Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 4 guests online > Big IRB 7's Tournament > Niue Can Be Proud Of Its Performances > Niue 7's battled hard to offer a realistic challenge to its > three Pool A opponents in the first day of the IRB tournament > in Wellington. While scoring early and forcing Samoa to > rethink its strategy after leading 12-7 at half time in their > first game, Niue struggled to match the second half speed and > experience of the Samoans, going down 28-12. > But the Niuean can be proud of their performance against the > leading 7's side England despite being beaten 41-7. The last > game against Canada again resulted in a 10-26 loss but again > the side put up a credible fight and won the praise of > commentators who congratulated the team on its improvements > since the previous two tournaments in Wellington. > > Niue will mix it with Kenya in the playoffs during the second > day. > > Other Pacific Island results: New Zealand 40 Kenya 12; > Argentina 40 Tonga 0; Australia 28 Cook Islands 12; Samoa 17 > Canada 5; England 21 Samoa 10; Fiji 24 USA 14; NZ 43 USA 0; > Fiji 26 Kenya 7; Argentina 40 Cook Islands 0; Tonga 42 Cook > Islands 0. > > Meena Gets Meaner > > Cyclone Meena is intensifying rapidly east of American Samoa, > with winds increasing to 110 kilometres an hour, within the > next six to 12 hours. > > The cyclone is moving east at about nine kilometres an hour, > and is expected to travel slowly south-east, towards the > northern part of the southern Cook Islands group.The Tropical > Cyclone Centre in Nadi, Fiji, says a cyclone alert remains in > force for the southern Cooks. > > It warns of gales, scattered showers and isolated > thunderstorms about Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands > tonight. > > It says heavy rain and squally thunderstorms will develop > there tomorrow, with damaging heavy sea swells, and sea > flooding likely over coastal areas tomorrow. > > In American Samoa schools were closed today and flights within > the territory have been cancelled. > > > There are no warnings out for Niue. > > [date.gif] Friday, 04 February 2005 > Exclusive Series 2 > DEPARTMENT RESTRUCTURING ESSENTIAL FOR EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT > The Whole of Government Review by former New Zealand State > Services Commissioner and Niue Public Service Commissioner, > Don Hunn, is being considered by the Niue and New Zealand > governments. He has prepared a blueprint for the future plans > of the island to attain "sovereignty with self-sufficiency." > > The aim is to reconfigure the public service and allow > personnel to move into the private sector that will be the > mainstay of the islands economic development. > > In part two of a Niue News series Mr Hunn proposes changes to > the Cabinet, the Niue Public Service Commission and the > formation of semi-independent authorities for education and > heath. > > Fundamental changes in governance are required in order to > achieve the goal of self sufficiency. > > Mr Hunn suggests three options in a Cabinet and Departmental > makeover in a bid to eliminate current over-administration in > the system. The first is an enhanced status quo with limited > amalgamation of current functions and improvement in systems > with concentration of the Niue Public Service developing a > framework to support the private sector. > > Described as the "Australian Option" the second suggestion > would match the number of departments to the number of Cabinet > Ministers four. > > He suggests the Premier hold a portfolio on > co-ordination/constitutional and legal/community cultural and > external relations issues; Minister responsible for finance, > economic planning trade and tourism; Minister responsible for > social and administrative issues, health education and > justice; Minister responsible for economic development ( > private sector), primary production and infrastructure > including all government trading functions. > > "Whatever grouping functions are decided I would suggest a > variation on current practice and that is to separate the > responsibilities for the justice system and the police," he > said. > > The suggested re-organization of the Executive would "give a > strong signal to the community and the Niue Public Service > that major change was intended," said Mr Hunn. > > In another radical suggestion Mr Hunn considers reducing the > current 22 units into two departments, one incorporating all > non-trading functions, the other all trading and > infra-structural functions. > > The management group would comprise of two departmental heads > together with a permanent member of the Niue Public Service > Commission and principal public service advisers on financial, > legal and planning matters. > > Mr Hunn felt this option would provide a base for > rationalization of public service functions and personnel > essential for growth of the private sector. > > "Its disadvantage is that of all the options it will require > the greatest change and therefore encounter the greatest > resistance," he said. > > In another bid to streamline efficiency Mr Hunn lists the > benefits of semi-independent Health and Education Authorities. > Each Authority would remain in the Niue Public Service and > would be headed by a Director appointed by the Commission > after consultation with Cabinet. > > Mr Hunn said each Authority would be responsible to a Minister > but in addition to the Director would be joined by one or two > persons from the community. > > " I see the establishment of these two bodies as providing > clearer focus on health and education and a greater ability to > develop stronger direct linkages with counterpart > organizations in New Zealand. > > "One of the spin-offs would be to de-link health and education > salaries from the rest of the government pay system and make > it easier to recruit overseas expertise to ensure the highest > possible standards." > > Criticism of public servants work ethics has been evident and > Mr Hunn attributes this to the lack of leadership by prolonged > absence overseas by senior managers. He added the anticipated > growth in the private sector will eventually have an influence > on work habits including weekend employment. > > A specific grievance having an effect on morale on government > employees is the freezing of salary increments since 1998 and > the freezing of allowances