Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > Hospital Turf Turned > Ground work started this week on the new $6million hospital at > Kaimiti. Builders will start construction next month and are > expected to complete the project before the end of the year. > New Zealand is funding the facility and will pay for a > registered general practitioner to work at the new medical > centre. The government is seeking accommodation for > construction workers and their families. ( Story below). > > Tusnami Fund Increase > > Late donations to the Niue tsunami victims fund took the total > to $28,600. The money was presented to a UNDP representative > by Premier Young Vivian prior to an international disaster > management conference in Japan he was to attend. > [date.gif] Friday, 21 January 2005 > PM COY OVER HOSPITAL NAME > > New Zealands Prime Minister Helen Clark seems to be unhappy > that her name is being associated with Niues new $6 million > hospital. > > A Niue News poll which failed to give any support for naming > the new medical facility Helen Clark Hospital brought this > response from the leaders spokesperson: " Helen Clark believes > it is up to Niue to decide what it calls the hospital." > > Pacific Affairs correspondent Angela Gregory of the NZ Herald > reported Ms Clarks spokesperson also said: "This the first > time Helen Clark has heard of the debate and she would prefer > her name not even to be discussed." > > In the poll held two weeks ago voters gave overwhelming > support for naming the Kaimiti hospital the Niue National > Medical Centre. > > Heta Memorial Hospital and Lord Liverpool Hospital gained > equal support ahead of Kaimiti Hospital with Helen Clark > Hospital least favoured. > > Its no secret that Niues Premier Young Vivian would like to > have Helen Clarks name on the entrance of the hospital > scheduled to be finished at the end of the year. But he > recently said a name would be discussed later. > > Ms Clark allocated funds for the hospital during a visit to > Niue in October. Niueans will recall that New Zealand refused > a request from the Niue Government to donate enough money to > relocate the hospital at the safer Kaimiti site after the 1990 > Cyclone Ofa. > > Instead the ageing Lord Liverpool Hospital was renovated on > its Tufukia cliff-top site at a cost of $2.6million. New > Zealand donated $800,000. > > The hospital, dental clinic, offices and medical library were > demolished by mountainous seas that smashed the western side > of the island killing a nurse and her infant son during > Januarys Cyclone Heta.. > > WORK ETHIC ADVICE > > Public servants on Niue have been told to lift their game. A > draft report into the Niue Public Service prepared by Don Hunn > a former state services chairman in New Zealand recommends > more honest attitudes by government employees. > > Premier Young Vivian said that Mr Hunn suggested those > attitudes started by getting to work on time and "finishing > when you are supposed to." > > "This will go a long way to achieving our goals," said Mr > Vivian. "I need head of departments co-operation with > strategies for developing positive attitudes in the > workplace," he said. > > Its also understood Mr Hunn mentions the role of public > servants working in the private sector. > > Mr Hunn had a long history with the Niue Public Service > Commission when it was based Wellington. He was a commissioner > and later chairman of the Commission until it was localized in > 1991. His full report into the public service is yet to be > completed. Its not known if the government will publicly > release his findings. > > > NIUE IN FRONT OF FIJIS TECHNOLOGY > > Niues got free Wifi wireless coverage for Internet users > although government departments are still unauthorized from > using the speedy service because Minister of Finance Toke > Talagi claims its illegal. > > But in Fiji theres pressure on to get the service up and > running. Consumers have been frustrated with snail-paced > access speeds, dropping throughputs, line breaks, and other > assorted woes. But come May, the country's web surfers could > be whooshing along at broadband speeds, downloading songs, > even movie clips, at blitzing speeds. Offering wireless > broadband connectivity is I-Pac Communications Fiji Limited, a > joint venture between Australian company I-Pac and Fiji's > leading broadcaster, Communications Fiji Media (CFM). The > service provider's technology is wireless throughout, thus > completely independent of the telecom network. From sourcing > its bandwidth from FINTEL to distributing the service > to homes, offices and people on the go, the technology is > wireless. Unlike Niue, Fiji users have to pay for the service. > > OUTAGE FIXED SO WE CAN NOW TALKBACK > > Niue residents were among more than a million people in the > Pacific Islands who lost contact with the outside world when > an Intel satellite was knocked out by a power failure at the > end of last week. But the island went back on line Monday > morning (Niue time). > Today most countries are back on line with only a handful of > coutries still without international phone, Eftpos and bank > services, despite Telecom working night and day with the > satellite owners to restore communications to at least eleven > affected countries. > Telecom New Zealand rents capacity on the Bermuda-registered > Intelsat IS-804 satellite, which moved out of alignment after > an electrical power system failure. > There has been no communication with the crucial satellite > since it was launched in 1997. > After the satellite's loss the Cook Islands, Samoa, American > Samoa, the Chatham Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Niue, > Vanuatu, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Tonga were left without > communications with other countries. > Scott Base also lost communications but had access to > emergency-only backup services. Several other countries were > also affected but had other alternatives, including New > Caledonia, Tahiti, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, East Timor, > Vietnam, Korea and Saipan. > Telecom NZ spokeswoman Sarah Berry said bank services, Eftpos > and airline data circuits had been affected. As a result, > there could be flight delays to some Pacific islands. > Telecom NZ customers in New Zealand were unable to make phone > calls or data transmissions to the affected countries. > Islands are repositioning their transmitters to use > alternative satellites. Intelsat is not expecting to regain > service from the $106 million uninsured satellite, which will > be left in space. > > BETTER DISASTER MANAGEMENT URGED > > The World Banks Natural Resource Economist for the Pacific > Sofia Bettencourt says the regions governments need to place > disaster risk managememt at a higher level. > > Ms Bettencourt says the Boxing Day Asia Tsunami has added > urgency to the fact that Pacific countries are not prepared > for major disasters. > > She added that there needs to be an attitude change in the > highest levels of government so that countries think more > about the long-term situation. > > She says there are some simple measures include using > underground powerlines, having higher building standards and > managing coral and mangrove belts so they can withstand strong > waves. > > However Ms Bettencourt says responsibility also lies with > donors. She said donor agencies have a very high > responsibility in making sure that they do not create perverse > incentives by always rushing in after disasters but not > funding prevention measures. > > CYCLONE VICTIMS LONG WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE > > While some Niue businesses and residents are still waiting for > new task force phases to be implemented for the release of > cyclone aid to restore damage caused in January 2004 consider > families in Labasa, Fiji. > > Some 600 Fijian families there are still waiting for promised > government help to rebuild their lives two years after Cyclone > Ami devastated the area. To make matters worse, some may not > receive any aid because they do not appear on a government > list of approved names. Nothing has eventuated from a promise > by new Regional Development Minister Ted Young when he was > appointed two months ago that he would make the transfer of > aid to them his priority. At the time, Mr Young blamed the > delay in the shipment of building material to those affected > by Cyclone Ami, which struck in 2003, on the unreliability of > shipping services. Regional development chief executive > officer Ratu Meli Bainimarama said his ministry needed a > record of those asking for help from Vanua Levu before he > could make any detailed comments. > Shipping: The MV Southern Express is due to arrive Niue > January 25. Cargo for Niue closes at Auckland on February 1 > and the vessel is next due to call at Alofi February 18. > > Produce: Private exports of the famous Niue pink taro and > green coconuts are to get underway this month. The next > shipment is scheduled to arrive in Auckland the first week of > February. > > Drugs: A problem on Niue? No-ones quite sure but there are to > be questions asked in the January 26 meeting of the > Legislative Assembly about marijuana production and the > availability of the drug P. Opposition leader Terry Coe says > hes concerned to learn of allegations of dope growing on the > island and is seeking answers from the Minister of Police. > > News: The IntelSat satellite repositioning has resulted in a > suspension of the TV One News on Niue. However the Asia > Pacific TV network from the Australian Broadcasting > Corporation transmit their news at 6pm. > > Award: Tuapas Falepoe Misileki has been awarded Niues Young > Farmer of the Year award. The winner has a vanilla plot near > Tuapa and plans to increase the area in the future. > > Shortage: Some Niueans living in government accommodation are > being asked to return to their family village homes. The > houses are required for expatriate construction workers at the > new hospital site. Minister of Housing Fisa Pihigia is > reported as saying there were mixed feelings about the > suggestion and claimed the government is only exploring the > possibilities of using government housing for overseas > workers. There are about 350 vacant homes on Niue. > > Delegation: The big Niue delegation to the Small Islands > Developing States in Mauritius included- Finance Minister Toke > Talagi, Ms Tagaloa Cooper, and Messrs Taumafai Fuhinui, David > Poihega, Young Tony Kalauni and Sunlou Liuvaie. > > Rubbish: Walkers who went takai around the island last week > are surprised at the amount of litter on the roadsides. > > Despite frequent national anti-litter campaigns many people > continue dumping rubbish on the side of the main coastal > roads. > > Wow: Funerals on Niue, like all Pacific Islands, are > traditionally respectful affairs. But the Catholic Church in > Australia is experiencing problems with unruly mourners. > Raucous music, dirty jokes and even beer bottles opened at the > altar are among the indignities being performed at Catholic > funerals in Australia, and church leaders there have decided > to crack down. Australias National Liturgical