Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ [2004-09-11: list updated for new site] _______________________________________________ > We have 5 guests online > April 29, 2005 - All The Real News About Niue Just For You! > Leader Brimming With Confidence > The Premier of Niue, Young Vivian, says there will be little > change in this weekends election because the people are > content. > > Mr Vivian, one of seven of the 20 MPs returned unopposed told > Radio New Zealand International he wants another three years > as Premier, so he can complete the work of developing an > economic base for Niue following cyclone Heta. > > He says the people are busy rebuilding houses and working in > the industries his government has been trying to establish, > such as nonu and vanilla farming, tourism and fishing. > > But another political veteran common roll MP Terry Coe is > rejecting claims that the election will not produce surprises. > He considers the contest for six common roll members will be > tight and in villages where two candidates are vying for one > seat there could be some changes. Niue News political > commentators are saying village seats of major interest are > Alofi North where Vaiga Tukuitoga, the sitting member who > toppled former Premier Frank Lui six years ago, is being > challenged by the former secretary to government Terry Chapman > and in Mutalau where Agriculture Minister Bill Vakaafi > Motufoou faces former educationalist Nuihepeni Togaiklo.In > Lakepa former director of education Kupa Magatogia hopes to > topple sitting MP John Operator Tiakia. > [date.gif] Thursday, 28 April 2005 > Voters Go To The Polls This Weekend > > About 800 voters on Niue go to the polls on Saturday (local > time) to elect a new 20-member Legislative Assembly. > Its the 11^th general election since the island gained > self-governing status in free association with New Zealand in > 1974. Seven of 14 village representatives are up for election > along with six common roll members. Polling stations are being > set up in village halls around the island with public servants > employed to man the booths. The chief electoral office Togia > Sioneholo and his staff at the Justice Department are > responsible for vote counting and results should be known by > around 9pm. > > Political observers on the island say its the "quietest" > election run-up ever recorded on the island. There has been no > campaigning and it appears the previous Assembly headed by > Premier Young Vivian will be re-elected again. With a > population of only 1200 most voters personally know the > candidates. The absence of Party politics this election has > also been listed as a contributing factor to a lack of > campaigning. > > Candidates have been offered air-time on radio and tv but few > have shown any interest. But there has been additional > interest in expatriate Niueans this year. A movement has > started to try and get islanders living overseas to have a say > in who gets elected to the local Assembly. However that would > mean changing the Constitution and with most local residents > against the idea of broadening the voting base its unlikely to > ever get off the ground. > > [Well bring you results from Niue as they come to hand on > Saturday night, Niue time]. > > Reef Air On Proving Flights > > Proving flights with New Zealand Civil Aviation officials on > board have been carried out this week between Vava'u in Tonga, > Niue and Fiji using the Reef Air Convair 580. > > Its the first step to getting a regular mid-week flight from > Vavau to Niue-Nadi-Niue Vavau for freight and cargo. Air > Chathams ceo Craig Emery told Niue News their Convair is being > leased to Reef Air who will sub-lease it to Peau Vavau Airways > a privately run carrier in Tonga who will use it on the > Tongatapu -Vavau route. It will fly twice daily from Monday to > Saturday, said Mosikaka Moengangongo, the project manager for > Peau Vava'u. > > The Convair will be the third propelled aircraft for the > airline, in addition to the two DC3s, which have been > servicing the domestic air route. Mosikaka said that with the > Convair servicing the main domestic air route between > Tongatapu and Vava'u, the two DC3s would be reserved for > servicing the Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Niuafo'ou and > Niuatoputapu routes. > > Viliami Ma'ake, Tonga's Director of Civil Aviation, said that > the Ministry is also processing an application by Air Chathams > for a foreign air operators license to operate under Peau > Vava'u's domestic license. > Regular services between Niue and Nadi return are expected to > begin May 4. With fishing soon to get underway on Niue the > plane can haul five tonnes of fish to Nadi for international > markets. Up to 37 passengers can be seated on the Convair. The > flight from Niue to Nadi is two hours and the special > introductory return airfare is under $500. Reef Air considers > the flights will attract regional consultants working out of > offices in Fiji and Niueans who want a week of overseas > shopping. > > > New Government Wont Be Short Of Money > > By Our Political Correspondent > > For the first time since 1974 the new Government will start > its three-year term with an assured income from New Zealand > aid. It has a guaranteed $NZ40 million income over the next > five years plus the returns from a growing Trust Fund designed > to break the island of 1300 from more than three decades of > foreign assistance dependency. > > New Zealand and Niue have a pact that will also see greater > assistance with island administration, tourism, health, > education, policing and private sector development. Last year > Prime Minister Helen Clark visited the worlds tiny nation to > reassure its 1200 residents all New Zealand citizens that > their future as a sovereign state was secure, despite talks > about re-integration with its former colonial administrator. > > Reef Shipping