Introduction from the
Premier:
Premier Young Vivian opening the MDG launching
I
welcome the parturition of Niue Ki Mua Online [Niue Forward] an
official Government publication from the Public Relations Office that is soon to
be available online through the abovementioned Government website.
Through Niue Ki Mua Online you, the reader, will come to appreciate the
Government’s commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability
practises, made possible by its editor who regularly attends Cabinet Ministers’
Meeting each week and is encouraged to disseminate essential information of both
interest and relevance to our people.
In this respect, I also expect Niue Ki Mua Online to serve as a window of
our island state to global computer users, and in particular our Niuean
communities and individuals abroad, who I hope will appreciate in being kept
informed of the current happenings of their ancestral homeland.
May God
bless you all,
Yours sincerely,
Premier.
About Niue Ki Mua Online
Niue Ki Mua Online is a
natural progression to Niue Foou, a news bulletin that proved to be
extremely popular in keeping everyone informed of how the Government Recovery
Projects and our living communities were progressing after Cyclone Heta.
Niue Ki Mua Online is going
to continue with the same format of its predecessor with the probable addition
of a photo gallery to be included. Unfortunately Niue Ki Mua Online will
not available in hard copy.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited except for
academic research or for educational purposes only.
Public
Relations Office
Premier’s Department
20th January 2006.
The Government of Niue Acknowledges its Achievers
Yesterday
at the Falefono, 44 students and trainees were publicly acknowledged by the
Government of Niue for the achievements they have made during the 2003 – 2005
study year in various education and training institutions in New Zealand,
Australia and the Pacific Region.
A total of 49 Awards were acknowledged comprising of 24 Certificates, 11
Diplomas, 3 Advanced/Postgraduate Diplomas, 6 Bachelor/ and 4 Masters’/
Postgraduate Degrees. For a small island state with barely 1700 people, the
percentage per head of population who have gained qualifications is very high.
“But is your qualification relevant to your life? Or to the country or the
community in which you are going to live?” said HE Kurt Meyer in his address to
the graduands. His Excellency reminded everyone of New Zealand’s commitment to a
partnership with the Niue Government in offering scholarships each year to
ensure that our people are not disadvantaged in their choices of career
opportunities and hopefully to develop a programme of commitment to Niue.
“The
Government of Niue thanks you and your commitment to hard work, your
determination to succeed and the achievements that you have made,” Hon Fisa
Pihigia, Minister and Chairperson of the National Training and Development
council [NTDC] told the graduands. “We are proud of you and today we acknowledge
you and your achievements. It will mean something to us therefore if you are to
use your knowledge and your skills in the way that we have intended, and that
you will be among the nation builders of our country to help us go forward into
the future.”
Top
scholars for the 2003-2005 graduation ceremony were:
Robert REX – Bronze Award
for Salmon, Junior Auckland Culinary Fare [2005
Restaurant Association of
New Zealand].
Top Masters were:
Manila NOSA – Post Graduate
Diploma in Public Health [2004] and MA in Public Health [2005
Fiji School of Medicine.]
Gloria TALAGI – LINES
Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies [2004 Massey University, NZ], and MA
of Philosophy in Development Studies. [2005
Massey University, NZ.]
Leonard TUKUITONGA – MA in
Business Administration [2005 USP
Suva, Fiji]
Cherie MORRIS-TAFATU – MA in
Human Applied Planning and Development [1st Class] from the
Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, India. [2005]
It is
vitally important for Niue to publicly acknowledge all achievements made by
scholarship holders and this exercise has been in place since 2003. This year
for the first time included three lay preachers who received their certificates
which demonstrated Government’s willingness to extend recognition to the private
sector initiatives.
In recognising achievers in public, it is hoped that a public display of
achievers and their achievements would help remind achievers of their
obligations to their sponsors. Hon Fisa Pihigia informed the graduands and
guests that ‘in a partnership with NZAID to award scholarships for studying
locally and overseas, over $539,000 was spent last year on the scholarship
scheme.
