Neu: 2001-10-11 Contents of this issue:
1. Independent Media Praised 2. Creaking Economy 3. Centennial Show 4. Unsafe Sex 5. New Slogans ======================================================================== October 11th, 2001 1. Independent Media Praised: Tongan pro-democracy member of Parliament and publisher 'Akilisi Pohiva has praised the role of independent media in boosting transparency and democracy in the Pacific. Opening the inaugural Pacific Islands Media Association (PIMA) conference in Auckland last Friday, he highlighted the "power of the media" in exposing the collapse of a US$ 26 million state trust fund investment leading to the resignation of two ministers. "If you ask me what are the factors that caused the [resignations], I would say, one is the power of the media," he said. "Two, is the active participation of journalists in exposing the crisis. "Parliament first took it up. Since then it became headlines on TV7 and on the local newspapers. Media in New Zealand and Australia also picked it up and relayed it to the rest of the world." Pohiva also cited an example in 1996 when the Commonwealth Press Union branch of New Zealand sponsored a civil rights lawyer, Barry Wilson, to press a successful Supreme Court lawsuit to free the MP and two journalists who had been jailed for alleged contempt of Parliament. Pohiva and Times of Tonga editor Kalafi Moala and deputy editor Filokalafi 'Akau'ola were freed by the court. "There have been a lot of similar incidents in most small states in the Pacific that had not or could not be brought to the attention of international human rights communities and international media organisations," Pohiva told the conference. He appealed to the new body to work towards the "real needs" of the people in the region as well as Pacific Islands media issues in New Zealand. The two-day conference was organised in association with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs, the NZ Journalists' Training Organisation and Auckland University of Technology.(PIR) 2. Creaking Economy: The New Zealand Reserve Bank should cut interest rates by at least 25 basis points to 5 per cent next month, economists say after a collapse in business confidence revealed in figures out yesteday. Confidence is now down to levels in line with New Zealand heading into a "fairly deep recession", according to Bank of New Zealand economists, though they predicted a slowdown in growth rather than an economic reversal. Business confidence collapsed into deep gloom last month, in the first survey taken after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. A net 44 per cent of businesses expected general business conditions to worsen in the next six months, compared with a net 1 per cent positive in the June survey. There was now an evenly balanced chance of a 50 basis points cut to rates next month, BNZ said. Even accounting for the seasonal pattern, the confidence slump was the biggest fall since the currency crisis in 1984. The survey went out three days after the terrorist attacks and some may have been filled in before the US share market even reopened, when there was huge confusion and uncertainty about the impact of the terrorist attacks. Niue's fragile economy is substantially influenced by fluctuations in New Zealand. 3. Centennial Show: The southern village of Avatele holds its annual show day Saturday as part of Niue's 100th anniversary of political association with New Zealand. The village is renowned for its quality of weaving and embroidery. Men and youth in Avatele have recently completed a record number 21 full size canoes which will be displayed at the showday. 4. Unsafe Sex: The sexual habits of young people living in Pacific countries have raised concern , with evidence that unsafe practices are leading to the spread of HIV-AIDs and venereal disease. But while most evidence suggests younger Pacific islanders are receptive to safe-sex educational programs, often educators face community concern over the explicit nature of the message. Jovesa Speith, an HIV-AIDs youth educator from Fiji was one of the participants at this year's Sixth International Congress on Aids in Asia and the Pacific which has just concluded in the Australian city of Melbourne. Mr Speith says community attitudes in the Pacific - as well as the popularity of sex among younger people - are presenting health professionals with major challenges. (Radio Australia). 5. New Slogans: While the US and it's allies continue with their anti-terrorism campaigns and anti-American demonstrations break out across the world - many Pacific Island tourism operators are rubbing their hands in eager anticipation. Conflict and uncertainty in rival tourist destinations have sent many Pacific hoteliers and the like scrambling for new campaign slogans to promote the region as the safest, calmest, most peaceful place to be. But getting to a piece of paradise is one of the major problems confronting the industry. Airlines, regionally are in poor shape after the near financial collapse of several top carriers.To curb the downhill slide many airlines are slashing services, both shorthaul and longhaul. Pacific nations are dependent on many feeder services from regional hubs and many of those being borderline on profitability. One major wholesaler in New Zealand said the Pacific Island destinations should capitalise as much as they can on promoting tourism. " Increased trade on certain routes to many smaller South Pacific countries may make the difference between maintaining a service or losing it," said the wholesaler. __END__