and its subsidiary companies have chosen to > inject millions into the islands stagnant economy backing a > fishing and fish processing joint venture, nonu orchard and > juice production and a cargo/passenger air service between > Niue, and Fiji. Its investment has been welcomed because it > provides employment outside the public service. Reef is also > the first tangible example of private sector initiatives in > the past decade, encouraged by Jim Anderton New Zealands > Minister of Economic Development. When Mr Anderton visited > Niue last October he told business folk and local politicians > that Niue would be regarded as an economically challenged > region similar to those in New Zealand. Niue would also have > easier access to New Zealand government departments especially > in health, legal and education departments. > > Niue has an annual budget of about $NZ18 million. A new $6.5m > hospital is being funded by New Zealand. > > Palau Upgrading Sports Venues For Mini Games > > The Republic of Palau is spending more than $US$1.2 million to > upgrade various facilities around its islands so that it will > be prepared to play host to some of the South Pacific region's > finest athletes. The 2005 Mini South Pacific Games will open > on July 24, and much of the preparation for competition > facilities and athlete accommodation is close to being > complete, Palau National Olympic Committee secretary-general > Baklai Temengil said. > > Temengil added that 20 countries are scheduled to take part in > 12 sports over the course of two weeks, but the number of > participating countries and athletes could change by late next > month, as the deadline for countries to turn in their rosters > is May 25. Currently scheduled to participate in the games > are: Niue, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern > Mariana Islands, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of > Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, > New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, > the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis/Futuna. > The countries will compete from July 25 to August 4 in > athletics, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, outrigger > paddling, softball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, > weightlifting and wrestling. Niue is expected to do well in > weightlifting divisions. > Economic Growth Impaired By Corruption, Instability > > The United Nations says the economies of the Pacific Islands > region continue to experience modest growth. > > The UNs Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the > Pacific says Pacific Island economies have Gross Domestic > Product growth rates averaging below 5%. > > The Commissions Executive Secretary, Kim Hak-Su, has told a > meeting in Bangkok this week that such a growth rate isnt > enough to meet the regions development challenges. > > The commissions report says higher prices for primary > commodities - including cocoa, copra, palm oil, copper and > gold - have benefited PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. > > It says strong economic growth in Australia and New Zealand > continues to underpin tourism expansion in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga > and Vanuatu. > > However, the report says political instability and corruption > are the main impediments to investment. [RNZI] > > Cooks Back Down On Freight Rate-Niue May Escape > > An application for a sea freight rate increase by Excil Cook > Islands Line (EXCIL) that charters the MV Southern Express on > the Auckland to Rarotonga run has been withdrawn. The increase > was requested when an alternative vessel had to be chartered > during an overhaul of the MV Southern Express. > > It was likely freight rates to Niue would also be increased. > "It's a most welcome development, a tremendous gesture from > EXCIL especially when the country is trying to recover from > the devastating effects of cyclones," said Cook Islands > Transport minister Tom Marsters. > Minister Marsters appointed a review committee comprising > Henry Puna as chairman, Nick Henry and Transport secretary > Aukino Tairea. > The committee looked at the merits of the application as well > as its broader impact on the country's economy to make > recommendations to the Minister. > The review committee met with EXCIL on April 4 to discuss the > application. > "Whilst we appreciate the immediacy of EXCIL's concerns, the > meeting agreed to defer the application for freight rate > increases," said Puna in a media release. > He said this was pending a broader ranging review of existing > services, capacity and infra-structural needs for the future. > Last month EXCIL director Brett Porter said the application > was made to meet the extra costs of maintaining their vessel, > the MV Southern Express, and operating in today's market. > Puna acknowledged the increased operating costs faced by > EXCIL, but he believes there is a need to look beyond > increased fuel and vessel costs. [Cook Island News] > Newspapers: The Niue Star newspaper (owned by politician > Michael Jackson) has been published in New Zealand during the > past 14 months circulating to Niueans in Auckland and on the > island. Now Samoa's successful daily newspaper, the Samoa > Observer, has launched a New Zealand edition in Auckland to > meet the demand from Samoans living there for news from home. > > The newspaper group's editor-in-chief, Savea Sano Malifa, says > 3,500 copies of the first edition have rolled off the press > but it's too early to say how many sold. Savea, who founded > the paper as a weekly publication in 1978, says launching the > new edition has been a costly operation but he hopes to expand > into other parts of New Zealand eventually. The newspaper will > come out several times a week and will feature news from the > islands and stories about local Samoan communities. [RNZI] > > Poll: This week readers favour Greenpeace input into the > island's renewable energy project. 