Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 6 guests online and 1 member online > [date.gif] Thursday, 24 March 2005 > 'Soft Touch' Image - Is Niue Too Casual? > Island Now Grappling With Immigration Review > Niue, long regarded as a 'soft touch' for those wanting to > stay in the South Seas, is planning to tighten its slack > immigration rules. > People from any country in the world can turn up at the > airport and get a 30-day visitors visa which has raised the > eyebrows of an increasing number of security conscious > neighbours. > A government committee and a New Zealand consultant have been > reviewing the Immigration Act during the past year but have > yet to report to the Cabinet. > The matter has been raised as an urgent issue for the past > decade but politicians have been reluctant to address an > overhaul of the regulations. > The first sign of cracks in the law were revealed in 1997 > during the infamous Father Kevin Glover case - a Catholic > priest who was forced to leave the Niue parish under the > threat of deportation for criticizing the government's > education system. Congregations of a Korean sect wanting to > start a Holy City and a Canadian fraudster keen to set up a > Cyber City on Niue also heightened awareness in the > immigration rules. > Former Chief Justice, the late Doug Dillon, was quick to order > delinquent youth sent to Niue for rehabilitation back to New > Zealand along with convicted criminals of Niuean descent from > New Zealand who created trouble in the tiny > community. > The island government, now facing a critical labour shortage > as the massive fishing and agriculture investments of Reef > Group come to fruition, will quickly have to decide where it > is going to recruit a new workforce. > Accommodation, land tenure and wages form part of issues and > were to the forefront of a Tuvaluan immigration plan > introduced by former Premier Frank Lui. The 10 Tuvaluan > families were settled in the small village of Vaiea . > > Most of those migrants now live in New Zealand. Premier Young > Vivian has already made an open invitation for New Zealanders > to move into Niue. > Minister of Finance Toke Talagi favours Niueans returning home > to fill the vacancies. All admit it's a "sensitive issue" with > many Niueans now cautious of having an oversized welcoming > mat. > Opposition MP Terry Coe is against non-Niueans coming to Niue, > getting permanent residency within three years then applying > for a New Zealand passport and moving to Auckland. He also > considers the immigration rules are not being applied to > everyone and the enforcement of immigration regulations is > "too casual." > "We should take care in issuing permanent residency to people > and one Minister should not have the sole power to do that," > said Mr Coe. "There have been instances here where all sorts > of people have been given permanent residency, used our > education and health services then disappear to New Zealand." > "They are eating our cake," he added. > Mr Coe, a former Cabinet Minister seeking re-election, > considers public service and private sector job vacancies > should be advertised on the Internet so Niueans overseas know > what's available and if they have the appropriate skills can > apply. Mr Coe was against offering Niueans any incentives to > return home. > "If Niueans don't apply for jobs Pacific people should be > considered. But they should work here for five or 10 years > before getting permanent residency." But several people who > have applied to reside on Niue in the past year told Niue News > that there appeared to be confusion among officials over a > standard approach to granting visas. > Sources in government say the immigration review report is > unlikely to be released until mid year. The review will result > in new legislation. > > Price Hikes And Other Shocks > Niue is heading for price hikes in food and fuel. And the > government is facing a huge wage bill increase for its 430 > public servants. As the international oil price soars to an > all time high the island will feel the backwash within the > next two months. Shipping and airline freight rates around the > Pacific rim have risen during the last few weeks, and Niue is > unlikely to escape. > Traders are flying in fresh vegetables to meet local demands > and they are fetching top price on the market. The healthy NZ > dollar rate against the US will also be reflected in an upward > trend although inflation on the island > hovers at around 2.8%. > Several traders are confident they can hold retail prices > because of the sound state of the NZ dollar. They say there > have not been major price increases in imported corned beef or > rice - staple food for most Niueans. The economy also faces a > shock-wave as the new government in May will have public > servants pay increases on its agenda. > It's no secret some politicians want government wages linked > to New Zealand in a bid to retain its ever diminishing > population now estimated to be 1200. > > A government freeze on pay was imposed in 1998 and a freeze on > allowances in 2002. There was a general 10% increase in July > 2000 and regrading in 2001. The New Zealand adult minimum wage > rose this week 5.6% to $9.50 an hour with the youth rate > rising to $7.60 an hour. It is estimated that the changes will > help 35,000 adult workers and 6500 16 and 17 year-olds. > But trade unionists point out the minimum wage level is still > too low at 47% of the average wage. The CTU said the minimum > wage should initially go up to $11.05 an hour to take it to > just over 50%of the average wage. Niue pays unskilled workers > between $3-$5 an hour but average mid grade