that only one or two vessels would be in the 200 > mile zone at any one time so there was no likelihood of > over-fishing." > > Mr Coe also said in those days there was little likelihood of > any local fishing opportunities without data and no fish > factory on Niue during his time as Minister of Fisheries. > > "Back in 1990 little was known about fish management in the > Pacific because of insufficient catch data," he said. > > With data being collected Cabinet later refused to licensed > vessels to fish in Niue waters without FFA identification / > monitoring beacons. > > "We know now all about sustainable fish management and if the > Minister of Finance had attended some of FFA meetings he would > understand that it would not be difficult to introduce viable > monitoring systems which would protect the local fishing > asset," said Mr Coe. This would reduce the need for air and > sea patrols that Mr Talagi posed as a problem. > > JITTERY WAIT COMES TO AN END > > Most Niue High School students received their NZ > Qualifications Authority NCEA results this week. Director of > Education Ms Tiva Toeono said its the first time Niue pupils > had completed stage 3. Twenty- seven sat stage 1, 28 stage 2 > and 11 stage 3 which is seventh form. She said pupils could > now access their results on the Internet by using a private > pin number. > > In New Zealand 14,000 students received results. NZQA group > manager Kate Colbert admitted results could be hard to > understand but it was because there was much more information. > "Its the record of learning thats important," she said. > > The Director also said there were three new expatriate > teachers employed at the High School this year and two New > Zealand trained Niuean teachers working at the National > Primary School. > > Schools re-open at the end of the month. > > SEARCH CONTINUES FOR TOP COP > > Renewed efforts are underway in New Zealand to recruit a > senior police officer to take over law enforcement leadership > on Niue. The New Zealand police magazine Ten One has announced > the two- year secondment as police commissioner who would be > expected to re-establish "a robust police service on the > island." > > Previous attempts by the Niue government to recruit an officer > have been unsuccessful. > > The new Niue commissioner of police appointment is part of New > Zealands $20 million, five-year aid package announced by Prime > Minister Helen Clark during a state visit in October. Previous > advertising has failed to attract any applicants. > > Ten One > carried an item seeking expressions of interest from police > officers. > > Niue had a judicial system similar to New Zealand and Niue > police were strongly aligned to New Zealand policing, said the > magazine item. > > The island police department has been led by New Zealand > officers since 1974 but a job localization policy was > implemented several years ago. The last chief of police was > John Satini Tohovaka of Makefu who was not re-appointed and is > now living overseas. > Oops: The New Zealand High Commission, wanting to fly its flag > half mast this week in remembrance of those who died in the > Asia tsunami disaster, has ended up advertising for its new > flag removed from the flagpole at its Tapeu Hill offices. The > culprit was asked to return the flag folded and placed on the > Commission office steps, no questions asked. > > Houses: Thirteen of the new homes completed last year will > soon be occupied by government workers and rent- to- buy > owners. One home, built by the French Polynesia rapid response > team for those left homeless by Cylone Heta, is still vacant. > Delays taking occupancy have been caused by power, septic tank > and water connections. Another 10 homes are to be built early > this year with the compliments of France. Theyll be built by > New Zealand builders. > > Troublefree: Niue celebrated Christmas, New Year and Takai in > a relaxed, sedate style.. compared with some of its neighbors. > A motorcycle caught fire and a car engine overheated during > this years traditional takai. > > In Samoa two young men died after being run over by a truck in > Savaii. They were asleep on the road. And in a third incident > involving the loss of life a 19 year old woman killed herself > after attending a New Years eve party. There were five > non-injury accidents reported to Samoa police. > > In the Cook Islands two men died in separate motorcycle > accidents in Rarotonga. Police reported four break-ins and one > non injury motor vehicle accident. > > Officers: The National Youth Council has elected its officials > for 2005. President, Robin Hekau; vice president, Shield > Utalo; secretary, Poi Okesene; treasurer, Nora Palana. > > The council organized a bi annual round the island takai hui > that took 20 hours to complete. > > Trade: The Tongan prime minister says Pacific Island states > should muster more joint strength to become an effective voice > in global trade negotiations. > > Prince Ulukalala Lavaka Ata has addressed representatives of > small island developing states, or SIDS, at a United Nations > summit. > > Small island developing states want the World Trade > Organisation to take into account their vulnerability, and > distance from markets, when in trade negotiations. > > The prince says increased foreign and domestic investment will > further the development of island economies. > > Naughty: Prostitution appears to be a