62.5% welcomed Greenpeace > involvement, 37.5% disagreed. > > Fishing: The late arrival of Cyclone Sheila almost cost a > group of Samoan fishermen their boats and their lives. In a > drama on the high seas one double-hulled alia part of a small > convoy of four boats from Apia capsized and sank 60 kms off > Niue. The largest boat in the group FV Sweet Dolly, due to > long-line for the Niue Fish Processing Factory, picked up the > crew off the sunken boat. A Polynesian Airlines plane and air > force Orion from Auckland later located the drifting two boats > and a Russian container ship dropped off fuel. All fishermen > moored in Alofi safe and well, thanks mainly to the locator > beacons and safety equipment aboard the boats. Late this week > the boats were taken from the water for maintenance checks. > > Eco-state: Conservationists on Niue want the island to be the > worlds first eco-state. Already its promoting organic fruits > and vegetables and now by signing up with Greenpeace Australia > it wants truly eco-friendly renewable energy equipment. Watch > out for solar water heaters along with wind generated > electricity. > > The island with 1200 residents and a weekly air service out of > Auckland is keen to attract so- called Green tourists many of > whom are subscribers to Greenpeace around the world. > > Showtime: Makefu village holds its traditional village showday > on May 7. The village with less than 40 residents is the first > this year to display produce, handicraft and cooking prowess. > > Islanders Still On The Move > > Niueans are not the only ones heading overseas. In > neighbouring Cook Islands residents are still leaving for > overseas, according to the latest figures released by the Cook > Islands Statistics Office writes Matariki Wilson of the Cook > Island News. Last year, 942 more were recorded as having left > over those Cook Islands residents returning home (11,695 > departures against 10,753 arrivals). > In 2003, 884 more residents departed than arrived in the > country. Resident departures were highest in December, > traditionally a month when most Cook Islanders travel to New > Zealand and Australia to visit family and friends. > That month, 776 more residents left than arrived (1679 vs > 903). The data is based on the immigration arrival and > departure cards as collected by immigration officers. Every > individual completes a card upon arrival and departure. > To Vote Or Not To Vote > Niue goes to the polls this weekend but thousands of Niueans > in New Zealand are unable to vote. > About 20,000 Niueans live in this country, compared with only > about 1200 on the island, writes Angela Gregory in the New > Zealand Herald newspaper.. > An elderly Niuean community leader living in South Auckland, > Granby Siakimotu, said he felt it was wrong that he could not > vote in Niue when New Zealanders living overseas could vote in > New Zealand elections. > Mr Siakimotu said his views were shared by many other Niueans > in New Zealand. > "Quite a few people are moaning." > Mr Siakimotu regularly visited Niue but could only vote there > if he had been living there at least three months. > If he wished to stand as a candidate he would have had to be > living there a year. > "But this is not about standing for election, it is about > being able to vote, and have a say ... I, like many, may wish > to retire there." > Lissa Buysman, a Niuean living in Auckland, said she thought > allowing people like herself to vote in the Niuean elections > would help build the important ties between the two > communities considered to be vital to Niue's survival. > Many of the younger generation of Niueans felt connected with > the culture, even though many had never been there, she said. > "That energy should not be overlooked." > Another Auckland Niuean, Ane Strickland, said she did not feel > like she had really left Niue. > "My heart is there, I go back there, my land is there, my home > is there." > However, the health professional said her work and "mental > stimulation" were not in Niue. > "Young people might want to go back, but they need something > there." > Miss Strickland, who travelled to Niue to help clean up after > last year's destructive Cyclone Heta, said she could also > understand why Niueans in Niue felt only they should have the > right to vote. > "I've got two minds on it ... but I feel I still contribute to > the community." > A Niuean living in Australia, Joyleen Pamo, did not believe it > was appropriate for her to vote from abroad based on "hearsay > and political biases" which would not serve the long term > interest of the country. > A member of the Niuean Government, Bill Motufoou, told the > Herald he did not believe place of birth was relevant. > "Non-resident Niueans have a vested interest in their > heritage, but if we all live offshore then who will keep the > light on the rock?" > Niue's chief electoral officer Togia Sioneholo said the > electoral rules had been in place since 1966 with no provision > for Niueans living offshore to vote, probably as at that time > most Niueans then lived on the island and it was not > considered an issue. > He said a challenge in 1999 to change the rules was rejected > by a judge in the High Court of Niue. > He said it was unlikely to be changed as there was strong > feeling on Niue that only those living there should vote. > It was possible for Niueans who were already on the electoral > roll and visited Niue within a three-year period to vote, > although that presented "logistical difficulties". . > Mr Sioneholo estimated no more than 800 Niueans were on the > roll. > [NZ Herald] > Last Updated ( Thursday, 28 April 2005 ) > Are you confident about Niue's economic future in fishing, > nonu, vanilla and tourism? > (_) Don't Care > 43321 Visitors
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