salaries are > around $13,000. > Fiji To Host Tsunami Warning Centre > Efforts to set up a regional tsunami warning centre in Fiji > are under way as stakeholders look for funds to facilitate the > project. Niue will be one of the South Pacific countries in > the system. > "Right now we are working on the communication logistics of > the project,"said seismologist Lasarusa Vuetibau of the > Mineral Resource Department. "This is how we are going to > actually disseminate information from the Nadi > weather office to the public via radio stations effectively." > He said meetings with the various stakeholders were being held > to map the resources available and what was needed. "If a > Tsunami Centre is set up here, we will be serving the > South-west Pacific region, including Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and > the Solomon Islands," said Vuetibau. "Unlike hurricanes and > cyclones, earthquakes and tsunamis do not occur very often, > however their impacts have higher impacts on society." > Meanwhile, National Disaster Management director Joeli > Rokovada said Fiji needs equipment like sirens and other > facilities to ensure that people are informed long before any > tsunamis or seismic activity occurs. > "Tsunamis travel long distances and if they can travel across > the Pacific from Chile then the country should always be on > the alert," he said. > The nearest tsunami center is the Pacific Tsunami Warning > Centre in Hawai´i. The center has some of the detecting > equipment installed at the Nadi weather office. > Mr. Vuetibau said the set-up of such a center in the country > would cost more than a $1 million (US$615,000). "This, > Vuetibau said, "would be sorted out after the proposal is > submitted." > > Were OK Thanks > > The mayor of Pukapuka in the northern Cook Islands says women > and children wont be evacuated to Aitutaki as part of the > islands recovery after Cyclone Percy. > Pukapuka is still without a continuous supply of fresh water > and more than 2-hundred people are without their own home. > Officials on Pukapuka and nearby Nassau had been considering > an offer from Aitutaki to accept people for three months. > But the mayor of Pukapuka, Tere Mataio, says they dont want to > be a burden on people in Aitutaki. [RNZI]. > IN A NUTSHELL > Struck-Off: Niue Investments Ltd the company formed by Finance > Minister Toke Talagi set up to lease the government-owned Niue > Hotel has been struck off the New Zealand Companies Registry. > The High Court in Niue late last year made a judgement for > payment of an $18,000 debt against Niue Investments in favour > of the local butchery, Culling Food Products. This week > Cullings said the debt had not yet been paid. > About 32 investors in Auckland and on Niue put their money > into Niue Investments Ltd. The $2m Hotel Niue Hotel was > destroyed in Cyclone Heta but the core block that survived is > being used as a nightclub. > Assistance: European Union representatives from Fiji have been > on Niue investigating village-based sustainable economic > projects. The EU has allocated $200,000 for Niue projects that > will help sustain income for local communities. > > Poll: Niue tv viewers (90%) prefer to pay a quarterly licence > fee for services rather than have the government increase > taxes to provide free to air programmes (10% support). > Delicacy: The kaloama or goat-fish are gathering in caves and > reef pools around Niue.Everyone who can hold a rod is fishing > and there's always enough to go around. > Deserved: Niue's famous bushwalking guide Misa Kulatea has > been honoured with a Bat Conservation International Award. He > took many injured bats and birds under his wing after Cyclone > Heta and hand fed them because of the > shortage of food. > Hmmm: Yet another workshop on Niue. This time a five-day > conference of the Pacific Regional Support Mechanism. It drew > a large number of consultants and regional delegates from > Samoa, Rarotonga and Tonga. > Business: Reef Air has rented Jenna's Café as its > adminstration centre in Alofi. The owners of the café have > relocated to the previous Jenna's de la Cuisine premises next > to the Makaini Hall. > Golf: The New Zealand High Commission on Niue is again > sponsoring the annual Waitangi Day nine-hole ambrose golf > tournament on March 28. The tournament is restricted to 34 > teams and entries close March 24. > Promises: Its countdown time for nominees to sign up as > candidates in the general election. The Legislative Assembly > has dissolved for its 10th session since 1974 and wannabe > politicians are out and about drumming up support. > Rubbish: Contractors on Niue have spent a second weekend > collecting inorganic rubbish for crushing and removal. Old car > bodies, batteries and roofing iron have been collected free of > charge and tipped at Aliluki ready for bailing next month. > > Details: The four Pacific leaders who comprise the core group > overseeing the development of the Pacific Plan on closer links > in the region have called for more details on how the planned > changes would be implemented. The Plan, still in its draft > form, outlines sweeping changes, but is yet to indicate how > they could be achieved. The core group, the Prime Ministers of > New Zealand, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, and the President of > the Marshall Islands, met for the first time in Auckland. New > Zealands Prime Minister, Helen Clark, says they now getting > into some practical questions on how the Plan will > work.