Press Release Page

Cabinet Meeting 12/04/06

Approved submissions:

• The price of petrol and diesel will increase from $1.80 a litre to $2.00 a litre. There should not be any surprises there as we have been paying $2.00 a litre before. The reason for this increase is the global increases in the price of oil and the exchange rates of the New Zealand dollar.
• New computers for the Premier’s Department to replace old models that are no longer working have been approved in principle until funding for them can be identified.
• The proposed Action Plan Report 2006-2008 from the Statistician’s Office has been received and endorsed
• A new vehicle for the Department of Education has been approved. The current vehicle that the Department is using was a post cyclone gift from a generous donor to the Primary School.   
• A new Office for BAS [Business Advisory Service] at the Fonuakula Industrial Park is approved.
• Manaia Investments is requesting duty exemptions for its business related vehicle including a duty exemption to import and installing the audio equipment for the Debating Chambers. Cabinet has accepted and approved.
• A submission to find funds to pay talo and coconut growers for the shipment on the MV Southern Tiare, Voyage 22 early this month has been approved but SOG has been directed to find a funding source until the shipped products are sold.

Travel 

·        Mrs Moka Tano is to participate in a Trust Fund 2005-2006 Hansard Training Attachment in the Parliament of Queensland from April 17-21. The training attachment is fully funded by the CPA Education Trust Fund Training. 

·        The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hon Va’aiga Tukuitonga will be accompanied by Mrs Toe Hekau when they attend the Pacific Regional Workshop on Advancing Women’s Representation in Parliaments from 19-21 April. The workshop is fully funded by the Forum Secretariat. 

·        Minister for Agriculture, Forests a and Fisheries, Hon Bill Motufoou and DAFF Director Mr Brendon Pasisi are currently in Honiara, Solomon Islands, attending the 61^st Annual Officials and Ministerial Forum Fisheries Commission Meeting. FFA [Forum Fisheries Agency] will fund the meeting. 

·        Mrs Gaylene Tasmania is to attend the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management Workshop in Apia from 24-27 April. Fully funded by the workshop organisers 

·        Cabinet has approved the participation of Mr Brandon Tauasi in the Scientific Writing for Agricultural Researchers in the South Pacific in Apia, from 24 March – 1^st May. Fully funded by IRETA 

·        A fully funded participation at the Pacific islands Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan for Jack Feleti [of Charlie’s Ebony Carvings] and Vicky Evans [of Niue Nonu and Fish] from 25-30 May, to promote Niue products and services, is approved.   

·        Niue’s participants to the UN-SIAP 5^th Sub-Regional Training workshop on Statistics for MDG Indicators in Nadi Fiji on April 24-5 may are: Mr KimRay Vaha [Government Statistician], Mrs Mine Pulu [Health MDG Rep,] and Ms Fisi Tahafa [National MDG Assistant Coordinator] The workshop is fully funded by UN-SIAP  

·        Mr Justin Kamupala [Deputy SOG] is to attend the Pacific Working Group on Counter Terrorism Meeting in Auckland from 26-28 April.

Reports 

·        From Mrs Lofa Rex on a Private Sector Development: Report on Participation in Festivals, Trade and Food Expos [in New Zealand and Japan] and Practical attachment [Tauveve Jacobsen at the Fortuna Sky City Restaurant] last month. Cabinet has noted the Report with thanks. Funded on a reimbursement basis by the Marketing Support Fund of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

·        A Report by SOG and Young Tony Kalauni on ACP/EU NAO/DNAO/RAO Meeting held in Suva 27-28 March.. The report asks Cabinet to consider the positioning of the Renewable Energy Project towards the twin approach of wind power generation and Solar Heating System for all occupied domestic households in Niue The report is endorsed and noted

·        A Report from Ms Daphne Pihigia after attending the Japanese Friendship Programme from May 27^th- June 16^th 2005. Cabinet has noted the report.

·        Report from Ms Inangaro Vakaafi of her trip to FFODEX in Japan on March 14^th-17^th 2006 is noted.

·        A Report from, Hon Bill Motufoou, Mr Richard Hipa [Director of Telecom Niue] and Mr Paul Collins [ISO Manager] on their recent Forum Information and Communications Technologies Policy Meeting in  Wellington, March 28-30.

A Copy of An Acquittal Report [by Richard Hipa] – Telecom Niue satellite Earth Station Equipment Upgrade, acknowledged the Government of France’s continuing support of  Niue’s Telecommunication System that Cabinet has endorsed and noted with gratitude to the said Government.   
 

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