Press Release

April 22 2005 

Niue Government Appoints High Commissioner to New Zealand.




 

Niue’s Premier and Cabinet Ministers this week announced the appointment of Niue’s High Commissioner to New Zealand after receiving approval from the New Zealand Government. Mrs Sisilia Grace Tupou Talagi in her appointment to the diplomatic post in Wellington becomes the first woman to hold the position since Niue became a self-governing state in 1974.

“Sisi is an extraordinary civil servant, and a perfect choice for the High Commission post,” Premier Vivian suggested to his Cabinet Ministers when he recommended the nomination in December last year. “Our candidate already has the appropriate credentials, knowledge, qualifications and social skills that are standard requirements of a career diplomat.”

Mrs Talagi who holds a BSc from Otago University [1974] a Post-graduate Diploma in Food Technology from Massey University [1975] and a Certificate in Law from the University of the South Pacific [2001] has held high level employment posts in Niue’s Public Service since she returned in 1976. “I came back to fulfil my obligations to the Government of Niue and had never harboured any intentions of living anywhere else,” she admitted. Mrs Talagi spent the next 5 years as the Food Technologist in the Niue Development Board before accepting the post of a Research Fellow at Alafua Agricultural College, Samoa, from 1981-1983.

The following years were spent working in the Department of Agriculture and eventually appointed its Director in 1989, a position she held until 1995 when she left to become the head the Department of External Affairs. By December 1999 Mrs Talagi became the country’s top civil servant, Secretary to the Government of Niue. “A remarkable vocational achievement in anybody’s language,” remarked a respectful male colleague, “to have breached a career barrier previously not normally achieved by women.” The High Commission post therefore is an appropriate acknowledgement for an extraordinary civil servant.

“I have two major objectives that I hope to accomplish in my new job,” said Mrs Talagi. “To maintain the special constitutional relationship between Niue and New Zealand and to nurture and sustain the link between our people in New Zealand and Niue.” Of the two objectives having a person ‘on the spot’ in the capital city and living in close proximity to the Government of New Zealand, are vital links between the two constitutional partners, while the second will require support from the Niue Trades Officer, who is currently based in Auckland, and being the person Mrs Talagi is she will find a way of achieving both and will be an enormous challenge to the new High Commissioner.

The Niue High Commission in Wellington was established four years ago with Mr Hima Takelesi as its first occupant. Mrs Talagi is well versed in the intricate requirements of diplomatic protocols practical politics and services to the people of Niue. “The highlight of my career experience was at the FAO Meeting in Rome a few years ago,” she confessed, “meeting world leaders, top level representatives from major organisations – I felt awed and privileged to be in the same room with them.”

The first and the most constant priority for the new Commissioner will always to promote island state, the Government and the people of Niue at every opportunity, a task Premier Vivian and his Cabinet Ministers that is well within the capabilities of Mrs Talagi. High Commissioner Talagi will be presenting her Letter of Introduction at the Governor General’s special ceremony when she assumes her new post in early July.

In Search of the Perfect Politician.

Is there such a person? Does he or she exist?  

Of course there is such a person; otherwise we would not be having an election at the end of this month, would we? Right?“Wrong,” you said.

 Then why are you voting? Why are you agonising over your decision in who to vote for if you do not believe that there is such person?

 “Because no one is perfect,” you replied, “except perhaps God.”

 Oh, you mean you are not perfect either? Then why are you looking for a quality in a person that you yourself do not possess?  In that case then why waste time voting? You might as well put his name in a hat and ask someone to draw it out for you. That way we can all save time, money, effort and you can get to keep your friendship with your community, relations and friends intact.

“But that is sooo… undemocratic,” you protested.

Aah! It is undemocratic now, is it? What has democracy to do with finding a perfect politician?

Having introduced a new subject into the conversation I felt neatly sidetracked to ponder my defence of my politician. Therefore I am obliged to describe him to you for your edification.

The perfect politician sports long white hair with an equally long white beard, and he wears a long white coat that covers his feet… are you enlightened yet? You are? You see, I am right after all! 

Okay, you win. There is no such a person and the one that I have just described are but the physical, not the human characteristics which are much more difficult to see and the reason why you need to surf your heart to find the wisdom needed to know the difference of a person you are going to vote for.

So what is the point of myarticle? Simply this – that since there is no such person you will have to rely on your head to find the qualities that would convince of the suitability in your preferred candidate, but let your heart guide your hand to select the one who will make decisions in the Government on your behalf.     

Why Change a Winning Combination?

There is truth in this saying: “If it works it doesn’t need fixing.”

We already have a team of capable, forward thinking Ministers and their Associates who have managed to keep this country stabilised on an even keel for the last three years, and they have begun important economic development plans and projects that need seeing through. They are the only ones who can do this without causing great upheavals to our nation.