popular part-time job > across the region. According to newspaper reports in Fiji, a > police crackdown over Christmas revealed a large number of > university students were involved in street prostitution in > Suva. In Solomon Islands capital Honiara the trade is believed > to be run by organized criminal rings. Meanwhile Tourism > authorities in Guam are calling on police to crackdown on > increasing prostitution in the territory. The island's > Visitors Bureau has alleged that massage parlors are being > used as brothels, and warn this could tarnish Guam's image as > a family holiday destination. > > Input: On Radio New Zealands Pacific Beat program former > Premier Sani Lakatani said New Zealands massive aid input and > offers of assistance has resulted in the island government > sitting back and letting other people run the country. He > added that in his opinion after years of trying to reverse the > migration there was little hope of Niueans living in New > Zealand being attracted back to their homeland. Mr Lakatani > wont be back he said his obligation was to caring for his sick > wife in Auckland. > > Uniform: Niue High School is selling girls school uniforms > this year. Average cost is around $80.00. Child allowances are > being paid out this week through the Bank South Pacific - $85 > per child per quarter. > > Wow: The last week of the holidays on Niue was fun-filled. It > included the Alofi South show day, a mini triathalon, fishing > competition, village tree planting and clean up, touch rugby > with a visiting Fiji club the City Roosters and to top it off > the big, noisy, colourful, national Saturday Takai. > > QUOTABLE QUOTES 2004 > > You Asked For It > > For those who requested more quotable quotes from 2004 here a > few more samples > > National's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Dr Lockwood Smith took a > swipe at Niues big injection of aid from New Zealand. "Niue > should not be getting one extra cent until it can sort out its > land ownership issues so business development can happen. I > also note that some of this money will be used to strengthen > Niue's governance, but I would have thought they already had > plenty of that - they have 20 members of Parliament > representing just 1300 people." > > New Zealand MetService technician Garry Clarke was able to > quickly get to Niue and restored observing and communication > equipment after Cyclone Heta damage so that Niue weather data > was back on the weather map. "We in MetService want to do all > that we can to help our Niuean neighbours in getting back into > operation as soon as possible," commented Weather Ambassador > Bob McDavitt. "Weather observing is the life-blood of weather > forecasting." > > Short on numbers and to make the place viable Niue probably > needs to at least double its population of 1300. After much > discussion about the ethnic mix of immigrants Premier Young > Vivian announced he wants New Zealanders to inhabit his tiny > South Pacific Island. "We should be generous with New > Zealanders, they have been good to us. We want them to come > and live here and be allowed to have land on very generous > [lease] terms." > > Corruption Transparency Internationals paper on Pacific Island > hi-jinx reviewed by commentator Fran OSullivan: "The report > notes that the private sector has often been viewed as the > perpetrator of corruption, bribing officials to get business. > Now the boot is on the other foot, and the private sector is > complaining that it is often the victim of "rent seeking" > bureaucrats and politicians." > > The people of the Cook Islands raised $127,612 for Cyclone > Heta reconstruction work on Niue. > Said Appeal chairman Norman George: "The Cooks' effort is > equivalent to a $400 million donation from New Zealand, on a > per capita basis." > > On modem hi jacking where overseas users, surfing the > internet, sometimes download software ( mostly pornographic > sites) that automatically dials numbers with overseas country > codes, including Niue and the Cook Islands. > > "It's part of the modern world we live in," said Cook Islands > Telecom manager Stuart Davies. > > "We have to deal with these kind of things, like spam and > viruses, on a daily basis. People used to be a bit embarrassed > to complain but that has changed now," said Davies. > > Niues High Commissioner to New Zealand Hima Takelesi said > Cyclone Heta virtually destroyed the country's infrastructure > and had been a wake-up call for Niueans, of whom about 20,000 > live in New Zealand and just 1300 in Niue. "The island is > being rebuilt after Heta but it raises the philosophical > question what is it being rebuilt for. That message needs to > be discussed." > > KEEPING IN TOUCH > > For independent, unbiased, accurate news and comment the > contributing editors of Niue News on-line are your best > source. Weve been reporting Niue news since 1989 and have a > global readership. Straight talking articles, concise and > factual, so you don't have to spend a lot of time wading > through pop-ups, advertisements and unrelated links. Niue News > - its your window to the world's smallest state using modern > technology for modern people. > Last Updated ( Friday, 14 January 2005 ) > Do you favour village based commercial fishing ventures to > supply the fish processing factory? > (_) Yes > (_) No > (_) Not Sure > 22687 Visitors
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