Commission > executive officer Peter Williams said there was "a collision > between the church's rites and people's expectations in > memorializing someone important to them who has died." That > had resulted in instances of inappropriate behaviour at > Australian Catholic funerals, including long-winded eulogies > and, on one occasion, a verbal attack on the church itself. > > Allocations: Last year Niue ( pop.1300) received $40 m worth > of New Zealand aid spread over five years. This followed > Cyclone Heta and a master plan that treats the island as an > economically challenged province of New Zealand. The Asia > tsumani affected countries will receive $68 million from New > Zealand over the next five years. > > Weather: A rainy week on Niue with high temperatures and > humidity. Daily average around 31C with 79mm of rainfall > recorded so far this month. > > Poll: Mixed reaction this week to the poll on village based > commercial fishing ventures. 44.4% voters favoured it, 44.4% > were against the proposal. 11.1% were unsure about the deal. > This poll drew comments from expatriate Niueans living in New > Zealand. The majority suggested caution about over-fishing the > natural resource. > > Meltdown: The islands holiday meltdown is over. Its back to > work for most of the islands 450 public servants. > Schoolteachers are preparing for the first term and university > students have already left the island for Fiji and New > Zealand. Politicians are preparing to get on the hustings for > the April general election. > > TALKING POINT > > Niues Pick-Me-Up-Recipe > > Small island developing States must build their capacity to > limit the impact of and recover from the numerous economic and > environmental shocks they face, from volatile commodity prices > to cyclones, the United Nations Mauritius Conference was told > this week. > > The week-long international meeting brought together > representatives of small islands, donor partners and others to > review the implementation of the Programme of Action for the > Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing > > States, adopted a decade ago at a global conference in > Barbados.Highlighting the environmental vulnerabilities faced > by small islands, Toke Talagi, Finance Minister of Niue, > shared the experience of his country, which had often been > faced with natural disasters, including last years cyclone > Heta.That cyclone caused extensive destruction to the island > and resulted in economic losses amounting to $87 million, as > well as extensive losses to its environment and biodiversity. > > Mr Talagi said in reaction to the cyclone disaster, the > Government and people of Niue > > took several steps to ensure that immediate recovery efforts > would be sustained in the long term. > > Initiatives in fishing and tourism were taken to create > economic opportunities, and partnerships between a private > sector company and the Government were forged to allow for > additional development activities. > > Protecting biodiversity was also a priority and steps were > taken to minimize the negative impacts to species. > > Mr Talagi said his country, which had been referred to as "The > Rock" was the largest upraised coral atoll in the world , > became self-governing in 1974. The Pacific country had often > been faced with disastrous natural events, such as last > Januarys cyclone. He said Niue had taken strategic steps to > ensure that it could demonstrate good governance to its > donors. > > The country had managed to reduce its budget by 30%, aimed at > ensuring the sustainable development. Economic development > measures had been carried out in tourism and fish-based > industries, to ensure that Niues infrastructure would be well > developed. > > Cultural heritage was also a priority, especially since a > large part of Niues population was lost to New Zealand and > Australia, he continued. > > The cyclone that hit Niue last year caused extensive > destruction to the western part of the island, with extensive > environmental and biodiversity losses. Certain species were > lost to the disaster and the coral reefs also sustained damage > from which it would take years to recover. > > He told the conference the Government and people of Niue took > several steps to ensure that immediate recovery efforts would > be sustained in the long term. > > Partnerships between a private sector company and the > Government were forged to allow for additional development > activities. > > Protecting biodiversity was also a priority and steps were > taken to minimize the negative impacts to species. At the time > of the cyclone, most of the countrys water utilities were > underground and, therefore, they were restored shortly after > the disaster. New partnerships had also been formed among the > European Union, Greenpeace and the Government in renewable > energy. > > After the cyclone, communications were cut off for the weeks > and it was realized that technical communication facilities > must be developed urgently. Other technical resources and > human resources were also needed. Moreover, a regional > register of technical professionals should be created, who > could be called upon when required. Good management and > planning were critical when small islands were faced with such > disasters, said Mr Talagi. > Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 January 2005 ) > If you are employed by the Govt of Niue are you happy in your > work? > (_) Extremely Happy > (_) Happy > (_) I'll Do It > (_) Not Really > (_) I Aim To Quit > 23806 Visitors
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