Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > April 22 2005 - Everything You Need To Know - Niue News First > Greenpeace Signs Up With Niue > The Niue government says it has signed an agreement to work > with the > environmental organisation Greenpeace on a renewable energy > project > focussing on solar and wind energy generation. > > The agreement will allow Niue to move away from fossil fuel > towards clean energy sources. Under the agreement, Greenpeace > Australia Pacific will also provide funding,technical > assistance and expert advice to Niue. The Niue government sees > the relationship with Greenpeace as potentially significant. > > Diesel engines generate the islands power supply residents > pay 32 NZ cents a unit but the actual cost of producing the > unit is around 72 cents. > > Research into wind generators was carried out four years ago > by a Danish company who tested areas on the east coast of Niue > near Hakupu. It's understood the high costs involved in > installing the wind generators halted any progress on the > scheme. > > Offshore Voting Continues To Be An Issue > > Theres a growing movement among Niueans in New Zealand to > bring about a change to the islands Constitution allowing them > to vote in general elections. > > At present Niueans resident overseas cannot vote in island > elections. Calling for a change is Granby Siakimotu who said > this week that New Zealand Niueans want to participate in > whats going on in their homeland. He told Radio Australia that > voting by a ballot system should be considered. Mr Siakimotu > said Niueans planning to retire on the island or for young > people moving back a chance to vote allows them to be part of > the process," he said. > > But island politicians and many residents are strongly against > any overseas residents voting in island Assembly elections. > Premier Young Vivian has encouraged expatriate Niueans to > return home and take part in the development process. > > It is unlikely any move to amend the Constitution to allow > non-resident Niueans voting rights would get past the first > stage of obtaining a two third majority in the Assembly or the > second stage - a similar majority in a public referendum. > > Several years ago Niueans living in New Zealand discussed the > feasibility of Niue re-integrating with New Zealand as the > population dropped below 1500. Today about 1100 people reside > on Niue and although the option is rarely discussed it > continues to be an option. > [date.gif] Friday, 22 April 2005 > Playground Memorial To Mother and Son Killed By Cyclone Heta > A group of Auckland-based Niueans will arrive on their island > next month to set up a recreational park in memory of the > victims of last years Cyclone Heta, Cathy Alec and her young > son Daniel. > > The Tagata Niue Group has raised about $17,000 to pay for a > childrens playground --- swings, slides, climbing apparatus, a > seesaw, a barbecue, picnic table and seats, a basketball hoop > and volleyball net --- to be erected on the clifftop at > Tufukia, close to where the tragedy occurred. > > John Kumitau, co-ordinator of the project, said more than 60 > Niueans had hoped to return to their homeland for the opening > ceremony, if Polynesian Airlines was prepared to provide > discounted airfares. > > He told Pacific affairs correspondent John Andrews that, with > no positive response from the airline, the numbers intending > to travel to Niue had dwindled markedly. > > About five members of the group will arrive on the island on > May 7 to begin work on the two to three-acre project. A second > party of their supporters is expected to join them the > following weekend. > > Mr Kumitau said Reef Shipping had transported free of charge > an equipment-laden container to Niue. > > The initial group would assemble the playground apparatus. > Their supporters would help plant coconuts, frangipani and > hibiscus made available by the Niue Government. > > A feature of the memorial will be a plaque commissioned by > Tagata Niue. > > Mr Kumitau said the plaque was worded: "This childrens > playground is presented in memory of Cathy and Daniel Alec. > The mother and son were victims of the most devastating > disaster to strike the island in living memory, Cyclone Heta, > January 5, 2004. > > "Cathy died whilst protecting her son Daniel from the > devastating cyclone. He fought strongly during those three > painful weeks before he followed his mother. > > "May this playground serve as a symbol of hope and healing for > all the people of Niue who experienced the magnitude of the > disaster. It is also a symbol of return for all Niueans abroad > to come home. > > "Kindly sponsored by the Tagata Niue Group and NiuFM radio > network from New Zealand, Aotearoa." > > Mr Kumitau said the group hoped Mrs Fine Alec, Cathys mother, > would unveil the plaque, to be cemented in an appropriate > position within the park grounds, during the park opening > ceremony on May 22. > > "She is so happy at what we are doing," he said. "She thinks > it is a fitting memorial." > > To fund the project, group members raised about $4000 at a > dinner at Eden Park, a further $3500 from raffle ticket sales > and social gatherings. NiuFM donated $12,000. > > Mr Kumitau said members of the group had also been asked to > help erect new roofing on the community hall at Mutalau while > they were on the island. > > Lakepa Hosts ANZAC Day Ceremony > > Families of Niuean soldiers who served in World War 1 