[RNZI]. > > Waiting: Niue Public Service Commissioners Mrs Malua Jackson ( > chair), Togia Pihigia and Tau Pasisi whose contracts expired > last week are waiting for re-appointment by the Cabinet. [The > Commission's controversial relationship with Cabinet was > highlighted in a Whole of Government draft report by New > Zealander Don Hunn recently.] > Easter: Niue's population are spending the weekend attending > Easter church services around the island. Public services and > private businesses will close Friday and Monday. > Missing: Police are keeping a file on a missing elderly single > Niuean man open. The man, who moved to Makefu village from New > Zealand several years ago, went missing more than three months > ago. A Police spokesperson said a search of the coastal > clifftop near the man's home revealed clothing and some of his > belongings were also found in a plantation. > Rugby: Niue's Finance Minister Toke Talagi has been re-elected > president of the island's Rugby Union. Vice president is > Harkai Pihigia. > Health: While Niue awaits its new hospital, Samoa is planning > another one in the centre Apia. But the Opposition has > questioned a proposed hospital to be built in the capital.The > secretary of the Samoa Democratic United Party, Su'a Atonio, > has told a news conference he is questioning the mental > soundness of the health minister, Mulitalo Siafausa. Su'a says > millions of dollars will go to what he calls a new and > unnecessary hospital at a time when doctors and other medical > staff are asking for pay rises.The MP says the national > hospital at Moto'otua, is already sufficiently close to the > centre of the capital. > TV: Excellent reception of tv services around the island since > the opening of the new 80 metre tower with a 1000 kw > transmitter at Makefu. An additional shorter tower at the BCN > studios at Fonuakula has also improved > reception on the southern side of the island. The corporation > is holding trial broadcasts using ABC Asia Pacific programmes > to ascertain costs and has lately been screening 24 hours. > Fishing: A decision by the Government to make tuna fishermen > pay for swordfish landed as part of their catch has decimated > the industry, and could result in New Zealand tuna being > caught by overseas boats. Most tuna fishermen are > owner-operators, who say they are already being hit by the > soaring Kiwi dollar and rising fuel costs. Swordfish catch > income is about a third of revenue for most boats. However, in > December, New Zealand's Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope > decided that fishermen had to pay for swordfish as separate > quota. But fishermen objected. They said swordfish was an > integral part of the fishery's revenue, not a separate > fishery. Now tuna fishermen say more than half of those active > in the industry have tied up or sold their boats as a result > of this decision. > VILLAGE PENALIZES FAMILY > By Terry Tavita ( Samoa Observer) > Several families have been penalised at Solosolo village in > Samoa because they did not support an election candidate the > village backed. > > Solosolo high chief Nuafesili Miliona said action against the > families was taken for "betraying" the village. > > But Fonotoe Nuafesili Pierre Lauofo, who won Friday's Anoama'a > West by-election, called the council's decision a breach of > election law and a breach of individuals' freedom to choose > their leaders. > > Nuafesili Miliona said the Solosolo village council had > decided to support their tapaau, high chief, Leota > Leulua'iali'i Ituau Ale, in the by-election. Leota is a former > parliamentarian and former Speaker of the House. > > The families instead had supported Fonotoe, from Luatuanu'u. > > The families involved are understood to be relatives of > Fonotoe's wife, Sui, and were actively campaigning for Fonotoe > in the run-up to the by-election. > > Though the families remain in Solosolo, the village council on > Saturday decided to bar their participation in village affairs > (pulega fa'alenu'u). > > Nuafesili Miliona said: "It is a tradition of Solosolo that > when a tapaau is running, the village is united in its support > for the tapaau. But at the same time, we told people that they > can vote for whoever they wanted to. They chose not to vote > for the tapaau, so the council has decided that they can still > exercise their freedoms but not in the decision-making unit in > the village that they have betrayed. The council has also > advised people to keep the peace." > > Nuafesili Miliona said that Fonotoe had approached Solosolo > village about his candidacy before the by-election but was > told that the village was united for Leota. > > "Fonotoe was told that people can vote for him if they wanted > to," he said. > > Leota said that the decision was solely that of the village > council. > > "I told the village on Friday after the election to exercise > restraint and to remain calm," he said. > > Fonotoe, a lawyer and former Secretary for Justice, said that > the village is overstepping its authority and is in breach of > human rights as protected under the constitution. > > He said: "Though the details I've received of the council > decision have been a bit sketchy, the council cannot penalise > people for exercising their democratic right to vote for the > candidate of their choice. It would be a breach of election > laws and of human rights to do so." > > The seat became vacant when Cabinet Minister Tagaloa Tuala > Sale Tagaloa resigned to become president of the Land and > Titles Court. > Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 March 2005 ) > How do you think the Queen's Baton relay should be taken > around the island? > (_) Let local athletes carry it. > (_) Let the whole population have a turn. > 36264 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/