from 2002. There has been no > indication to public servants when the freezes will be lifted. > Mr Hunn said the situation has been exacerbated by the fact > that the allowances of Ministers and Assembly members were not > similarly frozen. > > He also pinpoints government office accommodation as a major > problem and suggests centralising services and upgrading the > sub-standard working conditions and facilities. > > Public servants double dipping by working in the private > sector also drew comment from Mr Hunn who recommended the > Commission look carefully at its regulations and their > application to government employees business interests. > > Private expansion in agriculture and fisheries has already put > pressure on government departments to provide staff and > eventually those areas will draw personnel away from the > Mr Hunn estimated that within two years 200 new permanent or > part time jobs would be created in the private sector adding > pressures to the Commission who will have to provide staff for > regulatory requirements including fisheries inspection. He > urged the Commission to assess work force requirements over > the next five years and develop strategies to cope with them. > > "It may be useful to develop a new set of principles if at all > possible any new service should be provided by the private > sector and only as a last resort from government. > > "This is another area where Niue could draw on New Zealand > experience to help establish a more private sector oriented > environment." > > Next week > : Immigration, Re-population and Relations with Niueans in New > Zealand. > > LEADER WELCOMES POLY BLUE > > The Premier of Niue, Young Vivian is delighted at a deal that > sees Pacific Blue take over the international services of > Samoas Polynesian Airlines. > > The Samoan government, which owns the airline, encouraged the > Australian based cut-price operator, after growing concerns > about the costs of operating the carrier. > > Staff at Polynesian Airlines face redundancy if the deal is > signed and sealed. > > The airline is to be renamed and branded as Polynesian Blue, > and Mr Vivian who met with airline executives in Samoa last > week said he has been assured that the once a week service > connecting Niue with Auckland will not be affected. > > Mr Vivian hopes there will eventually be additional flights > giving a much needed boost to Niues visitor industry. > > "First of all I hear that the flights are going to be cheaper, > there will be more people travelling on the planes and from > that I can guess that there will be more people wanting to > come to Niue and from that there will be another extra > flight," said thePremier who is also the small nations > Minister of Tourism. > > The New Zealand Aid agency, NZAID, provides a guarantee if the > loadings are low on the Niue flight, but says it has never > needed to make a payment reports Radio New Zealand > International. > > It cannot yet say if the arrangement will remain under > Polynesian Blue. > > CYCLONE PRECAUTION > > Police in the Cook Islands say theyve registered more than > half of the countrys small boats as forecasters warn Tropical > Cyclone Meena is heading there. > > Cyclone Meena, with winds of more than 90 kilometres an hour, > is moving slowly east of American Samoa, where all schools are > closed and internal flights grounded. > > Forecasters say the cyclone is rapidly intensifying and > heading south-east towards the northern islands of the Cook > Islands southern group. > > The Deputy Police Commissioner, Maara Tetava, says officers > have counted scores of small boats as a precautionary measure. > > WIND POWER LEADS THE WAY > > While Niue plans for future alternative energy sources wind > generators on the east c oast - yet another wind farming > project is under construction in the north of New Caledonia's > main island, with 22 windmills already erected and scheduled > to be commissioned next month. > > The farm eventually aims to produce 11 megawatts of > electricity to add to the power lines of three main towns of > the area, Koné, Voh and Pouembout. > > The wind farm is being developed by Vergnet Pacific. Company > director for development Gwenn Paturel said the > wind-generating units, which span 32 meters and rise 55 meters > on a mast, represent the latest technology. > > "They are more silent and more power-efficient," he said, > adding they start producing power when winds reach ten knots, > but can also easily be dismantled in case of cyclone. > > They are also equipped with a self-orienting device, which > allow the two rotors to maximize wind production, according to > the winds direction and strength. > > The ultimate plan is to install a total of 42 units at the > Kafeate site. > > TEACHER CAREER SWERVES HURT > > Sections of Samoan society are suffering from a migration > curve, similar to that of Niue. The chief executive of Samoas > education department says that has resulted in public schools > facing a shortage of teachers in the new school year. > > Tautapilimai Levaopolo Esera says this is because many have > gained jobs as bus drivers and prison wardens in New Zealand > under the quota system. > > Tautapilimai told Samoa Broadcasting Corporation television > that this year the department was going to start off short. > > However he said the ministry had a number of applications from > former teachers now wishing to return to the profession. > > Under a quota system, 1,100 Samoans may migrate to New Zealand > a year, provided they have job prospects. Last year the > Corrections Department and a bus company advertised for staff > in Samoa and al the positions were filled. > > Niue has hired three expatriate teachers for high school head > of department vacancies and two New Zealand trained Niuean > teachers are returning home to work in the national primary > school this year. > Ouch: Latest buzzword on Niue to describe community and > private sector groups " non state actors." Attributed to the > economic and planning department of the Premiers office. > > Poll: 80% of those taking part in last weeks poll did not > think climate change predictions are accurate. 