will > gather in Lakepa village on April 25 to celebrate ANZAC Day. > There will be a dawn parade with contingents of the local > police, a Boys Brigade brass band and returned servicemen who > served in World War 11, the K Force, Malaysia and Vietnam. > About 130 Niuean solders served in World War I in the New > Zealand Army service corps many died from influenza. > > Quiet Run Up To Election Its The Aftermath That Will Arouse > Interest > > Electioneering? Whats that, Niueans are asking as 29 political > wannabies line up for the general election on April 30. > Fifteen are contesting 7 village seats with 14 vying for six > common roll positions in the Legislative Assembly. > > This years election lacks any previous campaign vigor say > political commentators who put that down to the abandonment of > the party system prevalent in the past three general > elections. The Niue Peoples Party is non-existent following > the withdrawal of former Premier and party founder Sani > Lakatani. The Opposition have challenged the Treasury benches > in the Assembly as a group of independents. > > Chief electoral officer Togia Sioneholo confirmed to Radio New > Zealand International News there is little sign that the > island is going to the polls in a little over a week. He said > usually there are pamphlets and a few banners around the > island but this year he predicts the candidates are waiting > until the last week. > > The Broadcasting Corporation aims to give all candidates equal > time on radio and tv but is coy about selling advertising to > those who can afford it. > > If Young Vivian is returned to the islands leadership role hes > likely to bond the government by appointing a Cabinet which > includes at least one woman. He will no doubt be looking > carefully at the composition of three others who will head the > government into 2006 and beyond. Political commentators say > Toke Talagis future in a Vivian led Cabinet is in doubt. His > role in the financial chaos surrounding Niue Investments Ltd > the company struck off the New Zealand Companies Registry for > not filing financial records has caused concern and if he > challenges Vivian for the top job and loses that may put > closure to his finance portfolio. > > Hima Takelesi, if elected, would be a logical replacement. He > has an accounting degree and after serving as Niues first High > Commissioner to New Zealand has a good working knowledge and > contacts within diplomatic circles in Wellington. Of the other > two Cabinet Ministers Fisa Pihigia is re-elected unopposed in > Tuapa but Bill Vakaafi is facing a strong challenge in > Mutalau. > > Investing In Hotel Proves A Costly Experience > > Shareholders in the failed company Niue Investment Ltd set up > by Finance Minister Toke Talagi to the lease the > government-owned Niue Hotel - now seem resigned to the fact > they have lost their money. An investment broker in New > Zealand told Niue News when a company goes under without any > tangible assets the shareholders stand to lose everything they > invested. About 32 shareholders in NIC stand to lose around > $45,000. > > It has been a bizarre ending to a business proposition that > aroused plenty of interest both on Niue and in New Zealand but > started off decidedly under-capitalized and in a tourist > industry which has staggered along for almost 20 years... > unable to secure itself in a competitive South Pacific market. > The first chairman of NIC Toke Talagi resigned after matters > of a conflict of interest in the hotel and his Tourism > portfolio were publicly raised on the island. The second > chairman was Speaker of the House Atapana Siakimotu who was at > the helm when the company was struck off the New Zealand > Company Register in December 2004. He has denied any knowledge > of the company being struck-off. > > One shareholder, elected onto the board of directors started > alarm bells ringing early in the companys history. He voiced > concern about the quality of management and the lack of > financial reporting to the board. He told Niue News he later > quit as a director after no action was taken. The amount of > credit extended on bar accounts worried some shareholders as > did the use of volunteer staff. Cyclone Heta that wrecked the > clifftop 32-room hotel brought matters to a head when no-one > was able to establish the financial status of the company. It > turned out that there were no records of creditors or debtors. > Diligent searching by a shareholder recovered a hard drive > from a computer in the hotel debris indicating the company > owed around $103,000 most of it to local businesses including > the Westpac Banking Corporation. > > One creditor Cullings Food Products won judgement for payment > of an $18,000 debt from Niue Investments Ltd. It was then > revealed the company had been struck off the New Zealand > Companies Register in December 2004 for failing to file > statutory financial records. Niue Investments sought a stay of > execution of a writ of sale and possession brought by Cullings > but that was dismissed by the High Court. Its understood > further action against the company by other creditors is > pending. Meanwhile Cullings have sold their business and after > 20 years residency on Niue have returned to New Zealand. Up > until early this week they had not been paid. > > Oceania Tourism Predicted To Increase > > A study by the Pacific Asia Travel Association suggests the > number of tourist arrivals in the Oceania region will