We have an established international reputation to uphold as well, achieved through sheer hard work, amenable personality traits and supportive to internationally inspired initiatives when they count. There are world leaders who have been on the international meeting circuits for years without achieving a single moment of recognition that made other leaders sit up and take notice. We have that.

Because of the efforts that our current leaders have put in we are riding on the crest of a wave. Their collective achievements are too numerous for the available space on this publication.

We who have learned from the Bible that ‘pride is a sin’ are the first to take umbrage when our pride i[we are not meant to value this, remember?] is hurt [mamahi e loto] we throw up our hand in indignation and want to change things – like packing up and live somewhere else.

The solution lies in our commitment to collective effort [kaufakalataha] to help ourselves accomplish goals that are beneficial to ourselves and o the way we live.

To quote a suggestion by one of the callers in a talkback session two weeks ago – ‘rather than change the members of our Legislative Assembly, why don’t we instead support and build up their confidence to do a better job rather than finding new ones that we have to start again at the beginning?” Sounds like a very wise idea.

Visiting Met Directors’ Meeting a success.

Congratulations to Minister Talagi, Niue Met Services Director Sionetasi Pulehetoa and his staff for a very successful 10^th Directors’ Regional Meteorological [Met] Services held last week on Niue.

Minister Talagi was very proud of his Niue Met Service Team and on several occasions publicly acknowledged Tasi’s handling of this very important meeting which hosted participants from all over the Pacific region including representatives from New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

At the Official opening the Minister asked a new face what he was doing on Niue. The answer that he received was, “Oh, we are here to see Tasi!” Such is the mana of Tasi and the primary reason why his guests when they departed on Monday 18^th April, with the last impressions of our island state being clean, the people were very friendly and warm and that they had enjoyed themselves immensely.

Niue Foou is paying special tribute to the Minister and his Met team because from an observer’s point of view, hosting a large group on an island with minimum resources [certainly re-accommodation and a small staff of four, entertaining guests at a cocktail evening, an official opening at Matavai, special ethnic dinner at Hakupu and a sumptuous lunch at Liku, an island guided tour – all included in the main purpose of their visit.

They are a cheerful and very close group, the Met Services Directors. One expects that it has to do with the service they provide for their own countries based on a common interest – the weather and how it affects the way we live, our properties and the decisions we make because of it. “We are intimately connected because of what do,” said delegate, Mark Morrisey, from the USA. “We have a network of weather watchers in the Pacific and around the world; it is our job.”

Another observation worth mentioning that the delegates agreed with as they departed; that they were returning home with most of their spending money intact because Niue does not have a large range of locally made goods to buy. Opportunities to capitalise on the tourist dollars have not been one of our strong points except perhaps in providing accommodation, guided tours and limited crafts for sale by a few  enterprising individuals. It is a pity really and regrettable.

Now you see it …

…before the removal of scrap metals

What a blessed relief to drive past what used to be a scrap metal dump is now relatively clean, tidy part of cyclone-damaged Aliluki and left to nature’s Gardener and His healing ministrations.

Two weeks ago the growing pile of rusting vehicles and home appliances were compacted with a special baler, loaded into containers and despatched on MV Southern Tiare for New Zealand. “We had this project planned for a while,” explained Minister Talagi, “along with the removal of other toxic bearing materials such as car batteries and asbestos. I am pleased to see the back of the scrap metals and I thank my staff at Environment, contractors and the workers who worked on this particular project. The New Zealand High Commission is to be thanked also for the funding provisions to rid us of our rustic metals.”

Toxic substances pose serious hazards to our environment and to the general health of our people. It is a priority issue therefore for the newly established Department of the Environment to protect contamination to Niue soils and water lens. The removal of toxic substances has always been a problem because no matter where we dispose of them on the island sooner or later the offending substances will affect and contaminate food chains, ecosystems and bio-habitats that are vital in maintaining environmental balance for its inhabitants. “There is simply no acceptable way or place on Niue that we can safely dispose of these materials, therefore it is the intention and a pledge from the Department of the Environment to clean up our island for all our sakes,” added the Minister.

…now you don’t

…after the removal of scrap metals

Cyclone Sila almost made it to Niue.

The birth and the proximity of a depression [no, not of the Prozac variety] always manage to stir the interest of Meteorological Services people in the Pacific. Cyclone Sila, located 508km NE of Niue, emerged and travelled at a leisurely pace started to tease the sea, rattled a few roofs and trees, only to fizzle out by the evening, fortunately for us.

One of the fishing boats to arrive towing an alia.