20% thought > they were. > > Exposure: Niue gets listed as one of 12 bonus destinations in > The Travel Book: A journey through every country in the world > published by Lonely Planet. The > > 444 page book weighing 4 kg lists Niue with Wallis and Futuna > and Arctic Islands not many folk get to. > > Jobs: The Niue principal fisheries officer position is being > advertised following the appointment of Brendon Pasisi to the > post of director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He > replaces Ernest Nemaia who works for Reef Group in Auckland. > > The administrative services department is looking for a > Payroll Clerk. > > Safety: A world recognized specialist from the New Zealand > Internet Safety Group will visit Niue in March to hold a one > day education session. Schoolteachers, police and legal > officials will be invited. The Netsafe discussion will include > the dangers of chat rooms, supervision of the family computer > and internet safety education. It is being sponsored by the > Internet Users Society-Niue. > > Shipping: Rough seas delayed the unloading of the MV Southern > Express last week. Private consignments of taro the first > since last years Cyclone Heta were loaded for Auckland. > > Meeting: the Joint Consultative Group consisting of Niue > government and New Zealand government officials has been > meeting in Wellington this week. Headed by Finance Minister > Toke Talagi the island delegation included secretary to > government Sisilia Talagi, and the financial secretary Leo > Tukuitonga. Discussion revolved around progress on the > recovery program and a Whole of Government report by Don Hunn. > The delegation also had a chance to visit the 7s tournament. > A Single Point of Failure > Why Intelsats failure might have hurt us badly, writes Dan > McGarry, an IT analyst currently working in the Pacific. > On January 14, 2005, the Intelsat 804 satellite suddenly lost > its power source and began drifting helplessly in space. This > satellite provided much, and in some cases all, of the > communications lines for countries from Sri Lanka to Samoa. > > The effect of this sudden loss of service was particularly > severe on Pacific island nations, because in many places this > satellite represented the only communication link to the > outside world. As of January 21, some countries were still > offline, and others were still experiencing problems. > > International communications were badly disrupted. > International telephone and fax traffic stopped. Internet > access was gone. > > In most places, banks and credit card companies could not > conduct transactions, leaving tourists without cash and resort > owners accepting debts on faith alone. Airlines and airports > could not communicate easily. Most importantly, disaster early > warning systems were severely impaired. > > When reviewing the list of affected countries, one thing > quickly becomes clear: the countries most affected by the > satellite failure were those whose communications systems had > a single point of failure. > > Single Point of Failure. Every network analyst knows, and > fears, this term. Its simple enough in principle: when > planning a communications system, always make sure that theres > no single part whose failure can bring the whole system down. > > In practice, its not as easy as it sounds. The failure of the > Intelsat 804 satellite continues to cause significant problems > throughout the Pacific region, particularly among the small > island nations. > > This is mostly because the cost of communications makes having > back-up satellite access very difficult. > > Because of the relatively small amount of traffic they buy, > Pacific island nations are relatively unimportant to > international satellite providers. > > Technicians working to fix the problem reported spending > hours, even days, trying to contact Intelsat staff. They spoke > of being given emergency space on an alternative satellite, > only to be bumped off by other customers. > > The money that a satellite provider makes from a small island > country is, relatively speaking, very small. From a business > perspective, were not very important to them. But for us, > international communications are more important than just > business. > > What if there had been a natural disaster? At the height of > the hurricane season, in a region prone to earthquakes, > volcanoes and tsunamis, this is not merely idle speculation. > > In fact, shortly after the outage occurred, there was a strong > earthquake in Micronesia. Had it caused even a localised > tsunami, the loss of communications could have cost us many > lives. > > Looking at the list of affected countries, it quickly becomes > clear that those who suffered most are the ones who had only > one connection to the outside world. > > Several countries had separate contracts for data and voice > communications. When voice communications disappeared, they > were able to use their data lines to compensate. > > In one case, technicians were able to use Voice Over IP (VOIP) > protocols to enable outbound telephone calls within twelve > hours. > > What lessons can we take from this incident? Its clear now > that those carriers who relied on a single source for their > data and voice communications paid most dearly. > > Their customers paid dearly too, in terms of lost business. It > was pure luck that no lives were lost. Next time, we might not > be so lucky. > > But what can we do to prevent this happening again? The answer > is to remove single points of failure wherever possible. > Satellite communication is expensive, and underwater cable > even more so. Still, its been demonstrated that opening > national markets to multiple data carriers usually reduces > prices for consumers and increases revenues for the carriers. > > In New Caledonia, data use has increased by one thousand > percent since it opened its communications market three years > ago. Importantly, they were one of the least affected nations > when the Intelsat 804 failed. > > Opening the communications market is not an appropriate answer > for every island nation. Some are simply too small to support > it. > > In these cases, using separate providers for voice and data > service at very least ensures that if the one is lost, the > other is still available. > > Single Points of Failure are a liability in every system. > International communications is one area where such a > liability can cost lives. > Last Updated ( Friday, 04 February 2005 ) > Do you think the Niue Public Service Commission is in need of > an overhaul? > 26299 Visitors
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