Of the 117 scholarship holders between 1995 and 2005, 55 [47%] failed to return
to Niue while 62 or 53% are back working on the island. The public
acknowledgement of achievers is expected to help in lowering the number of
non-returnees and so far the results are encouraging.’
Niue Ki Mua Online would like to extend its congratulations to the graduates for their successes in their studies.
The following sponsors are hereby acknowledged for their contributions in the provision of funds:
The
Government of Niue
The Government of New Zealand
The Government of Australia
The Commonwealth Secretariat
World Health Organisation
Parents and families of students
Ekalesia Niue
Niue Government Launches Millennium Development Goals
It
is all balloons, trumpets and stalls this morning at the Central Business Centre
as the Cabinet Ministers, Government Departments and the public gathered to
officially launch the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] Agenda for a Global
partnership.
· fight poverty and reduce hunger
· achieve universal primary education
· promote gender equality and empower women
· reduce child mortality
· improve mental health
· combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
· ensure environmental sustainability, and
· develop a global partnership for development.
“These
aspirations with their associated targets and indicators represent a powerful
framework for action,” announced Sunlou Freddie, “have been drawn from the
Millennium Declaration signed and agreed to by 189 countries in September 2000.”
The pivot behind the 8 goals is: ‘…gender equality and the empowerment of
women,’ without which, ‘none of the MDGs will be achieved.’ Recognising women’s
contributions and realising and protecting their rights impacts across all eight
of the MDGs.
“A win for women is a win for all,” declared the representative from the Women’s
stall.
“But we must not be complacent that we do not have poverty and hunger,” announced Premier Vivian, “that we have achieved universal education and that we have reasonable control over the other aspirations. Yet I am so very afraid of HIV/AIDS that it might get here, therefore we must be vigilant and be aware of our nation and our people, to protect our blessings at all costs. We have to work together in order to maintain what we already have and make necessary improvements for the future good of those to come.”
The success in the launching today is judged by the response of the public to participate in the awareness activities offered. “It is great to see the kids taking an active part in the competitions, sausage sizzles and for the rest of the public to be entertained by performances from Miss Niue and the former Miss South Pacific Miss Sina Hekau,” said one of the organisers.
Ocylina Kulatea receives promised NEVAT Award
Ms Lisimoni with her protégé Ocylina Kulatea
One
of the awards that Ms Ocylina Kulatea was promised by NEVAT [a non-profit
organisation – Niue Experience Vaka Atu Toa] during the end of year Niue High
School Prize Giving Ceremony two weeks ago was delivered personally by Ms Birtha
Lisimoni in a private luncheon for two at Crazy Uga Café before her departure.
Ms Kulatea is the first candidate from Niue to receive this award because
previously NEVAT participants who were recruited from New Zealand were self
funded volunteers.
Ocylina reacted as if she had received a million dollars,” said Ms Lisimoni, “we
need to invest in our young people so that they know they are being looked after
and persuade them to return after their training in New Zealand.” Miss Kulatea
plans to attend a Polytechnic Institute in New Zealand to study for a career in
Paramedics.
NEVAT is the brainchild of Birtha Lisimoni, ‘created’, she once admitted in an
interview five years ago, ‘to tap into a vast resource of young Niuean people in
New Zealand and Australia who have the skills and the inclination to think
seriously about returning to Niue one day to work and live - a kind of beyond
romancing the Rock, to help rebuild our living communities to become sustainable
economically and socially.’
An unattainable Utopia surely, given the inclination of our people to relocate
and forget to come back home? “Not so,” smiled the indomitable Ms Lisimoni. “We
need to translate people’s dreams into a reality that will mean something
worthwhile to themselves and to our communities here on Niue.”
For Miss Beth Aue, the first NEVAT Participant who spent three months working in
the EPDSU {Economic Planning Development and Statistics Unit] she described the
experience as “once in a lifetime opportunity, bringing together Niueans across
the board… and the individuals working in Niue carry out extraordinary roles
despite the odds…” she reported at the end of her placement.
Needless to say, Ocylina is proud to be part of the NEVAT Programme that is
being supported by friends, relations and the Government of Niue has pledged its
intentions to become more involved with this project in the future.