The main concern at present is the threat of cyclones is going to make fishermen, who will be arriving soon to fish in our EEZ, very nervous especially when we thought the cyclone season is over. There were fishing boats due here yesterday to begin fishing in our waters but were intercepted by Cyclone Sila and as of this morning no one is certain where they are. The boats were expected to arrive last night or early this morning. There are reports [unconfirmed] that the flotilla of fishing boats from Samoa may have encountered difficulties after meeting Sila on their way here.

Finally last Friday evening two boats arrived with the second arrival towing an alia [smaller vessel] with the fishermen exhausted after a harrowing voyage from battling the cyclone stirred seas.

ANZAC Day

Families of soldiers from Niue who took part in World Wars and in other troublesome spots in the world once again celebrated by commemorating their heroic and self sacrifice to make a better and peaceful world for us to live in.

The village community of Lakepa is the venue for this year’s National ANZAC parade and the host for the hundreds of friends and relations, who came to remember, pray and revel in the stories of our national heroes. While each descendant reminisced in respectful silence the Requiem was recited as expected on this special day each year.

While we cannot recall with certainty any heroic deeds performed by our young men on the battle zones in Europe we can rest assured that our obligations to the British Empire and our contributions to the war effort are significant sacrifices by our people on behalf of our nation.

Here are some of the consequences as a result of our war contributions that we should remember:

·        150 of our young men volunteered to join the Empire contingent when they left in 1916. They represented 3.2% of our total population at the time, a number that the records suggested to be the highest per head of population in the Empire.

·        They were sent to battle Zones [a ‘regrettable hindsight’ according to the war records] in which the weather conditions did more damage than did the war.

·        All our young men were virile, and in child producing ages which if computed in a population of five generations will account for about 3,500 unborn citizens, a consequence that we today have to live with.

And finally a heart rending story of a young policeman from Alofi by the name of Sionesini, who jumped into the last boat in order to make the 150^th member of the expedition from Niue [a matter of national pride I might add] to fulfill our obligated required number of soldiers. His mother, one Tapola from the same village, discovered the folly of her wayward thinking son, swam to the ship amidst the circling reef sharks, to say a final goodbye [not to discourage] to him. [These same throat gripping scenes were to repeat themselves many times over during the fifties and the sixties, the beginning of Niue’s depopulation. Coincidentally many who left the island in those days have never returned either!]

On this year’s ANZAC parade day, we join our fellow rememberers in New Zealand and in Australia with respect to a brotherhood forged in distant lands for a just cause, we too “Will Remember Them.”

Talkback with Patrick Monday 25^th April





 

• Last night’s blockbuster talkback session hit new levels in our locals’ blood pressure scales after listening and fencing with ‘naked steel sabres’ with Patrick Lino’s guest 531Pi ‘s Thomas Kauie. It all began with a playback of a NIUFM talkback session last Wednesday night where our Auckland Niueans expressed their grave concerns over Premier Vivian’s remarks the last time he was in Auckland. Premier Vivian was responding to our expat Niueans’ requests to vote in our general elections, and their nearly half a century old desires to be represented by a Minister, preferably their own. “If you want to vote in Niue’s elections, come home and do it,” he told NIUFM host, Kenn Makaola. “There is only one Niue; there is no Niue in Auckland and there is no Niue in Wellington.” Mortally offended and insulted at the rebuff from the Premier’s sentiments, the expat Niueans struck back with a vengeance.

• The reactions from the locals who totally agreed with the Premier clashed with guest Mr Kauie explanations. It fortunately ended with a compromise in which all agreed that there is only one Niue Mooli.

• Other topics covered included mostly Mr Kauie’s observations in the state of our island after the cyclone. He found us ‘well fed, ‘two to three vehicles per household – especially the 4-wheel drive varieties while Niueans in NZ stand in bus shelters or chase after buses for rides to work; we own our own houses. Why, he might well have asked, do we continue to leave Niue for a life of possible poverty, high costs, good paying jobs that leave families penniless three days after pay days?

• Why there was very little response from election candidates to campaign so that voters can decide who to vote for? There are, after all, 13 seats [7 village and 6 Common Roll seats] to be contested on Saturday’s voting booths.

• The wide gap in the pay rates between expats and locals? Our Administrators haggle over a local’s pay rates but not over imported experts’ excessive pay packets?

• The usual requests from our Niuean expats for government assistance, such as air fares, jobs, houses [with indoor facilities] shipping costs before they could think about returning home to live.

• Compliments Lakepa for a successful ANZAC Day commemorations.

• That landowners who have lease agreements with the Government to ensure the terms of the agreements are honoured. Suggestions of Government reneging on previously agreed terms.

• The bank charges by the Bank South Pacific are excessive.

There were other issues too many to be considered in detail in this publication.

