Neu: 2001-09-14 Contents of this issue: 1. Record Loads 2. Koru Kids Delayed 3. Leader Unite 4. More Mail 5. Golf Tourney 6. WEATHER WATCH ======================================================================== September 14th, 2001 1. Record Loads: Despite experiencing a major technical problem in its domestic services in June, (which costs the airline TOP$400,000) Royal Tongan Airlines domestic services carried a record number of 15,288 passengers between May - July 2001 compared to 13,623 over the same period in 2000. This figure represents 12% increase over the same period in 2000. The Vava'u sector made up 61% of this total, Haapai 19%, Eua 13% and the rest of the routes made up 7%. RTA operates a twice weekly service to Niue from Tonga. This record number experienced by Royal Tongan Airline domestic services in the last 3 months is due to the combination of a Church Conference held in Vava'u and some strong tourist growth especially in the Vava'u routes. Both the tourism industry and the national airlines bring into the country annually more than 20 million Pa'anga in terms of foreign exchange and this is a major contribution to the country foreign reserve. The Tonga Visitors Bureau, Royal Tongan Airline and the industry and church leaders have placed a special "Christmas with Friends" program in the market for tourist, friends and relatives expected to visit Tonga during the busy Christmas season. 2. Koru Kids Delayed: Terrorist attacks in the United States have left 25 chronically ill South Island children stranded in Los Angeles, reports the Christchurch Press newspaper. The children, who all have life-threatening or chronic illnesses, were nearing the end of a 12-day dream trip to California when all flights in and out of the United States were cancelled because of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington said the paper. Koru Care Christchurch Trust organising committee member Gavin Laing said the children had been scheduled to return home yesterday, but it was now unlikely they would be able to get a flight home before September 18. There was an enormous backlog at Los Angeles airport and all flights were fully booked until then. "We are trying to get them home as quickly as possible but it is not proving easy," Mr Laing said. The children, who had a doctor and two nurses with them as well as several Air New Zealand staff who were acting as caregivers, were all well but were anxious to come home. The group had sufficient medical supplies with them to cope with an extended stay and a Los Angeles hospital had offered to give them any medical support they needed. 3. Leader Unite: Niue's premier Sani Lakatani has joined a large number of other Pacific leaders who have sent condolences to George W Bush president of the United States following the ferocious terrorist attack on New York and Washington. In Tahiti, President Gaston Flosse addressed American citizens living or holidaying in French Polynesia. On behalf of his government and the people, he told U.S. citizens their country had experienced a great tragedy, and the images broadcast on national television have upset French Polynesia's peaceful islands. He condemned with horror what he termed "these terrorist acts of cowardice." In American Samoa, the Acting Governor, Togiola T. Tulafono, has declared tomorrow, Friday, September 14th, a Day of Mourning throughout the U.S. territory. He has called on all citizens to take part in a Territorial Memorial Service at the Lee Auditorium in Utulei today.. 4. More Mail: A charter flight from Tonga to Niue on Monday is expected to bring additional mail bags and air freight to the island.Weight restrictions on the Royal Tongan Airlines Shorts 360 turbo prop has caused a delay in mail and air freight reaching Niue. A large amount of the backlog was flown to Niue Friday and airline officials say its likely all freight will be cleared by Monday. Many businesses have expressed concern at delays in air mail and courier freight services. "Parts for vital equipment are often being delayed for several weeks," said a businessman today.Meanwhile Royal Tongan Airlines reports good loadings on its Tonga-Niue flights and record numbers on its domestic services. 5. Golf Tourney: A major golf tournament sponsored by the international communications company Q-Tel gets underway on Niue.Its part of the centennial celebrations of political association of Niue with New Zealand.The Friday afternoon competition see politicians, government officials and private sector workers lining up for the tee off. Niue has a nine hole challenging golf course at Fonuakula, Alofi. 6. WEATHER WATCH THIS WEEK the local golf course reflected the continuing two-month dry spell by finally changing from mostly green to mostly brown. A weak cold front passed eastward over Niue Tuesday leaving behind only a trace ofprecipitation. Unofficial rainfall estimates totaled 50mm over the past 5 weeks. Moderate afternoon winds, bright sun and low humidity effectively combined to maximize evaporation of a significant portion of that moisture. The same dry air contributed to very comfortable late afternoons, cool bedtimes and chilly sunrises. THE WEEKEND should see a large High expand eastward to the north of 30S to cover most of the SW pacific between 160E and 160W between Samoa and New Zealand. Look for continued mostly clear skies, dry, moderate SE afternoon winds, and cool nights. NEXT WEEK another weak trough could move across Niue mid-week, but models agree that any rain should remain north of 15S. The best chance of isolated showers could be about Wednesday and Saturday as the ITCZ tries to reform north of Samoa and drift slowly south. A dry, easterly low-level flow should predominate for the week. Expect an abundance of sunshine, and calm, cool nights. Seasonal climatological models continue to predict neutral ENSO conditions through Christmas, with neither El Nino or La Nina extremes, according to the Australian BOM, translating into average warm and dry spring conditions for us.(Report supplied by Darrell Spatz, private forecaster, Niue) __END__