grow by > nearly 8% in the next year. But Niue does not feature in the > forecasts. > > The association released its Asia Pacific Tourism Forecasts > 2005-2007 at its Annual Conference in Macau. > > It forecasts arrivals will be grow by 7.83 per cent for > 2005-2006. > > It predicts the average growth will decelerate, with tourist > arrivals increasing by 6.67 per cent in 2006-2007. > > The study says Hawaii, New Caledonia, Samoa and Tonga show > growth extending to 2006 before settling back to a lower rate > in 2007. > > Palaus growth over the period 2003-2007 is expected to > outstrip other Pacific Island countries, with 19.8 per cent > forecast. > > Fiji and Guam are close behind on 16 per cent and 16.1 per > cent respectively. Theyre followed by the Northern Marianas, > Samoa, PNG and Vanuatu. > > Meanwhile, Tongas Minister for Tourism, Cecil Cocker, and the > Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, Gao Shanhai have signed a > Memorandum of Understanding allowing Chinese Tour Operators to > bring Chinese tourists to Tonga. > > The Minister said that the signing of the MOU was the first > step for Tonga to be given an Approved Destination Status by > the Chinese.Tourists leave China in groups and there are about > 50 countries in the world with ADS where they may travel. > Sione Moala from the Tonga Visitors Bureau said that only Fiji > and the Cook Islands have ADS. > > He said that there were further negotiations to be carried out > between TVB and their Chinese counterparts before the first > group of Chinese tourists arrive in Tonga. > > Bumpy Patch for Private Tongan Airline > > While Reef Air plans to put its leased Convair into Tonga with > Peau Vava'u Airways - the sole operator of domestic air > service in Tonga the local airline has had a hiccup serving > the outer islands of Tonga. The Project Manager of Peau > Vava'u, Mosikaka Moengangongo, said that the two DC3s of the > Peau Vava'u Airways ran out of fuel, and a shipment of fuel > was expected to arrive sometime this week. Mosi said that > meanwhile, Peau Vava'u was negotiating with Polynesian > Airlines to charter a small aircraft to continue the service > that was provided by the Peau Vava'u DC3. Despite the > stoppage, a weekly Polynesian Airlines service using a Dash 8 > between Samoa, Vava'u and Tongatapu and return, will continue > every Friday. Viliami Ma'ake, the Director of Civil Aviation, > said that they had received a notice from Peau Vava'u that > their service was grounded due to shortage of fuel, but he > wanted the airways to remember that they are obligated to > cater for the domestic air service under their Economic > Approval Policy, which they signed when they were given the > monopoly to operate the domestic service. > > Kiwis Rebuked For Lack Of Aid > > New Zealand has been criticized by an international committee > for lagging behind other developed countries in its > contribution towards global aid. > > The Pacific Islands region is the biggest benefactor of New > Zealands aid program with Niue receiving $40 million over the > next five years. The island has a population of 1100. > > The OECDs Development Assistance Committee says New Zealand > has successfully refocused its aid delivery through the > creation of NZAid in 2002. > > But it says New Zealand contributes only 0.23% of its Gross > National Income in aid, making it one of the lowest > contributors of the 22 countries surveyed. > > The aid minister, Marian Hobbs, acknowledges New Zealands low > ranking, but says aid has increased by about eight per cent > since NZAid was established [RNZI]. > Dogs: Stray unregistered dogs that attack unsuspecting > cyclists are causing concern on Niue. A resident who has > experienced several attacks recently says with the advent of > the tourist season when many visitors hire bicycles an attempt > should be made to put unruly dogs down. Dog attacks are not > new on the island. One resident who suffered injuries after > falling from a bicycle sought to sue the owner of the dog. > > Payment: No word yet on whether or not the government will pay > out $15,000 in back pay to former Premier Sani Lakatani. His > legal advisors have been in contact with officials on the > island over the matter. > > Checking: New Zealand officials are still checking reports a > new hospital its funding for Niue will cost nearly 10% more > than originally announced. Building has started on the > facility at Kaimiti to replace the hospital knocked down by > Cyclone Heta more than a year ago. The director of the Pacific > group at New Zealands Agency for International Development, > Craig Hawke, said his colleagues are talking to the Niuean > government about whether $NZ6million is the final figure. > [RNZI]. > > Waiting: Niue's Fish Processing factory still remains idle > after being opened in October 2004. Local manager Eddie Watts > last month said fishing boats would be unloading at Alofi on > April 8 and a Reef Air leased Convair would arrive April 5 to > take the fish to Fiji for sale in Japan and Hawaii. The > aircraft has yet to arrive on Niue. Next week boats are > expected to unload their catches and start up the factory. > > Honey: Niue Honey continues to feed its bees sugar as dry > weather takes its toll on forest flowering. Tonnes of sugar > have been imported to Niue for the bees since Cyclone Heta. > The high quality Niue honey is a favourite with health food > manufacturers in New Zealand. > > Died: Double tragedy for the