Neu: 2001-08-16 Contents of this issue: 1. Keep Pressing 2. NZ Swipe 3. Water Winners 4. Nice One 5. Bid Fails ======================================================================== August 16th, 2001 1. Keep Pressing: The withdrawal of the NZ hotel management company from a deal to lease the Niue Hotel should not deter the government from pursuing a direct Auckland to Niue jet service or a link with Rarotonga, says the Niue Economic Review today. The paper says there is sufficient accommodation on the island to cater for an influx of tourists without the 32 room hotel opening its doors. Many of the existing properties are heading for their worst ever year due to a dramatic fall off in visitor numbers. "The opening of the hotel would only provide an oversupply of beds and "detrimental competition" for the $2.6m Matavai Resort which remains in financial strife," said the NER. When the established properties are operating at 80% occupancy the government should then start looking at bringing more accommodation on stream. Government's policy at present should be to support those committed businesses who are hanging in there and make sure the tourism office is marketing the destination in a cost effective and efficient manner, said the NER. ( Niue Economic Review) 2. NZ Swipe: Former Fijian president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara isn't at this year's Pacific Islands Forum but has managed to fire up feelings with what can only be called low blows at New Zealand and Australia. The forum opened in the tiny pacific nation of Nauru last night and Ratu Mara, as the only surviving member of the original forum in Wellington in 1971, was invited to give the keynote address. He was unable to attend as he is in hospital in Auckland but deputy prime minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau gave it on his behalf. Ratu Mara took the opportunity to take a swipe at what he called "our metropolitan members" - New Zealand and Australia - for their handling of some forum issues. The most recent and most controversial such issue was Prime Minister Helen Clark's departure from the "Pacific Way" at last year's forum, where she criticised Fiji's slow return to democracy following the coup. Miss Clark refused to speak to Fiji's representative at the forum and led a push to have this year's meeting moved from Fiji, which was to host it. Ratu Mara, in his speech last night, said he had a "certain sense of disappointment with our metropolitan members". "They have not always been ready to show understanding of our problems, and they have sought to impose their solutions in an insensitive way, when left to ourselves we could work things out in what we have come to call the 'Pacific Way'," he said. 3. Water Winners: Children from seven Pacific Islands nations, including Niue have been honored in ceremonies in Suva celebrating their entries in a regional World Water Day poster competition. Tema Ina Mata of Niue High School took second placing in the 11-14 year old division. The overall winner of the competition -- which encouraged children to creatively express the important role of water in maintaining good health -- was James Afitu, Leififi College, Samoa. He won a computer for his school. World Water Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on March 22nd and this year's theme was "Water and Health." The focus was on raising awareness on issues such as water-related diseases and the role of water in proper sanitation. Main individual winners were: Ages 11-14 years:1st, Dasha Tarasova, Tereora College, Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 2nd, Tema Ina Mata, Niue High School, Paliati, Alofi, Niue Ages 15-19: James Afitu, Leififi College, Samoa; 2nd, Nandini Narayan, Mahatma Ghandi Memorial School, Nausori, Fiji. Main team effort awards were: Ages 11-14 years: 1st, Elda Sekolasitika, Year 11, Chanel College, Apia, Samoa; 2nd, Broun Macnell, Mishiri Frank, Haikoast Primary School, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Ages 15-19: Team: Raphael Usek, Benly Koris, Brandi Secondary School, Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea; 2nd, Adam Chong Sum, Bwijtok Samson, Ma Hingly Mathew, Marshall Islands High School, Majuro, Marshall Islands.(PIR). 4. Nice One: A health survey of 200 Niue primary school students has cleared them of intestinal parasites. Health officials say the result is excellent compared with similar tests in other Pacific countries. However during the testing it was discovered 15% of the children were overweight and officials plan to conduct educational programs for parents with emphasis on nutritious diets. 5. Bid Fails: Talks over the final stages of completing a lease deal on the 27 year-old hotel have collapsed. A spokesman for the New Zealand based company involved in the venture says the South Pacific Hotel Management Company is withdrawing its consultant from Niue. The company headed by Auckland publican Reg Newcombe who formerly leased the Niue hotel for seven years is reported to have been unable to conclude a finance package for refurbishing the 32 room property. Mr Newcombe also hoped to negotiate the lease of the 24 room Matavai Resort at a later date. The Niue Hotel has been vacant since January this year when a group of US investors withdrew from a medical school university venture aimed at training overseas students. __END__