Niueans Abroad Home for Christmas
Pleased to be home at last, Sarah Marie and cousin Melisha
We
estimated that at least 700 returning [averaging 107per flight] and departing
[averaging 96 per flight] Niueans and other visiting tourists have used the Air
New Zealand flights in November to travel to and from Niue at the time of this
publication. This is by no means extraordinary in tourist traffic but for Niue
the numbers are staggering by comparison with the past decade.
We are expecting more this month,” explained a Falefono spokesperson, “because
of the special flight coming on Wednesday from Auckland which, according to
Peleni Travel, is almost full.”
Every year
this is the primary travel time for non-resident Niueans to return home for a
bonding session with their friends, relations and their homeland. Most have
homes to go to and most eat local produce.
The most popular events during the 2005 Christmas festive season that have
brought an influx of Niuean numbers last month were: the Catholic Church 50
years Jubilee, the opening of the Ekalesia Niue Millennium Hall and the Hekau/Viviani
and Jackson/Tongalahi Weddings; the funerals of our Tupuna from the villages of
Tuapa and Hakupu; the returning residents who have been studying and training in
New Zealand and other overseas institutions and a large contingent of a
66-member Fitilagakali Aoga Niue [ECE] tour group.
But whatever the reasons for coming to Niue we would like to welcome you to our
paradise and hope that when you leave you will take back wonderful memories of
your extraordinary holiday experience. [A main feature of this article will be
found in the next issue of Niue Ki Mua Online]
Millennium
Building officially opens
It
is Ekalesia Niue’s showpiece, the pride and joy of past and present Presidents
and members of Niue Ekalesia, is presently the largest and the most modern
building on the island that is neither state owned or funded.
The grand opening ceremony was conducted in hushed undertones of profound
respect, for those who had been part of Ekalesia Niue for over 170 years, for
those who are here and for those who are yet to come.
Despite
the regular frustrations of building a major project that depend primarily on
the whims of transport capacities to supply needed materials as well as sharing
the use of available machinery, Mr Malua Setu and his team from Malua Setu
Construction Ltd has managed to complete the project on schedule as planned.
“This building project has been the combined effort of the workers in our
company and the Ekalesia people of Niue,” a construction worker explained in an
interview a few months ago. “It is amazing what a lot of reciprocal goodwill and
obligations can do-we get fed by the Ekalesia communities who were designated to
supply food and drinks and for that we cannot afford to disappoint our hosts.
The
idea of building a hall for the Ekalesia Niue’s more secular and spiritual
activities has been long in the planning to replace the ageing Mission House [Fale
Miti] that was finally destroyed when Cyclone Heta arrived in January 2004. In
2003 a fundraising team travelled to Samoa, American Samoa and New Zealand to
canvas for funds to begin the project. Today is a celebration as the proposed
Hall which finally becomes a reality.
How does it feel? “Wonderful and fantastic,” said Reverend Vilitama. “We need
this project to remind us of where we have been and where we are going,
especially after the cyclone.”
“I have not seen a fafau [a traditional way of presenting gifts of produce and
food] since I was a child,” commented a visitor who came especially for this
opening. “You are amazing to keep this tradition going in this day and age.”
With the presentation of the fafau the opening ceremony will have a meaning, the
depth of which will tie us to our past and remembering God’s blessings in
providing a guidelines and directions of where we are in His plans for the
future.
Hakupu group entertains Millennium guests
The
formal church service was long, but the summer heat did little to discourage
devout guests from leaving early to search outside for a wafting breeze or a
shade for respite. When the service ended it was lunch under the tents, with
mountains of mouth-watering delicacies to be consumed and rivers of fluids to
replace water loss from the heat.
The after function promised to be an event worth waiting for. Entertainment in
the form of dancing and singing and was a spectacular to behold. Items from each
village were presented, with a special appearance by the visiting Fitilagakali
Aoga Niue group.