Leomotu family of Alofi. Last > week Cathy Leomotu was buried in Niue after passing away > unexpectedly in New Zealand. This week her husband Aleki (66) > died at Auckland Hospital after a long illness. He will be > buried in Niue on Friday April 22 (Niue time). He is survived > by son James and daughter Tanya, four grandchildren and one > great-grandchild. > > A former prominent resident of Makefu, Vakaua Tamapeau (74) > died suddenly at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland this week. > His son Harry Kainema was a senior public servant on Niue and > worked in the government airlines office. Mr Tamapeau is > survived by his wife Nise Siono, three children, 15 > grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A family service > was conducted at the McKenzie LDS chapel Mangere on April 21 > and his funeral was held on April 22. > > Poll: Niueans who voted in last weeks Niue News poll favour > more than a once a week flight in and out of Niue. 25% > considered the current service was sufficient. Reef Air will > soon be introducing a regular passenger/cargo service from > Niue through Tonga and Fiji return. > PACIFIC PARADOX: DIALYSIS OR DIE > By Michael Field > (Islands Business, April) Joeli Vidiri was famous as a > celebrated Fijian rugby player who even, briefly, made it into > the All Blacks. Five years ago his kidneys began failing. A > little while later, another Polynesian rugby star, Jonah Lomu, > suffered a similar fate. > > Had either of them been citizens of Fiji or Tonga they would > by now be dead. Their passports and the promise of access to > expensive, high-technology dialysis equipment has kept them > alive. > > Lomu, who was born in New Zealand of Tongan heritage, has now > had a transplant and talks of playing top level rugby again. > > That is not the good fortune for most people in the South > Pacific who today find levels of diabetes, high blood pressure > and obesity soaring, with a consequently terrifying jump in > kidney failure. For such people the choice is limited: > dialysis or die. > > New Zealand, which provided dialysis care for many in the > South Pacific slammed the door on them in March 2003, saying > they have enough of their own patients without any more. > > Australia takes a similar attitude; if you have the money to > pay for private dialysis, then you can come. If not; don't > bother. > > Now, in a precedent setting move, a Singaporean charity > organisation has set up a new Samoan kidney dialysis centre > providing dialysis for up to 60 patients with renal failure, > and at a fraction of the cost of what they might have expected > to pay. > > Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi was able to > score political capital at the opening early in March. > > "Whilst renal dialysis may be perceived as an expensive and > resource intensive service-facility, its inception today > illustrates Samoa's commitment to provide access for our > people with the kind of quality health services which are > easily available to people with end-stage non-communicable > disease (NCD) complications in developed countries," he said. > > "However, it must be noted that the national focus of Samoa's > NCD policy and strategy is on promoting healthy lifestyles and > preventing NCD complications. Samoa remains adamant to > reaffirming the old adage of 'prevention is always better, > cheaper and more sustainable than cure'." > > But tough problems lie ahead, not least because Samoa now > finds itself completely dependent on Singapore's National > KidneyFoundation (NKF) and, by a curious extension, the > Singapore national provident scheme, which will not only cover > the costs, but also provide the expert staff and all the > equipment and materials needed to run the unit. > > NKF chairman Richard Yong made it clear the Samoan unit is for > Samoans only but, with the Pacific health ministers conference > in Apia, he made it clear that "other Pacific Islands...may > look up to us for establishing the facility in these islands > as well." > > They have also signalled clearly that they expect Samoa to be > taking over the unit inside five years. This might prove to be > a big ask. > > An earlier Fiji attempt to create a dialysis unit failed > within six months, in part because of the inability to attract > key staff, and also because of a failure in the necessary > medical controls. Nauru's unit is struggling to maintain > services. > Still with renal failure growing at a rapid rate around the > Pacific, Samoan officials make it clear that it might well be > very good business for Samoa to become a regional dialysis > centre later on. > > Samoan Health Minister Mulitalo Siafausa Vui said the cost of > treating renal dialysis patients in New Zealand is NZ$1.5 > million for 10 dialysis patients per year and increasing by > 15-20 percent annually. Travel costs, accommodation and living > expenses were not included. > > He said when New Zealand was closed off, Samoa conducted a > feasibility study on setting up its own unit and concluded it > would cost T$50 million. > > "With an annual health budget of less than T$20 million, it > was one of those many things we can all dream of, but will > never have. But not any more." > > With Singapore, they get a unit that will cost around T$5 > million over five years. > > He made it clear the need was urgent, pointing out that there > were 40 to 50 new severe kidney failure patients each year, > and in five years, the number could rise