Teilweise neu: 2002-03-11 Contents of this issue:
1. Internet Inquiry 2. Prison Shame 3. Inquiry Sits 4. Dialogue Continues ======================================================================== Old contents were: 1. Inquiry Sits 2. Dialogue Continues March 11th, 2002 1. Internet Inquiry: The Niue Government's first witness at the Commission of Inquiry into e-mail and internet services on the island gave evidence before Commissioner Judge David Ongley at the local courtroom yesterday.The Internet Users Society was delegated the dot NU domain in 1997 and the inquiry is investigating management of the services and the costs/benefits it has brought to the government and people of Niue. Richard Duncan an Auckland based economic policy analyst told how he was involved in the formation of a government Information Technology Committee (NITC) in 1999 and its efforts to have the dot nu top level country code re-delegated. He spoke of attempts by the Niue government to get the society, to make financial contributions to the consolidated fund with monies earned from the sale of domain names, weeks after the society had connected to the internet. Mr Duncan said the timing was "coincidental." Mr Duncan admitted in the early days of the NITC there were a lot of misconceptions about "ownership" of the country code top level domain. In his evidence Mr Duncan accused the internet society of spamming, blocking web sites, and hosting child pornography sites. He said the NITC was concerned at the reliability of the service and security of service. But when asked for examples Mr Duncan told the society's lawyer Graham Kohler of Auckland that most cases had not been recorded but were referred to the AudAid funded IT technical manager on Niue at the time, Gavin Knight. Mr Knight was not present at the hearing. Today a US advisor to the NITC Gerald McClurg will give evidence. Later this week Telecoms Niue director Richard Hipa, politicians Toke Talagi, Terry Coe and Veve Jacobsen with society representatives Stafford Guest and Richard St Clair will testify before Judge Ongley.. 2. Prison Shame: Of the 277 foreign nationals in New Zealand jails, 198 are from the Pacific Islands, The Dominion newspaper reported. The remainder include 22 from Britain, 17 South Asia, 12 Australia, 11 South East Asia, seven the Americas, seven Europe and four Africa. It costs about $53,000 annually to house an inmate, with the prison population averaging near 5000, The Dominion said. A spokesperson for Justice Minister Phil Goff said it was not written in law but was accepted practice for foreigners to serve their time before being deported. It was considered a "moral obligation". The spokesman said Mr Goff had asked Justice Ministry officials to investigate three options concerning the return of inmates. They include signing reciprocal parole agreements with other countries allowing information about inmates to be exchanged and supervision provided.( PINA Nius Online.) 3. Inquiry Sits: Niue's High Court is the venue for the first public sitting of the Commission of Inquiry into the island's e mail and internet services that commences today. The Commission is New Zealand district court judge David Ongley. The government of Niue is represented by Auckland barrister Stephen Langton, the internet users society by Auckland barrister Graham Kohler. The Internet Users Society was delegated the dot nu top level country code domain name in 1997 and set up a free email service for government departments and residents on Niue. Later all users had use of the internet. The commission was set up by the government of Niue to investigate the ownership and management of the Niue country code, the development of services and the future policy of government in relation to the supervision of the services. The commission is also investigating the negotiation, status and effect of a memorandum of understanding between the government and the internet users society signed on January 21 1999. The commission is likely to sit later in the year in New Zealand. Any findings by the commission are not binding on either party. 4. Dialogue Continues: The Niue government's Minister of Private Sector Development Matua Rex says he is happy to maintain a dialogue with the investors in the Hotel Niue over financial support for refurbishing the kitchen and bar. Investors who have a lease on the property claim the government should meet the costs of upgrading kitchen and bar facilities. Mr Rex told Radio NZ International he has doubts about the investors claims but says they should apply to the economic, planning and investment committee for concessions in the business deal they have with the government. About $40,000 of the $1000,000 share float have been sold to local and overseas investors for the 32 room hotel which now hopes to start marketing for the upcoming tourist season. __END__