Personal opinions/observations:

1.       There was a good mix of callers [men and women] with very productive suggestions and contributions.

2.       Mr Thomas Kauie proved himself to be of good value and a formidable debater, and an excellent mediator.

3.       Well done Patrick for a well controlled talkback.

4.       Some election candidates used the opportunity of the talkback to campaign on air.

5.       It was one of the most stimulating exercises in human relations ever to happen in talkback session.

Liku opens first RANET FM Station

Liku’s RANET FM Station is officially open for business. Community business, that is. Mr Sionetasi and the living community of Liku are so pleased and proud of this achievement they invited the entire team of Meteorological Directors [who were still on the island last week], Cabinet Ministers and other officials to witness the ceremony.

The two technicians who were responsible for sting up the facility told the small gathering of the humble beginnings of the RANET network. “It really began in the Sahara Desert, amidst a sea of sand {Niue is in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean so we thought it an appropriate analogy] where there is no power [electricity] and the conditions are similar to ours.” The radios that accompanied the RANET FM facility are solar and man powered [that is you need to crank up the juice for the radio to work] which is ideal when there is no power available to share information.

Minister Toke Talagi explained the necessity of having such a community network. “When Cyclone Heta arrived last year all electrical powered appliances were useless to the people. The radio was working but we could not receive any information. This facility will be invaluable and I thank the United States benefactors who have made this possible, and the technicians who have been here to install the facilities.”

Hakupu is the only other village whose RANET FM facility is ready, but it will be officially open, Niue Foou is told, during the Village Show Day in June. The good news is that both these villages have regular contributors to the Monday radio talkback with host Patrick Lino. Now they can hold their own radio talkback anytime they want and for as long as they want to. 

Cabinet Meeting Notes:

Approved or Endorsed

1. A replacement van for Mrs Vaimohe Tuineau’s cyclone damaged van that her son was using while on duty during the cyclone last year. The government is to tender the damaged vehicle.
2. An Air Service License for the Tonga end of Reef Air.
3. Duty exemption for David Poihega’s 4-wheel drive vehicle.
4. Funds for parts to repair the D8 caterpillar has been approved to be paid from the Asset Management account.
5. Funding from NISANOC to assist Reagan Ioane when he attends the Body Building Championships in Tahiti on October 22, 2005.

Travelling on government business:

·        Janet Tasmania, Principal of Niue Primary School, to attend the Regional EFA Workshop in Nadi 22-29 April

·        For Justin Kamupala to attend the Regional Workshop on Peace Building and conflict resolution in the Pacific, in Nadi from 25-27 April.

·        For Richard Hip, Director of Posts and Telecom Niue, to attend the Pacific Islands Telecommunications [PITA] Annual General Meeting in  Suva from April 24-28.

·        Ben Tanaki and Tutaue Siakifilo will be attending the Regional Business Forum Meeting in Nadi from 22-28 April. Fully funded by the Forum Secretariat.

·        A training attachment at EXXONMOBIL Refueling Facilities in Wellington Airport for Desmond Tukutama and Vonzed Jackson from 4-18^th May.

Reports:

1.       The 17^th Multilateral Treaty on Fisheries Consultations in Tonga from 17-23 March by Brendon Pasisi.

2.       Climate Change Conference in Melbourne on April 6^th, by Hon Minister Toke Talagi.

3.       A Report on the Niue Company Bill Progress Report. No author.

We need more women in the House.

True democracy should see us with half the representatives in our Legislative Assembly made up of women, but we don’t. Approximately half of our voting population are women, yet the men outnumber the women by 10:1, not a comfortable number but acceptable to our society.

But is it acceptable? Or are we so naïve that we follow the patterns of our Pacific neighbours and other third world nations? Or are we really paying lip service and accepting the parameters because we are not confident enough or have the courage to make changes to the way we do things?

Each one of us has a God given right to change the things that we can, the courage to accept those that we cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference. Yet after each voting exercise we note with regret that we do not have enough women representing us in the Halls of Power. Or is it simply that women cannot handle the complexities of practical politics and all that they imply?

I beg to differ; we do have some very capable women in our society. Women with international savvy, with enough experience to make their mark in the region on our behalf; women with support from their partners and their families -  all need to be recognized, valued and respected.

Unfortunately the overall support mechanisms are not where they count – in the polling booths. What will it take for our ‘tender gender’ to recognise their own and put them into the Legislative Assembly where they should be? Or are we still in the pre-historic age where the men ruled the roost, or the hearth as they were known? That is a shame really, that in this day and age where we scream our heads off about the rights of an individual in a democracy, but not for equal status with the men. The only differences are in the genes and the chromosome numbers in our DNA molecules.

Hindsight and regrets after the voting do not do anyone any favours.

Election Message:

Premier Vivian and Niue Foou would like to wish all candidates Good Wishes and Happy Results on Saturday.  Ed