to some 250 patients > requiring renal replacement therapy. > > One in four Samoans now have diabetes and 19 percent of the > population have high blood pressure. > > NKF provided 12 dialysis machines and a renal specialist, two > specialist nurses and a technician. This became necessary > after a Samoan national who was being trained in New Zealand > to run a new renal unit quit and set up practice in New > Zealand. > > "Most local doctors have found jobs overseas which is a great > loss for Samoa and the region. Yet the Government of Samoa has > spent so much in funding their scholarships to study > medicine," said Mulitalo. > > "These are some of our concerns as health leaders as to how we > can come up with measures to prevent further departures of > more doctors." > > Mulitalo said they liked the cost-effective and sustainable > model Singapore offered them. > > "To my understanding, dialysis patients live only five years. > In Singapore, the longest surviving patient lived up to 22 > years. That convinced myself and the government that we had to > take the NKF discipline." > > NKF's Yong says the operation in Samoa was unique as they were > not only giving technical expertise, but were taking charge of > the operations at the centre as well. > > "Our own trained staff, who will go on sabbatical to work in > Samoa, will include bio-medical engineers who will be > maintaining the dialysis machines. > > "With time, we will be training local staff members in various > areas, and transferring our expertise to them. We will also be > auditing them on a quarterly basis, to ensure the highest > quality of care is maintained." > > He said that since 1986, NKF has been able to ensure that no > Singaporean died of kidney failure as result of being unable > to afford treatment. > > He said their programme was predicated on strong fundamentals > of discipline, thrift and dynamism, as well as patient and > family contributions and public donations. > > "As a result, we were able to drastically bring down the cost > of dialysis by almost half," > > He stressed that dialysis funding all over the world was > extremely expensive and it has drained the healthcare > resources of even the biggest national economies. > > "We want to use our model to teach people worldwide how to > manage kidney failure while maintaining the highest standards > in treatment and care at the lowest possible cost," he said. > > People on dialysis lived less than seven years, but > Singapore's programme had changed that. > > "As a result, we were able to drastically bring down the cost > of dialysis by almost half...Today, because of the outstanding > quality of medical treatment, many patients live for 15 to 20 > years and our patients have one of the lowest mortality rates > in the world." > > Yong said they were the largest not-for-profit dialysis > provider in the world. > > "Ours is a unique model that the world wants to emulate." > > Dialysis funding "is extremely expensive and it has drained > the healthcare resources of even the biggest national > economies. > > "We want to use our model to teach people worldwide how to > manage kidney failure while maintaining the highest standards > in treatment and care at the lowest possible cost. This is the > gospel we want to spread to the world. > "So far, we have provided our expertise in dialysis care to > countries like India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal and > others. > "We are here to save lives and to ease the socio-economic > burden of Samoan kidney patients and their families because we > know how to run such a programme with little resources." > > They hope that within three years the programme will be able > to be run on its own. > > "This is just the beginning. Now that this shared vision of > setting up a dialysis centre has come to fruition, we can work > towards the development of primary and secondary prevention > programmes to curb the onset of kidney failure in Samoa." > > NKF noted that the kidney failure rate was increasing sharply > in Samoa. It came on the back of a rise in diabetes sufferers, > from 6.4 percent in 1978 to 23.1 percent in 2002. Prevalence > of hypertension has risen slightly to 21.4 percent. Around 57 > percent of Samoans are obese, 40 percent smoke tobacco and > around 30 percent consume alcohol. > > "Diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes for kidney > failure; hence such figures are alarming for Samoa's > population of some 180,000." > > NKF has set up 21 dialysis centres and two prevention centres > in Singapore, provided 1.2 million health screenings to the > people of Singapore and helped countries such as Bangladesh, > China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan set up > dialysis centres. > > Its patient outcomes are one of the best in the world. Its > 1800 patients have a survival rate of more than 95 percent at > the end of one year's treatment. Moreover, 93 percent of its > patients certified medically fit are working. > > Samoa's health minister and three ministry of health officials > travelled to New Zealand on March 31 to escort home nine renal > patients sent there for dialysis. They and some local renal > patients will be the first group to be treated at Motootua. > Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 April 2005 ) > Do yu agree with Niue's decision to involve Greenpeace in the > renewable energy project? > 41971 Visitors
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