“I feel honoured and privileged,” said the group’s leader Mrs Hanakalala
Ahotaha,[QSM] “to be invited to this auspicious occasion. The children have
never had the opportunity to perform in front of an adult gathering before, so
on behalf of the children I thank you and they have enjoyed being the centre of
attention.”
Niue Begins New Year with a Bang
Cyclone Tam tests Alofi reef
Just
as the Government and the Niue Public Services open up their offices to begin
working, Cyclones Tam and Urmil stalked the island for three days causing safety
concerns to a few locals, and tourists who were preparing to return home after
spending Christmas here with their friends and families.
“We almost gave our tourists the full Niue experience with our two cyclone
warnings,” chuckled one amused local yesterday at the airport. Non resident
Niueans who were eager to leave before the next cyclone arrives were hanging on
tight to their trolleys and white polystyrene bins, determined to be on the
plane.
Cyclone
Tam was the first to be noticed hovering and skirting Niue with its tail winds
rattling houses, uprooted a few trees and generally shaking off fruits and
coconuts, followed by heavy rains, thunderstorms and high seas on the west
coast. The Yellow Alert once given was soon downgraded to Blue four hours later.
Within hours, Cyclone Urmil was detected, much closer than Tam, brought heavy
rains and thunderstorms, was immediately given a Yellow Alert status which
remained active for 24 hours, but by Saturday morning the island was back to
normal without further incidents.
Niue, like its neighbours, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook islands, exist on the South
West Pacific hurricane belt where cyclones, in varying degrees of intensity and
the damage afterwards, between November and April, are common. Niue was on the
receiving end of a Category 5 cyclone in January 2004 which caused destruction
to living communities on the western coastline flattening plant life and 70% of
buildings and other properties, from the edge of 25-30m cliff tops to as far as
150m inland. “It is the worst damage by a cyclone within living memory,” said
the then Acting Premier Toke Talagi during a satellite phone interview at the
time. Since then the residents are not as complacent as they used to be.
This week it is back to work as usual for the public servants.
What is happening at Falefono?
Staff:
· Mrs Georgina Tukiuha. Transferred from Community to become Clerk to Cabinet Ministers.
· Mrs Ngatu Tukutama formerly Clerk to Cabinet is now the Executive Officer for the Premier’s Department.
· Mrs Gloria Talagi-Lines Special Projects Co-ordinator can now be found at EDPSU [Economic Development and Planning.]
· Mr Michael Wearne, Policy Advisor to Government is attached to the Premier’s Department.
· Ms Roberta Sionesini [UNESCO and External Affairs Officer] will be away on study leave from February 3rd.
· Mr John Faitala [External Affairs Officer] will be away on study leave.
Cabinet Meeting [Tuesday 24th
January 2006]
Main Points:
Heads of department Meeting
[Tuesday 24th January 2006.
Main Points:
· HE Kurt Myers and Mrs Tiana Myers will be leaving Niue on the 10th of February. His Excellency has completed his short term appointment as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue. HE Myers will be formally farewelled by the Niue Legislative Assembly after the Fono on Wednesday. Premier Vivian would like to make known of his appreciation in having HE Myers look after the New Zealand Office in Niue, and to wish the Myers all the best from the future on behalf of Cabinet and the people of Niue.
· The Niue Hospital is now scheduled to officially open in April 2006. [The exact date is yet to be confirmed]. The New Zealand Prime Minister and other important dignitaries will be invited to the grand opening. It is anticipated that patients will be admitted and the hospital used well before this date.
· The Medical Centre building that has been served as a temporary facility will be returned to NISANOC and Niue Youth.
· The Ministerial JCG meeting will be held in Niue from March 14-18. Hon Winston Peters will be attending. Hon Peters has been a regular visitor to Niue, however this will be his first visit as a Minister.
· The Minister of Health Hon Fisa Pihigia [also Minister for Sports] will be attending the Commonwealth Games in March and consequently will not be here for the Ministerial JCG meeting.
· Premier Vivian also presented a short briefing of matters discussed at the Tuesday Cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
· Mr Michael Wearne the new Policy Advisor to the Government was introduced to the Heads of Department.